Building peace together

If you were to believe everything you read in the papers you would think that the Arab Region and the rest of the world were growing apart. Within Scouting however, nothing could be further from the truth. Claire Nicholl shares a great example of One World One Promise in practice

Over recent years, UK Scouts have taken part in many visits to the Arab Region, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan and United Arab Emirates.
In November 2005, UK Leaders visited Scouts in the Arab Region and the Arab Region World Scout Bureau in Cairo. One of the results of this visit was the launch of the UK-Arab Region National Fellowship in September 2006. The aim was to support a key area of work for The Scout Association, developing our understanding of, and improving our relations with Arab Scouting.

Learning about new cultures

The Arab Scout Region consists of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa; its member countries are Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Anyone who sees young people mixing with Scouts from these countries during this summer’s Jamboree will see how they can build peace together through Scouting.

The Fellowship aims to:
• promote an awareness of Scouting in the
Arab Region
• offer experience of Scouting in the Arab Region and increase understanding of life and culture in the region
• provide links with Associations and groups in the region
• develop and maintain programme support
• offer advice and support to assist individuals and groups from the UK and the Arab Region.

Already the Fellowship has:
• developed a useful website with a forum for members at www.scouts.org.uk/fellowships
• promoted opportunities in the Arab Region at Gilwell Reunion and the Global team day at Loughborough• arranged a study visit to Tunisia during early spring 2007.

The Fellowship is currently working on:
• developing training material to be used by young people in the UK
• welcoming Scouts from the Arab Region to the World Jamboree, and hosting a reception for our Arab Region guests
• coordinating the UK input into the ‘Rebirth of the Phoenix’ project in Lebanon during summer 2007
• organising a UK delegation to the Youth Cultural Exchange in Egypt in August 2007
• organising an Explorer Belt Expedition in Tunisia during April 2008.

Explore the wonders of the world

Although the Fellowship is organising all these events, we would actively encourage Scouts in the older Sections to arrange visits to the Arab Region. Where else could you visit the Great Pyramids, sail on the Nile, swim in the Black Sea, drive a 4x4 across miles of sand – and all just a three to seven-hour flight from the UK! The International Team at Gilwell Park and the Fellowship would be happy to help you organise your event.

World Watch

Scouts to plant one billion trees
Young people in the UK taking part in the Tree For All initiative are contributing to a worldwide effort to plant one billion trees, as part of the United Nations Environment Programme’s One Billion Trees Campaign. See www.scout.org for more.

Saudi Scouts support pilgrimage
Some 3,000 Saudi Scouts helped out at the Hajj Pilgrimage, the world’s largest annual gathering, at Islam’s Holiest shrine, Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The task was made more demanding by the fact that four million pilgrims attended, making this the biggest Hajj yet.

40,000 expected at Hylands Park for the 21st World Scout Jamboree
It has been confirmed that the World Friendship Appeal has gone well beyond its target and has now raised over £400,000, giving over 330 young people and their Leaders a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the event. Contingents from over 150 countries have now registered and will be making the trip to the UK in July.

Book online and be a Jamboree Day Visitor
Be part of history! Book your tickets now at www.thejamboree.org/takepart/dayvisitors