www.scout.org/africa

May 2015

KuduMail News from the Africa Scout Region

Inside Special Feature Focus on National Scout Organizations Scouting in the Community From the Regional Office Upcoming Events Memorable Quotes

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WOSM Secretary General Visits the Africa Regional Office

KENYA: In the week after the Easter holiday, WOSM Secretary General, Scott Teare, visited the Africa Scout Regional Office at Rowallan National Scout Camp in Nairobi, Kenya. Accompanied by Abdullah Rasheed, Consultant and Special Advisor to the Secretary General, he interacted with the staff and visited the Kenya Scouts Association. His visit coincided with the Staff Management Conference that took place from 7 to 10 April. The conference conducted a review of regional activities and planned for the new triennium. For four days, the staff worked hard to draw a roadmap that aligned the region’s plans and contributions to World Scouting’s strategy - Vision 2023. The Secretary General commended the staff for their performance, and expressed his personal commitment to Africa and plans on visiting more countries in the region to support the growth of the national movements.

Scott was also pleased with the Association’s commitment to plant and nurture 20 million trees by 2017 in support the Government’s effort to replenish the forest cover to at least 10%. Working in partnership with the National Bank of Kenya, Kenya Forest Service and other stakeholders, the Scouts under the “Green Patrols Project” have so far planted over 17 million trees in different parts of the country. “These inspiring stories from Kenya remind us of the impact Scouting is making all over the world. With our collective efforts, we are able to realise phenomenal change. Scouting teaches us to go beyond ourselves and discover the strength in our diversity, empowering us to create a better world for our communities,” he said. Read more at http://scout.org/node/66436

During his visit, the Secretary General had the opportunity to visit Kibra Scout Troop, which is conducting a vibrant Scout programme within Kibera Slum – the largest in Africa. These Scouts and their Leaders are doing a wonderful job. Supported by Rovers Scouts, the Scout Leaders undertake numerous activities to educate the young people and instill Scout values in them with the hope of empowering them to create a better life for themselves and their families. He commended the Kenya Scouts Association on its efforts to improve its systems of governance, Youth Programme delivery and membership growth. He was pleased to note that so far, they have recruited and registered over 1,000,000 Scouts up from the 323,884 members they had in December 2013. This corresponds with efforts to recruit 32 000 adult volunteers as Scout Leaders to support the delivery of the youth programmes.

7th Africa Scout Youth Forum & 16th Africa Scout Conference 24 – 28 August /28 August – 1 September 2015

SCOUTING: Africa’s Leading Social Force for Youth Empowerment www.scout.org/uganda2015

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© 2015 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

FOCUS ON NATIONAL SCOUT ORGANIZATIONS

Scouts of Swaziland Partner with UNICEF on HIV/AIDS Prevention

SWAZILAND: Emavulandlela Swaziland Scouts Association (ESSA) are using the storytelling technique in the dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS and life skills regarding the challenges life is throwing at us every day with the aim to reduce HIV infections. This has been made possible through a partnership with UNICEF-Swaziland. 20 Rover Scouts (16-26 years) have undergone the Scout Instructors training and received Trainers of Trainers certification and went on to train 63 other instructors to support in implementation of the project. The behaviour change training focused on an innovative peer communication strategy, in an effort to reduce the infection rate amongst the youth in the country by drawing attention of the young people then artistically disseminating HIV/AIDS information and encouraging their peers to seriously give a thought of what they can do to reduce HIV/AIDS infection rate individually and collectively as a community. This has helped to increase knowledge, impart skills and build the capacity of not only the young people but also the Association in general, allowing them to better reach out to their peers and communities. As a way of reaching youth to more young people with the information among other youth programme activities the ESSA have planned a Mini Jamboree to take place later in the year. Read more at http://scout.org/node/66576

Report of the 2015 East Africa Zonal Scout Youth Forum RWANDA: The 9th Eastern Africa Zonal Youth Forum was held in December 2015 at Ndera Minor Seminary in Kigali, Rwanda. The forum, among other things elected a new zonal youth committee led by Murtadhwa Rashid from Tanzania. While sharing the report of the forum he said, “I thank those who took time to attend the forum and appreciate the sacrifice and contribution you made towards its success. I also appreciate the opportunity to serve as the Zonal Youth Chairman together with the nine-member committee as named in the report. We shall work together and do our best to promote the cause of the young people in Scouting across our zone. I urge you all to assist in following up on the implementation of the outcomes of the report with your respective NSO's for our common good. May God grant us the will, strength and passion to continue serving Scouting and our fellow youth.” Read the full report at http://scout.org/node/66426

Southern Africa Zone Holds its Annual Youth Forum and Conference

ZIMBABWE: National Scout Organizations of the Southern Africa Zone held their 41st Zonal Conference and 12thZonal Youth Forum between 28th April and 3rd May 2015 in Harare, Zimbabwe; under the theme, “One Tree, Many Branches.” A total of 10 NSOs including; Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe were represented in both the forum and conference. Also present was the Regional Director, Frederic Tutu Kama-Kama and Zonal Desk Officer, Mostaff Matesanwa. The chief guest was the Deputy Minister for Tertiary Education in the Government of Zimbabwe, Dr. Godfrey Gandawa. Youth identity crisis, disaster risk reduction, Scouting and technology, youth programme and its approach to the modern world, reproductive health and sustainable development goals were among the issues discussed at the forum. The conference on the other hand tackled issues of WOSM triennial plan, resolutions of the 40th World Scout Conference, Global Support Assessment Tool, Youth Programme Policy, Messengers of Peace and international events. Read more at http://scout.org/node/66631

Answering the Call to be Messenger of Peace! UGANDA: Sometime back we shared a story on how Scouting making a difference in a Ugandan Prison. Below is a conversation with one young person, Sande Ronald, who attained his freedom from Murchison Bay Prison in Luzira as he explains the important role Messengers of Peace played during the one year spent there and the dream he holds for the future. “I have a project I want to work on; giving nutritional supplements for inmates especially those who are HIV positive. The food in prison is terrible. I want to be a messenger of peace and an ambassador of youth to the youth dialogue in the whole world. I will also be cycling to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan, through 8

countries sharing my story with the youth we shall interact with on the way. I have been away for one year. Everything I was working on was destroyed. But I have faith and believe that tough times never last but tough people do,” says Ronald. Read more at http://scout.org/node/62611

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© 2015 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

Call to Action: Scouts Say No To Xenophobia SOUTH AFRICA: Xenophobia is the unreasoned or irrational dislike or fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange.

Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of a group of people towards another, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity.

Xenophobia can also be exhibited in the form of an "uncritical exaltation of another culture" in which a culture is ascribed "an unreal, stereotyped and exotic quality" Recently, there have been xenophobic attacks reported in South Africa against people from other nationalities. This situation has led to the death and injuries of many people. Over 2000 others have also been displaced. World Scouting commends the ongoing efforts by the Scouts of South Africa in promoting good citizenship without taking a strong political stand. In response to these attacks, the Scouts are supporting a national campaign by LEAD SA to say no to xenophobia. As part of their duty to others, Scouts living in areas where people have been attacked are providing shelter and/or food where needed to people displaced by the violence. In his call to action, Dr Brendon Hausberger, Chief Commissioner of SCOUTS South Africa called on Scouts to do their part by: Supporting, where you can, those people displaced by the violence and attacks, either with food and supplies or by providing physical help with the growing issues of hygiene and warmth for people who have relocated to places of safety; And engaging with those you come into contact with, in the office, at home and elsewhere to spread the message of the peaceful brotherhood of Scouting. This is a discussion we need to have as people of South Africa if we are to progress and realize the potential that our great nation presents. “We are a movement of action and not just ideas and so, this is a call to action for all of our Scouts and Scouters in South Africa, not as a political statement, but as Messengers of Peace and as members of an organization that promotes good citizenship and accepts all members of society for whom they are,” said Dr. Brendon. We join the world in condemning these shocking and unacceptable attacks. No amount of frustration or anger can ever justify the attacks. The attacks violate all the values that Scouting stands for. We further call on everyone to uphold and protect human rights. Every person has a right to safety from harm. As a voluntary movement that is open to all, without any discrimantion whatsoever, Scouting remains a social force that promotes multiculturalism, peace, brotherhood and concern for others; leading constructive contribution to our communities and countries. We re-affirm our commitment to holding the values of diversity and inclusion. A Scout is a friend to all! Read more at http://scout.org/node/61711 and http://scout.org/node/62911

Scouts Taking Action to Combat Food Insecurity in Africa BURKINA FASO: The Food For Life (FFL) Project was conceptualised to respond to the food crisis facing many countries in Africa. The solution lies in the population being able to produce enough food for their families amid scarce resources such as water and land and relying on the natural weather patterns. In this context, the FFL Project was initiated in 2003 in South Africa with the aim of contributing to the fight against hunger in Africa by equipping the youth (6 to 18 years old Scouts) with agricultural skills to produce their own food. Since 2013, the project has been introduced to Rover Patrols in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Malawi and Ethiopia. The project has been implemented/currently being implemented in 11 countries in Africa namely: Malawi, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Lesotho, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, Niger, Benin and South Africa.

Judicaël Toé, one of the Scouts from Burkina Faso who have benefited from the project says, “I planted beans, roselle (hibiscus), okra and spinach in a space of 3 m x 1 m. It wasn’t easy with my parents regarding the use of water; due to the heat the garden had to be watered both in the morning and the evening. But I agreed with mum that I would use non-soapy housecleaning left-over water. When my garden developed, my mum cooked some of the spinach leaves, beans and roselle. And often during the meals she would ask the family members to thank me as the sauce was coming from my garden. This is how my family really understood the scope and benefits of the project. I was proud to be able to help my family thanks to the garden, and decided to teach the techniques to all my friends too.” “Since we’ve had the garden, I don’t need to spend much money for cooking. There is no need for me to go to the market every day anymore as the garden now supplies the essentials for our meals. I believe this project is very educative for the young people and should be availed to all youths in Burkina Faso, said Judicaël’s mother.” Read more at http://scout.org/node/61296

SCOUTING IN THE COMMUNITY

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© 2015 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

Email: africa@scout.org Web: www.scout.org/africa Skype: worldscoutbureauafrica Phone 1: (+254) 728 499553 Phone 2: (+254 20) 245 09 85

STAY IN TOUCH!

Memorable Quotes “I had an opportunity to visit Kibera which I was informed is the largest slum in Africa, but where I met one of the most vibrant Scout group in all my travels around the world.” Scott Teare, WOSM Secretary General “We are a non-partisan organization serving the community we live in. Let us continue to spread the message of peace, hope and unity despite the chaos and challenges in our communities.” Frederic Tutu Kama-Kama, Regional Director of the World Scout Bureau, Africa Regional Office. “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Nelson Mandela “We, Scouts count ourselves a brotherhood despite the difference among us of country, creed, or class. We realize that in addition to the interests of our particular country, there is a higher mission before us, namely the promotion of the Kingdom of God; That is, the rule of Peace and Goodwill on earth. In the Scouts each form of religion is respected and its active practice encouraged and through the spread of our brotherhood in all countries, we have the opportunity in developing the spirit of mutual good will and understanding.” Baden Powell “Since we’ve had the garden, I don’t need to spend much money for cooking. There is no need for me to go to the market every day anymore as the garden now supplies the essentials for our meals. I believe this project is very educative for the young people and should be available for all youths in Burkina Faso.” The mother to Judicaël Toé, a Scout from Burkina Faso, speaking on the success of the Food for Life project

EVENT DATES COUNTRY

West Africa Zonal Conference & Youth Forum 22 – 27 June 2015 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Uganda Scout Association Centenary Jamboree 18 – 28 August 2015 Uganda

23rd World Scout Jamboree 28 July – 8 August 2015 Yamaguchi City, Japan

7th Africa Scout Youth Forum 16th Africa Scout Conference

24 – 28 August 2015 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2015

Kampala, Uganda Kampala, Uganda

World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Office P.O. Box 63070 00200, City Square Nairobi, KENYA

ScoutingintheAfricaRegion @ScoutingAfrica

In Solidarity with the People of Kenya KENYA: The World Organization of the Scout Movement expresses its deepest condolences to the victims and their families of the recent shooting at the Garissa University College in Kenya. On 2 April 2015, gunmen stormed into the University campus when the students were conducting morning prayers and started shooting randomly, killing over 147 students and wounding over 60 others. Garissa is a town located in the northern part of Kenya, about 370 kilometres from Nairobi. The town lies along the highly volatile borders with Somalia. World Scouting is horrified by the attack, and reiterates its commitment to upholding peace and the fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life and the right to education. The Movement shares the pain of the Kenyan people and urges everyone to remain calm and exercise the virtue of peace during this challenging period as the nation mourns the massacre of many very bright and innocent young lives. Kenya is a very important country to World Scouting as it hosts the World Scout Bureau-Africa Regional Office, which serves 38 countries in Sub Saharan Africa with a membership of over 1.5 million Scouts. Read more at http://scout.org/node/61246

UPCOMING EVENTS

Gone Home: Komezamahoro Jean Népomuscène BURUNDI: World Scouting is deeply saddened by the tragic death of a 15-year-old Scout, KOMEZAMAHORO Jean Népomuscène, of Burundi Scouts Association. We wish to expresses our deepest condolences to his family and the entire Burundi Scout fraternity. He was a Scout of the Eagle Patrol of the Saint Exupery Scout Group in the Imbo Scout Region of the Burundi Scout Association. On Sunday 26 April 2015, he was caught in a sudden and intense crossfire at the gate of his parental house as he was watching the ongoing demonstration. Instead of running, he froze and told the police that he was not one of the demonstrators. He was, however, shot at close range and died on the spot, at 2pm. May his soul rest in eternal peace and let us keep a pious thought for his family, Burundi Scouts Association and the entire Burundi nation! “We are a non-partisan organization serving the community we live in. Let us continue to spread the message of peace, hope and unity despite the chaos and challenges in our communities,” said Frederic Tutu Kama-Kama, Regional Director of the World Scout Bureau, Africa Regional Office. Read more at http://scout.org/node/64641

Vacancy for the Position of Director of Operations KENYA: The World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional office re-launched the advertisement for the position of Director of Operations. The successful candidate will lead a small team of professionals dedicated to improving the direct and logistical support provided to the 38 national member organizations that form the Africa Scout Region. The team's focus is to work with volunteers and partners in the field to support the delivery of improved youth programmes in communities across Africa through the development of better-qualified adult leadership in our member organizations. Keeping the team on track to reach its objectives, the Director of Operations is involved in planning, directing and coordinating activities regarding every aspect of our work from people to implementing policies, planning our use of materials and human resources toward maximizing effectiveness and achieving desired results. The successful candidate will be expected to apply effective leadership, management and negotiations skills to every day challenges while combining operational practice and financial knowledge to achieve our organizational goals. For more information please visit www.scout.org/node/65621

FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE