Monthly Archives: November 2015

How can we get more active in refugee support activities in our community?

Monday, 16 November 2015
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Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (32): a story from the Federació Catalana d’Escoltisme i Guiatge.

Earlier this month the Federació Catalana d’Escoltisme i Guiatge (FCEG) and its three members associations discussed how best they could support local Scout and Guide Groups desiring to engage in refugee support activities in their local communities.

A short document was published providing answers to questions like “How can we get active?”, ”What is WOSM’s and WAGGGS’ position?”, and “Who can we network with?”. The document also provides links to relevant pedagogical tool kits and lists useful sources for additional background information.

If you are involved in a similar refugee support activity in your local community, let us know and we will share it, too: just complete this form!

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Job Opportunity at the World Scout Bureau – Europe Support Centre, Brussels: External Relations and Communications Officer

Friday, 13 November 2015

The World Scout Bureau – Europe Support Centre, Brussels of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is seeking an External Relations and Communications Officer to support the external relations and communication area of WOSM in Europe. The person hired  will support the development and implementation of youth policies in Europe and contribute to raising the profile of WOSM to the European Institutions under the supervision of the Director for External Relations and Funding. The successful applicant will support the service of all National Scout Organisations in Europe to strengthen their external relations and advocacy as well as supporting the communications function of the European Region of WOSM and the organisation of events and activities related to external relations area. A limited amount of travel within Europe will be required.

JobOpportunity2015

If you are interested, make sure that your application (including a letter of motivation and a curriculum vitae in English) reaches the Europe Support Centre no later than 17.00 CEST on Friday 4 December 2015. Shortlisted candidates will be advised by 8 December 2015 and interviews will be held in Brussels, Belgium,  on Monday 14 December 2015 for a start date preferably of 4 January 2016 depending on the availability of the selected person.

Job description (in English and in French)
Person specification (in English and in French)

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Re-imagining Futures: On our way towards active global citizenship – Prague, 19/11/2015

Friday, 13 November 2015
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Scouts and Guides Active Global Citizens, the EU funded project that gathers 11 scouts & guides and global education organizations from 7 European countries, are holding a unique motivational conference for sharing action ideas and exploring among scout leaders on global issues and the role they can play. The goal is to give a strong inspirational and motivational impulse to take informed actions, based on critical thinking in order to facilitate positive local and global changes.

The event is an opportunity to meet and create something with eight specialist speakers from all over the world (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Ireland and Denmark). Speakers will inspire the participants in various ways for informed engagement in the European Year for Development 2015 and beyond – by life experience and example under the theme “what have I personally changed”, by presenting their projects for facing global/local challenges, by encouraging various perspectives and views on things we may perceive as given.

More information can be found at http://www.nazemi.cz/en/re-imagining-futures

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Martin Schulz visits Galatsi Refugee Camp (GR): Thank you for your valuable service!

Thursday, 12 November 2015
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Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (31): a story from Σώμα Ελληνων Προσκόπων (the Scouts of Greece).

Earlier this month, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, accompanied by Yiannis Mouzalas, Greek Alternate Minister for Migration Policy, and Nikos Xydakis, Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the Galatsi Olympic Sports Centre to make himself familiar with the situation at this large refugee centre near Athens (Greece).

President Schultz toured the facilities and spoke with a number of adults and refugee children who are temporarily staying at the Sports Hall, which had been converted into a refugee camp in September. Speaking to reporters, Schulz thanked the Greek government and the local authorities “for the enormous effort being made”, and also praised the valuable efforts of volunteers “who provide a wonderful service”.

Scouts from Σώμα Ελληνων Προσκόπων (the Scouts for Greece, members of WOSM) and other volunteers met with Schulz and journalists and talked about the living conditions at the camp and the ways in which citizens can contribute.

Mariana Fragkou explains the involvement of her association at the Galatsi Refugee Camp: “Since the beginning of October, volunteer helpers from the Scouts of Greece have been offering their services here at the Galatsi Olympic Sports Centre where refugees are hosted, in cooperation with the Municipality of Galatsi and the Greek Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction.” (See also our previous story here on europak-online.net)

On a daily basis, Scouts provide a series of services demonstrating their wide range of skills:

– Managing volunteers, Scouts and members of the general public;
– Receiving, classifying and distributing wardrobe items to refugees;
– Organising and handling the catering service;
– Receiving, classifying and distributing canned food and cleaning materials to refugees;
– Supervising the cleaning of public spaces and sanitary facilities;
– Preparing and offering two daily meals for 200 children each time;
– And creating sign posts in several languages to help refugees find their way.

Mariana also has some impressive statistics: “During this past month, 306 adult Leaders and 75 Rover Scouts have offered a total of some 3854 hours of voluntary service: if you calculated the hour at EUR 18 the Scouts’ volunteer service so far totals at some EUR 70 000!”

The Greek Scouts have indicated that they would continue to actively contribute to the refugee support activities at the Galatsi Olympic Sports Centre at least till the end of November.

=> Watch this TV coverage of President Schulz’ visit: http://bit.ly/1kOCMv5

If you are involved in a similar refugee support activity in your local community, let us know and we will share it, too: just complete this form!

Text and images: Scouts of Greece 2015

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Scouts of Serbia offer free meals: the impact goes far beyond the bowl of soup!

Wednesday, 11 November 2015
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Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (30): a story from Савез извиђача Србије / Savez izviđača Srbije (the Scouts of Serbia).

The main goal of this project run by Савез извиђача Србије / Savez izviđača Srbije  is to provide relief to the increasing number of refugees transiting through Serbia by providing them with meals prepared in accordance with their religious believes and to help them make their journey onward as safe as possible by passing on basic information which will make them less susceptible to fraud. The information about this activity is distributed widely through media and social media, which will improve the public’s perception of refugees and reduce possible risks of intercultural conflicts between them and the local population.

The distribution of free meals and information sheets to refugees going through the area around the main bus station in Belgrade started on Monday, 19 October and has continued to this day: so far, we have distributed 4500 meals to refugees. The distribution is supported by groups of 7 to 9 Scouts from Serbia every day (and one day a Scout from the Challenger ESU in the UK helped out, too). While distributing meals, the volunteers are also using the time to talk to the refugees and give them information they need, as well as act as provide some emotional support to them so that they feel welcome. Information leaflets are distributed in English, Arabic and Farsi. And as we noticed that many leaflets are left behind, we have also create large bill boards with the same information which we have put up in and around the main bus station of Belgrade where most of the refugees are gathering.

The project is supported by the Messengers of Peace initiative of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the World Scout Foundation and received additional support from the Schüler Helfen Leben Foundation, allowing the Scouts to add tea to the offered meals. A catering company has donated fruit.

The activity has been recognized by the city council of Belgrade and city officials paid a visit the other day, encouraging the Scouts and refugees.

Seeing that this kind of activity has a positive impact on refugees, because they feel welcome, supported and rejuvenated we came to the conclusion that even though free Halal meals are main focus of our project, interaction and kind words of encouragement and support from our Scout volunteers are just as important.

We would like to encourage YOU to try and help these people any way YOU can because they need all our attention and support. The change starts with YOU!

If you are involved in a similar refugee support activity in your local community, let us know and we will share it, too: just complete this form!

Text and image: Nenad Jovanovski, Савез извиђача Србије / Savez izviđača Srbije 2015
(for more pictures: http://scout.org/node/131256)

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