Category Archives: News

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

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 12.35.44 PM

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

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

Screen Shot 2015-11-11 at 12.00.17 PM

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)

Call for WAGGGS Facilitators at Roverway 2016

rumente

The Europe Region WAGGGS is looking for experienced facilitators who would design and deliver WAGGGS educational activities for Rovers and Rangers during two days at Roverway.

We are looking for leaders with experience in the Rovers and Ranger age group at local, regional, national or international level.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a large-scale European event for Rovers and Rangers that the Europe Region WAGGGS organizes in partnership with the European Scout Region and that is hosted by the French Member Organization.

Please share the call across your organization to ensure all interested and qualified candidates have the opportunity to apply for this exciting role!

Please find below the call with the description of the role and profile of the Facilitators of workshops at Roverway.

To apply we kindly ask:

  • The candidate to complete the online application form by 24th of January
  • The candidate’s International Commissioner to confirm her/his approval of the application by sending a quick email to Manuela@europe.wagggsworld.org by 24th of January. We will not be able to consider an application unless we have received the IC’s approval.

The candidates and their International Commissioner will be informed of the results of the selection by the 29th of February.

If you have any question please don’t hesitate to contact Manuela at: Manuela@europe.wagggsworld.org

We are looking forward to receiving your applications!

Call WAGGGS facilitators FINAL EN

Call WAGGGS facilitators Final FR

 

 

Refugee support activities in the Southwest Finland Guide and Scout district

Capture

Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (29): a story from SP-FS- The Guides and Scouts of Finland.

The amount of asylum seekers have increased rapidly in Finland during autumn 2015. Although this situation is global and well-known still the numbers were a surprise and many temporary accommodation facilities were quickly established. In the cooperation with local Red Cross and the Parish union the local Guide and Scout district has organized voluntary-based help at the temporary accommodation facilities. Guides and Scouts have organized trips, taught basics of the Finnish language, helped with the donated clothes etc. Hygienic packs including toothbrush, toothpaste and soap were also collected. The planning of how Guides and Scouts can help and activate immigrants in social integration has started. However, more coordination with local Guide/ Scout groups, municipalities and other organizations is needed.   All Guides and Scouts future actions will continue to be voluntary based and free for all to join in.

 

Read other stories here

 

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!

“How to Accompany Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants?”

Screen Shot 2015-10-28 at 14.45.45 PM

Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (28): a training course offered by IICoS in France

Nadine Lyamouri-Bajja, one of the workshop facilitators at the upcoming #RefugeeResponseSeminar hosted by the Danish Guides and Scouts and supported by the European Scout Region and WOSM’s Messengers of Peace initiative, and her colleague Barbara Pelkmann are organising an International Training Seminar on “How to Accompany Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants?”.

The Course is proposed as a direct repsonse to challenges faced by professionals and volunteers of many institutions, associations and public services confronted with the continuous arrival of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Europe. It aims at developing intercultural competences and strengthening skills in diversity management. Participants will return home with a better understanding of how best to council and support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants during their arrival and integration process.

Details about this International Training Seminar are available in English, French and German, the three course languages.