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WE Connect replaces EUROPAK
Thursday, 6 June 2019 -
INFORMATION – From EUROPAK to WE Connect – the new Joint Regional Website (Regional Circular 21 2019)
Wednesday, 5 June 2019 -
EUROPEAN JAMBOREE 2020 – Recruitment of International Service Staff (Joint Communication 05 2019)
Friday, 24 May 2019 -
23rd EUROPEAN SCOUT CONFERENCE – Announcing two Crowdcasts in preparation of the Conference (Conference Circular 09)
Wednesday, 22 May 2019 -
RECIRCULATION – FOR REVIEW: Draft Memorandum of Understanding (Joint Communication 04)
Wednesday, 22 May 2019
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Category Archives: Refugee Support
A Scouting Nederlands programme for the refugee camp
Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (33): a story from the Scouting Regio ZON.
“A refugee camp with a capacity for 3000 people has been set up near Nijmegen. This site is called Heumensoord and is the responsibility of the Central Organisation for Refugees (COA) in the Netherlands. The COA also cooperates with a local volunteer organisation called STIP.
Heumensoord is in the centre of the Guiding/Scouting District of Region ZON, which has 39 guide/scout groups with approximately 1000 staff and 3300 members. As Heumensoord is located in our region, we wished to offer guide/scout programmes to the children in the camp. We estimated that the camp has about 430 children up to 12 years old and 100-200 between 13 and 18 years old.
Having first contacted the COA and STIP, our team had an initial meeting on October 19 2015, to work out plans for guide/scout programmes. We then contacted the Dutch Scouting Centre to inform them about our plans and request advice about the plans’ completeness, insurance issues, contact with the press, etc.
Everything then proceeded rapidly, with much work being done in only a few days, including (i) a logo and flyer (‘Who will help next Sunday?’), presented on Facebook and received 4000 responses within 2 days; (ii) communication groups for Facebook and WhatsApp; (iii) defining the programme and discussing it with the COA, particularly about the rules and the do’s and don’ts; and (iv) also having Syrian translators involved.
The first Guide/Scout meeting at Heumensoord took place on Sunday October 25th! There were 26 enthusiastic Scout leaders, including 2 who had just returned from the World Jamboree in Japan. We organised many typical and traditional Dutch games. There were reporters from the local newspapers, so we received a lot of publicity. It was all a great success and experience.
We were enthusiastic about this success and therefore decided to continue the programme every Sunday afternoon for the next 6 months. Subsequently, and very quickly, several great things happened: (i) a dedicated program team of 6 Scout leaders attends every week; (ii) there is much support from all members of our district: 20 staff leaders weekly ; (iii) we started fundraising, and a substantial budget was created within one week; and (iv) we made badges for the staff and for promotion (purchase your badge for € 10,- to support our programme at Heumensoord). In short, the programme is running well, with about 40-60 participants every week. We have already had several fantastic Sunday afternoons and are still going strong!
What’s the programme? What do we offer?
We have all types of games with the exception of computer games. All the children, young people and enthusiastic parents are welcome to attend. At first we started with general games but gradually introducing more guiding/scouting games and structure. For example, we have included guiding/scouting skills such as the use of a compass, wind directions and of course knots. The youngsters enjoy this very much so we plan to slowly increasing the skill levels each week. We also encourage the children to create their own games.
Our team and our programme will be present every Sunday in December. We think this is essential, since it is not appropriate to tell the refugees “Sorry, there’s no meeting next Sunday, because for us it is holiday time.”.
This is a wonderful programme to do. We are proud to be involved in it, proud to be scouts, and proud of all the volunteers who make themselves available for these children every week.”
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 can we get more active in refugee support activities in our community?
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!
Martin Schulz visits Galatsi Refugee Camp (GR): Thank you for your valuable service!
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!
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)
Refugee support activities in the Southwest Finland Guide and Scout district
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!