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WE Connect replaces EUROPAK
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INFORMATION – From EUROPAK to WE Connect – the new Joint Regional Website (Regional Circular 21 2019)
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EUROPEAN JAMBOREE 2020 – Recruitment of International Service Staff (Joint Communication 05 2019)
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23rd EUROPEAN SCOUT CONFERENCE – Announcing two Crowdcasts in preparation of the Conference (Conference Circular 09)
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RECIRCULATION – FOR REVIEW: Draft Memorandum of Understanding (Joint Communication 04)
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Tag Archives: #ScoutGuideSupport
A very special International Volunteer Day: Scouts from mainland Greece join local Scouts on Chios to help refugees and migrants
Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (35): A story from Chios (GR) – Let’s take some paint and a brush and decorate this ugly hall!
(WSBERO/Chios) – “The scale of the refugee tragedy is incredible. Hundreds if not thousands of people – a third of them children – arrive daily on this small but beautiful Greek island having fled atrocities of war hoping for a better future somewhere in Europe”, says Sebastian Meitz, from the World Scout Bureau Global Support Centre in Kuala Lumpur, who had joined the Greek Scouts’ support mission to Chios, together with Thomas Ertlthaler, from the European Scout Region’s Messengers of Peace Decision Committee.
The Scout Movement helps refugees and migrants
Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (34): What’s next after the #RefugeeResponseSeminar
During the last weekend in November, Guides and Scouts from 27 countries gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the #RefugeeResponseSeminar discussing how best the Scout and Guide Movements and other youth organisations can contribute to refugee and migrant support activities. The participants shared their experience and challenges gained from activities currently run to the benefit of refugees and migrants all over Europe and developed new ideas for future projects.
“As Scouts we are pragmatic.”, commented Andrea Demarmels, Chairperson of the European Scout Committee of WOSM, “We know that we cannot solve the long term challenges faced by refugees and migrants in Europe. We choose to take leadership with a pragmatic approach and react to the situation by joining forces with our local communities to make a difference for some of the people affected by the tragedy and consequences of war.”
The colourful “Wall of Ideas” illustrates the many proposals and concrete project ideas developed and collected over the weekend. Soon, these will be available for others who were note able to attend the seminar and seek inspiration to launch or continue their own initiative in their local communities.
In the meantime, you can join the public Facebook group set up for the newly created #RefugeeResponseNetwork and consult information made available on the event’s #RefugeeResponseWebsite; this is also where all resources and materials from the seminar will be published.
(Image: Luc Ibis Rubben 2015)
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)
