| EUROFAX 69 | |
| June 1998 | |
"Eurofax is the monthly newsletter of the European Scout Region. It is produced by the European Scout Office and is distributed to all member associations in the European Region, and others. Reproduction of articles without alteration is encouraged but Eurofax should be acknowledged as the source of the information."
David Bull, from the United Kingdom, was elected by the new European Scout Committee as its Chairman. Here we present his introductory address to the European Scout Conference:
"Thank you for your support and friendship. Your new committee is ready to be of service to you. I should perhaps mention that the male members of the committee are honoured to be working with the first woman to be elected to the European Scout Committee, Therese Bermingham. I join the Conference in thanking the outgoing committee for all their work over the last triennium. They have been an example to us all. I would also like to say how much the new committee is looking forward to working with the staff of the European Scout Office and I would want to repeat our thanks to them for all they have done so far and for what they will do in the future. The elections to the committee presented excellent candidates from all over the Region. I salute all of them, hoping that those not elected this time will not be discouraged but continue their work for European Scouting. There are many issues which face us and I would like to mention some of them:
In conclusion, I would like to repeat the words I wrote when presented as a candidate: 'A key requirement for us all is to be aware of the need to develop our support for young people with a clear global, as well as European, point of view.' Thank you again: we, the members of the committee look forward to working in partnership with each of you. The European Scout Committee and the Europe Committee WAGGGS meet this month in Brussels, 19-21 June".
The European seminar on adolescent health and emotional development will be held at the European Youth Centre in Budapest, Hungary from 19-25 September 1998. Its aim is to encourage national associations to integrate health and emotional development issues into their programmes for young people aged 12-16, as well as into their leader training schemes. The deadline for application to attend the is 24 July. The invitation was sent in April's Europak.
The RAP User's Guide is designed to assist your national programme team in creating a new youth programme or reviewing and updating an existing one. It comprises: an introduction to the World Programme Policy, explaining the link between youth programme development, dissemination and implementation; eight RAP tools presenting the main steps in the programme development process; in conclusion, The Adults we Need, a presentation of the Adult Resources Policy which is closely linked to RAP. A preliminary distribution to each national association was made during the European Conference. One further copy will be sent this month to National Programme Commissioners, with a black and white unbound copy, which can be used to make extra photocopies for working groups. A diskette will be created to enable you to reproduce the diagrams and make transparencies. Thanks are due to everybody who has been involved in developing this project over the last three years, especially the members of the RAP network who helped us to identify the needs of national associations, contributed ideas and examples of different approaches, and field-tested some of the material. It will provide useful background information and practical examples to stimulate in-depth discussion on youth programme issues within your association.
As the peace process in the Middle East seems more fragile than ever and xenophobia seems to be growing in Europe, it is time to implement educational programmes which help young people develop positive attitudes and relationships. Since 1995, ASDE Scouts of Spain and the Spanish Committee for UNICEF have worked together to promote peace in the Mediterranean through a programme of cultural exchange, leader training and youth activities. From 3-13 July, they will organise the 2nd international seminar on education for peace for youth leaders from the Mediterranean area, as well as a seminar on intercultural education for members of NGOs working in this field. This will be followed by the Bridge of Cultures camp for young people aged 14-16 from 14-24 September. A network on education for peace has been set up, the first newsletter produced and a website designed. We wish ASDE and UNICEF every success with this outstanding project. Contact the network secretary: email: pazmed@nodo50.org Fax: +34.91/3147475 Or visit the project website at www.nodo50.org/pazmediterraneo
The third network meeting for Guide and Scout representatives to National Youth Councils and European Youth Platforms will take place from 17-20 September 1998 in Austria. The format of the meeting will differ this year with those representing Guiding and Scouting on National Youth Councils arriving on Thursday 17 for a training day, and those representing Guiding and Scouting at the European Youth Platforms arriving on Friday 18. Sessions will be organised so that all the issues relevant to different interest groups will be discussed and knowledge shared. If you would like further information on this event please contact the European Guide and Scout Office.
The Undaunted is about Scouts in eastern and central Europe who kept the Scouting spirit alive, despite oppression and persecution during many decades, and revived the Scout Movement at the earliest opportunity. Scouting was born in 1907 and quickly spread to many parts of the world. By the late 1930's Scouting was well established in more than 50 countries, but dark days were ahead for some: the values for which Scouting stood were unacceptable to totalitarian and communist regimes. Scouting was banned, and Scouts were oppressed and persecuted during 30, 40, even 50 years but the Scout spirit never died. It lived on in the hearts and minds of those it had touched, and it became a hope and dream of many young people who waited for the day that they could openly be Scouts. Author Piet Kroonenbrg has been a Scout since he took his Cub Scout Promise on his eighth birthday. During World War II he was active in Scouting at a time when it was illegal in the Netherlands and everything had to be "underground". After the war he worked with displaced persons, some of whom were Scouts eager to continue Scouting wherever they went. Over the years he volunteered much of his timeas a member of Scouting Nederland, often serving in functions with an international dimension. His interest in Exile Scout Movements, and Scouting left behind in their countries of origin, led to substantial research and eventually the compilation of The Forgotten Movements which was informally published in 1989. Piet is Historical Consultant to the European Scout Committee. Copies of The Undaunted are available from Scout Resources International, Les Longeray, Bor‚al, F-74370 Metz-Tessy, Annecy, France. Fax: +33.4/50.27.37.10 Email: score@world.scout.org Price: FRF 150 (USD 25), including shipping by surface mail. A complimentary copy will be sent to all national Scout associations in Europe.
In order to help your members plan well ahead for 1999, we are now starting to collect information for next year's EuroSteps booklet, to be published in English, French and German this November. A EuroStep is a site which may be either a permanent centre or a temporary camp. It should be cheap, offer basic facilities and be possible to reach by public transport or have transport provided. Above all, it should offer young people, aged 16-22, the opportunity to participate in original and challenging projects with young people from other countries. These projects should be related to the 6 key areas of the Passport for Europe: exploration and discovery; quality of life; democracy; culture; solidarity; career and social skills. Please fill in the application form, sent to all international commissioners in June's Europak, with all details of your project(s) and send it to the European Office. If your EuroStep is already included in this year's booklet and you would like it to feature again in the 1999 booklet, please note clearly on the form the changes which need to be made. Please check dates, prices and contact information very carefully! The deadline for inclusion in the 1999 kit is 11 September 1998. However, the sooner you can send in the necessary information, the sooner it can be entered into the database and thus speed up production. Please send by post a clear black and white map showing the location of the EuroStep, and photos or slides, if you have not done so previously. If you have any video coverage, please also send us a copy, for possible inclusion in any future promotional video. In Europak, you will also receive a EuroSteps 1998 evaluation form. Please assist us by collecting information about the number of participants at EuroSteps in your country this summer, as well as their views, experiences and suggestions on how to improve the programme. Quotations from young people or recorded interviews are especially useful.
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