EUROFAX 74
November 1998 Home

"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."


Youth in central and eastern Europe in a period of transition

Forty-six national leaders representing 15 associations from 12 countries of central and eastern Europe met in Warsaw, Poland, from 23-25 October. The theme of the meeting was Youth in central and eastern Europe in a period of transition.

The meeting analysed the situation of young people during the period of social changes which resulted from the ideological and economic transformation of central and eastern European countries and considered the possibilities for using the purposes, principles and methods of Scouting and Guiding in contributing to the education of young people in their countries. Participants concluded that their associations share much in common due to the similar social, historical and geographical backgrounds in which they live. As elsewhere, Scouting and Guiding offer very effective non-formal educational opportunities for young people in these countries. The participants agreed that there is a great need for developing cooperation, based on youth and programme exchanges between their associations, which could be to the benefit of more young people in the countries of central and eastern Europe. All associations present committed themselves to taking full account of the meeting's conclusions in their future plans.

The countries represented were Belarus, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia. A number of representatives from the world and regional levels of both WAGGGS and WOSM were also present. The meeting was hosted by the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association ZHP.


Regional forum on Youth programme and adults in scouting

The Regional Forum on Youth Programme and Adults in Scouting will be held from 29 May - 5 June 1999 at Mount St. Joseph Centre, Malta, hosted by the Scout Association of Malta. Its aim is to assist national Scout associations in developing their youth programme and improving the management of their adult resources. This event has been planned in order to implement the European Scout Conference resolutions and meet the needs identified and requests made by national Scout associations in these two key areas of the World Organization's Strategy. The participation fee is CHF 350, with reductions being made available according to the GNP of the country concerned.

Participants must be: national and/or regional leaders involved in youth programme development or the management of adults; members of national or regional programme and training teams or similar bodies; other key people involved in the development of youth programme or strategies for the management of adult resources in Scouting. There is no age limit for this event, but an important restriction in the selection of participants is the use of English and French as working languages. The event is designed to accept up to 200 participants, not including possible partners and children. It will comprise two tracks, youth programme and adult resources, with some combined sessions on topics of general interest for both groups in order to strengthen the links between the two areas. Each participant should enrol for one of the tracks only. It is requested that each association sends several key people to participate in each track.

The invitation document and application form is in November's Europak and is also available on the regional web site. The completed forms should be sent to the European Scout Office to arrive no later than 26 March 1999. We encourage participants to send their applications as early as possible.


North-South and overture networks

The North-South and Overture networks met in Bern from 23-25 October, hosted by the Mouvement Scout de Suisse.

The North-South network brought together 20 participants from 10 countries. It reviewed the associations' current projects, examined case studies on partnership, discussed the issue of trust and mistrust, and started to evaluate the impact of the Kigali and Marrakech Charters using a questionnaire prepared by one of the participants. This process will be continued during future meetings. Information about WOSM's and WAGGGS' projects at world and regional levels were shared. Finally, the network approved a summary of its objectives and working methods prepared by one of the participants at the request of the network, which had previously identified the need to ensure more continuity in its work and a better understanding of its purpose both internally and externally.

The Overture network brought together the largest number of participants ever - 20 from 9 countries. A new impetus had been given by the European seminar on marginalised youth and the adoption of a resolution on this topic at the European Conference. The main agenda item was the recruitment of adults from ethnic and marginalised communities. A simulation game was organised by one of the participants and this was followed by a presentation on how to approach Muslim families. The network also reviewed associations' current projects relating to working with refugees, immigrants, disabled and marginalised youth, and planned future issues of the Overture newsletter.

The next meeting of the two networks will be held at Courrière in Belgium, 19-21 March 1999, hosted by the Fédération des Scouts Catholiques de Belgique. The North-South network will focus on training leaders in community development and partnership, and the Overture network will focus on intercultural training methods. Key reference material, including the Kigali and Marrakech Charters, the Overture newsletters, the report of the European seminars on marginalised youth and building bridges of friendship, project summaries and reports of network meetings are available on the regional web site.


Europe for you!

The EuroSteps 99 booklet (in English, French and German versions) and Where to Stay in Europe 99 (English-French version) have been completed and are now being printed. They will be mailed to national associations and participating sites thereafter. This should enable national associations to distribute them to local groups before Christmas. If you have not yet placed your order, please do so as quickly as possible by sending it to John Moffat at Kandersteg International Scout Centre. Fax: +41.33/675 82 89.

In 1999, there will be 64 EuroSteps in 22 countries. New countries include Latvia and Norway. There are exciting new projects for young people aged 16-22 in Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia. There are projects relating to the 6 key areas of the Passport for Europe, as well as to music, painting, photography, dancing, traditional crafts, restoring ancient monuments, preserving cultural and industrial heritage, social work with war victims, disabled or underprivileged people, preventing forest fires, repairing earthquake damage, gardening, bird-watching, trekking, sailing, and a wide variety of environmental issues. There is something for every taste!

A newsletter containing summaries of all EuroSteps and feedback from associations on various aspects of Europe For You ! will soon be sent via Europak, together with the report of the two European seminars on Europe For You ! - Experience and Adventure, hosted by the Verband Christlicher Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen, Landesverband Bayern. The information will also be made available on the regional web site: www.scout.org/europe


Together - We make a great team!

Internationally renowned travel guides publisher Lonely Planet helped by providing maps for this year's Europe For You ! publications. During the last 25 years, Lonely Planet has built up a wealth of experience and a stable of writers who have produced guidebooks to nearly every country on the planet. Lonely Planet Travel Guides explore a destination in depth whether city, country or continent with options to suit a range of budgets. As the name suggests, Lonely Planet Shoestring Guides are designed for travellers who want to make their money stretch as far as possible: for the truly budget-conscious traveller, these 'tried and true' classics offer reliable, first-hand advice on transportation, where to eat and accommodation.

For a free, full-colour catalogue, or to subscribe to their free quarterly newsletter, Planet Talk, please contact: Lonely Planet Publications, 10a Spring Place, London, Great Britain, NW5 3BH. Email: go@lonelyplanet.co.uk Or visit their web site at: www.lonelyplanet.co.uk where you will find a wealth of information about almost every country on the planet.


Seminars and events 1999

The Seminar and Events programme for 1999 has been sent to all associations via Europak and is now available on the regional web site: www.scout.org/europe The information will be updated regularly.


Cooperation brings Euro<26 benefits

Cooperation with Scout organizations has been on the agenda for many of the national Euro<26 youth card schemes around Europe. Starting in autumn 1998, some 2,000 Scouts in Aragon, Spain, have become the beneficiaries of a pilot project in which, as Scouts, they become automatic holders of the Carnet Joven Euro<26 card, which offers them a number of advantages including discounts on many items and services both at home and when they travel abroad. If there is a Euro<26 card scheme in your country and would like to consider a similar cooperation, find out more about how this pilot project in Aragon is working by contacting Julian Villarroya, Carten Joven, Franco y Lopez 4, 50005 Zaragoza, Spain. Tel: +34.976/55 09 04. Fax: +34.976/55 34 32.

There are more than 2.5 million youth card holders in more than 20 European countries. All cards bear the Euro<26 logo, which is used to mark the places and services offering advantages and discounts. All card organizations produce guides, available free of charge to cardholders, listing all the advantages available. More information about the Euro<26 scheme can be found in any of our Europe For You! publications, or by visiting their web site at www.euro26.org Email: eyca@euronet.nl

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