| EUROFAX 78 | |
| March 1999 | |
"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."
The English language version of the Cub Scout Leader's Handbook has been launched by the European and Interamerican Regions, which made a joint presentation and distributed copies at the World Scout Jamboree. Additional copies will be mailed to all European associations this month. With the publication of this book, the Macpro-RAP approach moves into a new phase - field use in the Cub Scout section. It focuses on the needs of girls and boys aged 7-11 and includes chapters on: how to adapt all the elements of the Scout Method to this age range; how to select, design, carry out and evaluate activities; how to manage the annual programme cycle and how to assess personal development. Apart from being based on a solid, theoretical approach and giving practical hints on how to support a Cub Scout pack on a day-to-day basis, it is beautifully illustrated and a good source of inspiration to national programme teams. For additional copies and assistance with publication in your national language, please contact the European Scout Office.
This seminar will be held at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, France, from 2-9 May 1999. Its aims are: to enable national Scout and Guide associations to share ideas and experiences of how to provide young people with easy access to topical information; to identify various means of communication and analyse their usefulness and attractiveness to young people. Participants should be: young managers of innovative projects in the information and communication fields, or members of national, regional or local teams responsible for managing information and communication; able to communicate well in English or French; aged 18-30. The deadline for applications to the European Scout Office is 15 March.
The call for participants has been sent to national Scout associations in the European and Arab Regions, as well as to member organisations of the European Youth Forum and the Mediterranean Youth Forum. Candidates should be aged 18-25 and come from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. the deadline for application is 23 April. Further information on the Peace Cruise can be obtained from Anna Keep or Richard Amalvy, e-mail peace.cruise@euro.scout.org.
Richard Amalvy, the Project Manager, made three visits during the month of February to Greece, Turkey and Israel. The National Organising Committees for the Peace Cruise are currently being formed and have made the institutional contacts necessary to ensure fruitful partnership at local level. He also visited the European Union delegations, which had been informed about the project by Brussels: it is possible to increase our involvement in the Meda programme. Our cooperation with other youth organisations is very much appreciated.
The Peace Cruise has been integrated into the new Youth for Europe programme of the European Union as a pilot project. You will find it under Action D which encourages youth exchanges with third countries outside the European Union. In this way, the European Commission is encouraging exchanges along the route of the cruise. For more information, please contact Anna Keep or Richard Amalvy at the European Scout Office, or your national Youth For Europe Agency.
Planning for the next European Scout Jamboree is already underway. In 1997, an agreement had been made by ASDE and MSC in Spain, ZHP in Poland, Scouts de France and The Scout Association, UK, to organise a joint event for their Scout sections and work together to improve their youth programmes. However, due to the great interest shown by other associations, the organisers decided to propose a resolution to the European Scout Conference in 1998. The Conference decided that this event should be organised by the above-mentioned associations on behalf of the whole Region in 2001. The event will be held at Jambville, France, from 29 July 2001 (opening) to 3 August (closing) with the possibility to extend the stay at other camps throughout France or in home hospitality in neighbouring countries. It will cater for girls and boys aged 11-15 and participation will be in national patrols registered through national contingents. Twinning between patrols from different countries will be actively encouraged. The programme will be based on the three main areas proposed in the European Scout Region's Lands of Adventure programme: exploration and adventure; conquering new territories; the gang/group. The Jamboree will be used as an opportunity to experiment with new activities and to exchange ideas among national associations on how to improve programmes for the Scout section. The organisers would like as many associations as possible to be involved in planning and running this event to ensure that is truly a "European" Jamboree. More detailed information will be provided at the Forum on Youth Programme and Adult Resources in Malta.
The results of the EuroSteps '98 questionnaire have now been analysed. Out of a total of 64 EuroSteps in 22 countries, replies were received from 20 EuroSteps in 12 countries. Additional feedback was obtained from young people via the questionnaire in the EuroSteps '98 booklet, as well as from participants at the European Conference and the European Scout and Guide Centre Managers' Conference. A total of 5,851 young people aged 16-22 were reported as having visited the 20 EuroSteps surveyed in 1998. The 10 EuroSteps with the highest number of foreign participants in this age range were, in descending order: Kandersteg, Apulia, Bécours, Vässarö, Veruda, Mediterranean Forest, B.-P. Park, Bucher Berg, Saõ Jacinto, Buitenzorg. The countries with the highest number of young people visiting EuroSteps in foreign countries were, in descending order: Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Romania, Luxembourg, Denmark. In general, EuroSteps are pleased with the programme because it helps to make their programmes more challenging and more international, thus enabling them to attract more adolescents and young people from their own country and abroad. However, they have identified the need to improve promotion at all levels through workshops, training courses and publications, and for national associations to help groups prepare better for participation at a EuroStep. Young people also welcome the programme and consider participation an enjoyable and enriching experience. However, they request more support both from their own associations and the EuroSteps to plan and implement their projects. National associations welcome the Europe For You! programme, but request more information and support from the European Region to implement it at local level. A detailed report including recommendations for national associations, EuroSteps, participants and the European Scout Region will be published shortly and mailed via Europak.
The European working groups met at Gilwell Park, UK, from 19-21 February to review progress on implementing the European Scout Plan 1999-2007. The main item on the youth programme group's agenda was preparation for the Forum on Youth Programme and Adult Resources. Other items included RAP, Europe For You!, the European Scout Jamboree, Eurofolk and European seminars, use of the web site and communication tools. The adult resources group also worked on preparations for the Forum and developed a proposal for a European training and trainers' exchange programme. The communications group developed a plan to improve communication in the Region. By 2002 it is proposed that all national associations will be equipped with electronic means of communication in order to be able to communicate and exchange their ideas with others via the Internet. Other ideas exchanged, such as the creation of fora and mailing lists to facilitate cooperation in different areas of the European Scout Plan, the creation of a virtual library and resource centre, grants for equipment and training, will be presented to the European Scout Committee at its meeting this month for decision.
We are currently preparing a RAP update and would like to receive reports on how national associations have implemented RAP. Please send your feedback, remarks and suggestions to Jacqueline Collier at jcollier@euro.scout.org. Thank you in advance for your co-operation.
If you have not yet registered to participate in the North-South and Overture Network meetings to be held from 19-21 March in Courrière, Belgium, this is your last chance! During this meeting both networks will focus on intercultural training for adults and will exchange ideas, experiences and materials. For further information, please contact the host association: Fédération des Scouts Catholiques de Belgique, fax +32 2 511 46 87.
Please send your applications by fax, mail or e-mail to the European Scout Office as soon as possible.
Please send all applications to world events directly to the World Scout Bureau.
The European Scout Office is pleased to welcome Anne-Christine Vogelsang from Switzerland to join the team as administration assistant. She started work in Geneva on 1 March and can be reached at eurobureau@euro.scout.org
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