Scouts
of NamibiaScouts
of Namibia#1st Caprivi Scout Group Re-established
#Adult Leader Training in Katima Mulilo
#Africa Scout Conference in Mauritius
#Regional Scout Office in Ongwediva
The Namibian contingent to the Africa Scout Conference in Mauritius. From left to right: Jim Kastelic (National Commissioner: Adult Resources), Thomas Amutenya (Chief Scout), Sonja Bartsch (NC: Cubs) and Simeon Amupala (NC: Scouts)
The Conference, which is held every three years for leaders of National Scout Organizations in the Region, closed on 10 September. It was hosted by the Mauritius Scout Association and attended by 200 people from 50 countries.
Jos Nanette was elected Chairman of the Africa Scout Committee. He is the Chief Commissioner of the Mauritius Scout Association. The Vice-Chairman is Victoria Nalongo from Uganda.
The new members of the Committee are: Christopher Mbanga, Chief Commissioner of the Boy Scouts Association of Zimbabwe; Rui Luis Falcão Pinto de Andrade, General Commissioner of the Scout Association of Angola; Blaguet Marcel, Chief Commissioner of the Catholic Scouts of Côte D'Ivoire; and Alieu Njai, Chief Scout Commissioner of The Gambia Scout Association.
The highlight of the Africa Scout Region Conference was the announcement of a US$1 million grant from the Jacobs Foundation to the region for leadership development. Through this project, the Africa Scout Region will enhance its capacity to empower young people to participate in national development and thereby bring about positive change to their lives and that of their communities. Among the issues to be addressed include how to integrate young people into the fight against HIV/AIDS, promoting peaceful coexistence, and participating in decision-making processes. #back to top
The annual regional Scout and Cub camp is scheduled for 17th to 22nd December 2004.
This year, the camp will be held at Ruacana in Omusati Region. About 150 Scouts, 70 Cubs and 25 Adult Leaders will attend the camp.#back to top
To celebrate the centenary of Scouting in 2007, and as part of the attempt to gain the Nobel Peace Prize, WOSM (the World Organization of the Scout Movement) is asking every country to prepare a Gift of Peace for their own country from their own Scout Association.
Associations are asked to consider what that 'gift" might be and then to report at the World Conference in 2005. This information must also be presented at the Zonal Conference.
Every member of The Scouts of Namibia is being asked to think about this and submit ideas to National HQ. Involve the youth in this decision, after all, Scouting is for the youth.
Although Namibia is a country at peace, there are many ways to ensure that every Namibian has a better life:
What use is peace when your belly is empty? What use is peace if you have no home? What use is peace if we are constantly at war with the dreaded enemy of HIV/AIDS?
Every Scout Group in Namibia must think about the GIFT OF PEACE and send their suggestions to National HQ.
The deadline for ideas is BP Day 2005. (22 February 2005) #back to top
Eliphas “Kaukolwa” Ndjalo,the National Commissioner for Rovers would like us to “join hands” to help the Scouts of Namibia to grow.
So far, only one Group has taken up the challenge to “Start a Rover Crew in your Group” which was issued in this newsletter earlier this year—1st Tsumeb.
Join them and be part of the history of Scouts in Namibia.
To start a Rover Crew, invite former Scouts who are in the 18—25 year age group. Make sure that you have all your facts correct before you start telling them about the exciting Rover programme. The programme is sure to appeal to them, because it has been designed with this age group in mind. If you need any information or assistance, contact the National Commissioner for Rovers at PO Box 3173, Ongwediva or call 081 270 6469.
Remember that you have to register the Rover Crew with the National Commissioner. #back to top
The World Scout Conference is to be held in Tunisia (North Africa) in September. Each National Scout Association is entitled to send a delegation of 6 official representatives together with observers and accompanying Persons.
The Zonal Conference is to be hosted by LESOTHO SCOUT ASSOCIATION. Delegates will be asked to arrive in Lesotho (actual venue to be advised) on Friday 29 April 2005. The Conference will be opened on Saturday 30 April and will conclude on Sunday 1st May.
A YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM is to be held in Lesotho from Monday 25 to Thursday 28th April. Each Zonal member country will be invited to send TWO Youth Representatives NB NOT SCOUTS but Young Scout Leaders and Rovers between the ages of 18 and 26 years. This Forum will be facilitated by Dr Rajab Effendy from the World Scout Bureau in Geneva.
Adult Leaders Training Workshop will be held in Johannesburg from 4 - 7 May, facilitated by Dr Effendy, to discuss new training methods and also to look at the new courses which have been designed for use in the Zone by the special taskforce appointed by the Zone under the leadership of Buzz Macey. TWO delegates per country; the National Training/Adult Resources Commissioner from every country of the Zone to attend the workshop - even if it means they have to miss the Zonal Conference if they cannot afford to be away from home/work for the ten days from 29 April to 7th May. #back to top
Gabriel Kalungi from Uganda, who has 43 years of Scouting experience, not only found a core of enthusiastic potential adult leaders, but also found sponsorship to run an Introductory Course in Katima Mulilo in October.
The nine participants in the course are enthusiastic about starting Scout Groups next year. These fine people are the first members of the revived 1st Caprivi Scout Group.
Scouting was active in Katima Mulilo in the 1980’s, when Father Eugene Mooney established the 1st Caprivi Group there. Unfortunately, when Father Eugene returned to his home in Ireland due to ill health, the group petered out.#back to top
The course participants were Betty Kabozu, Phelem Katangu, Ben Lumponjani, Molly Matakala, Josephine Matengu, Florence Mauta, Christina Nyambe, Kennedy Nyambe and Johanna Theofelus.
A four-day training course was conducted from 7-10 October 2004 in Katima Mulilo to introduce Scouting to adult volunteers in the Caprivi Region and to give them some basic skills to present the Scouts of Namibia Youth Programme in a Cub Pack or a Scout Troop.
The course was a resounding success. This assessment is based not only on the feedback given by the candidates themselves, but also on their notes, their keen participation in all the training sessions, their quick grasp and solid understanding of Scouting as perceived by the course presenters, their high level of B-P Spirit at the end of the course, and their firm pledges to take Scouting to the youth of the region. While they will still need further training and encouragement, the basis of a thriving Scouting presence in the Caprivi has been established.
The candidates, six women and three men, were well selected to take part in the training. The fact that they are teachers and therefore understand children and educational concepts was a defining factor of the course’s success. It was also of considerable advantage that all candidates spoke fluent English and that they all had some training as HIV/AIDS advisers/counselors. In short, they were exceptionally high-caliber candidates. #back to top
1st Tsumeb was on the air this year as usual. We used the call sign V59T. As (bad) luck would have it, we managed only ONE contact with a Scout group in KwaZulu-Natal. We heard many, many stations (including World Bureau), but couldn't reach them via the airwaves. Better luck next time.
A total of 23 Scouts participated, and we managed to paint the Scout Hall, clean the grounds, and build a new wall and jungle jim for the obstacle course, all while camping out at the Scout grounds and swimming (four times) at the municipal swimming pool.
Wouldn't you know that it would rain lions and jackals (cats and dogs?) on the night we left everything from the Scout Hall outdoors, unprotected from the elements? #back to top
Extract from WOSM
CIRCULAR Nº 9/2004
“The WSC welcomed the news that the two constituent associations of Scouting in Ireland had
merged into a single Member Organization; rejoiced that the constitutional situation of Spain
had finally been resolved; noted that Namibia now qualified for full membership of WOSM
(rather than “accredited” status), subject to final approval of their constitution and a postal
vote of Member Organizations; and considered a number of other country matters concerning
which NSOs will be informed in the coming months.”
Extract from WOSM
CIRCULAR Nº 21/2004
The World Scout Committee, on the recommendation of the Constitutions Committee which has approved a revised constitution of the Scouts of Namibia, therefore recommends that Scouts of Namibia be admitted to full Membership of WOSM.
Under the terms of Article VI.2 of the WOSM Constitution, “if within three months the recommendation is unopposed or opposed by less than five per cent of the Member Organizations”, Scouts of Namibia will be declared a Member, as the National Scout Organization of Namibia, of the World Organization of the Scout Movement as from 12 October 2004. Affirmative votes are not required. #back to top
Johanna Theophelus took the Scout Promise on 15 November 2004 and was invested as the new Akela for the 1st Tsumeb Scout Group.
She is very enthusiastic about her role as a Pack Scouter. She successfully attended an Introductory Course in Katima Mulilo in October this year. Welcome aboard, Johanna, and Good Hunting!
The new office assistant is Ndeapo Hileni Kadhingula. She is a very kind, hardworking and dedicated person. She is in the office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 08h00 to 17h00. On Wednesdays she’s there from 08h00 to 13h00. Everyone is welcome to visit the office during working hours. Contact details are: Ongwediva Scout North, PO Box 3618, Ongwediva.
Telefax 065-231012,
E-mail: [email protected]
The office is not yet fully functional because there are no uniforms and other scouting material. But this will be done soon.
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27 DEC. 2005 - 7 JAN. 2006
The programme consist of camping and outdoor activities, handicraft, water activities and community service programmes.
Most activities take place at or around the campsite in Catembe.
There will also be a hike in the Libombo Mountains and Maputo Game Reserve, which takes you outside the main camp and may last overnight.
There will be an opening and a closing ceremony for all participants as well as evening campfires organized by sub-camps.
The Catembe Beach JAMBO Festival will be organized during the Jamboree to give opportunity for young participants to discover their skills in music, fine arts, dance, etc.
Participants are welcomed to contribute to the programme, especially at the campfires and JAMBO Festival.
Silvester Day, Spectacular arena shows and challenging competitions;
"Re-discovery of SCOUTING FOR BOYS for XXI century".
Exhibitions 100 years with SCOUTING FOR BOYS.
New pioneering in communication and technology.
Workshops and seminar: "Fight against poverty", "Education for Justice, Equality and Peace" and "Scouting - Respect for the Environment". #back to top
ICCO in the Netherlands, have sponsored several workshops in the Southern Zone. They appointed an independent evaluator from Johannesburg to go around to a number of National Associations and, through direct contact with those Associations, evaluate what has been achieved through the workshops and make recommendations as may be required on how to improve and possibly achieve better results.
Namibia was identified as one of the countries to be visited and evaluated for this project!
In October Mrs Rayna Taback came to Windhoek and interviewed key people in this regard.
She was delighted that every person with whom an interview had been arranged arrived promptly, “Most unusual," she said.
The Report from the Evaluator has been submitted to the donors and they are now considering whether they will sponsor this work for another year; what changes would have to be made to achieve better results and what activities will be offered. As soon as all this has been decided the proposed schedule for next year will be circulated. If ICCO are not happy with what has been done, they may not renew their sponsorship.
One of the main problems highlighted has been the lack of commitment from some Associations. At the end of the workshops people are tasked to do various things like completing the Programmes or drawing up/revising plans of action and very often Associations simply failed to do what they have undertken. When this happens donors feel they are wasting their money
This is very serious and an indictment of the leadership of several of our Associations - there is much talk and enthusiasm at the workshops - and then no follow up work is done! This issue must be addressed. #back to top
†
Laina Ndeufiilwa Shoombe
Passed away on the 19 September 2004 at Outapi State Hospital after illness. She was a new club leader at 1st Nakayale Group.
She was buried at Nakayale on 22 September 2004.
Ndinomukulili Nghinukamwenyo Nakwafila
Passed away on the 08 October 2004 in a tragic car accident in the Oshikango Region. She was a scout at 1st Onangolo Group in Makalani Region. She was a sister to Hilaria Nghimwena, one of the Scout leaders at Onangolo Group.
May their souls rest in peace
The Scouts of Namibia extend our deepest sympathy to their families.