International Scouting
What is Scouting?
Definition
“SCOUTING is a voluntary, non-political, educational movement for young people; open to all without distinction of origin, race, or creed, in accordance with the purpose, principles and method conceived by the FOUNDER . . .”
What is International Scouting?
Scouting is Worldwide….
- Scouting is a worldwide Movement with over 40 million Scouts, boys and girls, youth and adults in 216 countries and territories.
- Main Territories: There are 26 Main territories where Scouting exists, often as overseas branches of member Scout organizations.
- Potential Member Countries: There are 29 countries where Scouting exists (be it embryonic or widespread) but where there is no National Scout Organization which is yet a member of the WOSM.
- Countries with No-Scouting: There are 6 countries where Scouting, to WOSM’s knowledge, does not exist; in some it would not be allowed. These countries are:
Andorra Peoples Republic of
China Cuba North Korea
Myanmar Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Vision of World Scouting
As Scouting entered its second century, it sees itself as a credible, value-based, educational movement, dynamic and innovative, involving more and more young people, girls and boys, from broader segments of society, attractive to adults, women and men, in all cultures, making a real contribution to creating a better world.
Mission of World Scouting
To contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.
World Organisation of Scout Movement (WOSM)
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3 Segments of WOSM
World Scout Conference
World Scout Committee
World Scout Bureau
Structure of the WOSM
WOSM Administration
Headquarters World Scout Bureau: Geneva,
Switzerland Secretary General’s Office:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Country Worldwide
Founded 1922
Founder Robert Baden- Powel
Membership 171 organizations
over 54 million participants (2020)
Secretary General Ahmad Alhendawi
World Scout Craig Turpie
Committee Chairman
The World Scout Conference
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- General Assembly of Scouting.
- Highest decision-making body.
- Composed of 6 delegates/votes from each of the member Scout Associations.
- Meets every 3 years and is hosted by a member Scout Association.
- At the Conference, basic cooperative efforts are agreed upon and plan of mutual coordination is adopted.
- The conference directed the move of World Scout Bureau from Ottawa, Canada to Geneva, Switzerland on 1 st May 1968.
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World Scout Conferences held
World Scout Committee
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- The World Scout Committee is the Chief Executive body of the World Scout Conference.
- This committee is composed of elected volunteers, and meets twice a year, usually, in Geneva.
- The Committee is composed of 14 members. 12 each from a different country for 3 year term by the World Scout Conference.
- Each member, if preferred, could stand for 2 consecutive elections, thus serving 6 years.
- The members are elected without regard to their nationality, represent the interests of the movement as a whole, not those of their country or the Region.
- Its Steering Committee, consisting of the Chairman, two Vice-Chairman and the Secretary General, meets as needed.
- The Secretary General and the Treasurer of WOSM are ex-officio members of the Committee.
- The Committee appoints sub-Committees and Task Forces under their purview to assist the Committee in its duties and function. e.g. Program SC, Resources SC, Management SC, Finance SC, Training SC, etc.
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The World Scout Bureau
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- The World Scout Bureau (WSB) is the secretariat that carries out the instructions of the World Scout Conference and the World Scout Committee.
- The WSB is administered by the Secretary General, who is supported by a small staff of technical resource personnel.
- The staff also helps arrange global events such as the World Scout Jamborees, encourages regional events, and acts as a liaison between the Scouting movement and other international organizations.
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The World Scout Bureau – Headquarters
1921-1958
London, England
1956-1968:
Ottawa, Canada
1968-2014:
Geneva, Switzerland
2014 to date:
Kwalalampur, Malaysia
The World Scout Bureau – 6 Regions in the World
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- Africa Region: Nairobi, Kenya
- Arab Region: Cairo, Egypt
- Asia Pacific Region: Manila, Philippines
- Eurasia Region: Kiev, Yalta-Gurzuf, Ukraine
- European Region: Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium
- Inter-American Region: Panama, Panama
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WOSM – 3 World Scout Centers
The WOSM is associated with the 3 World Scout Centers:
Picarquín World Scout Center in Chile
Operated by the Inter-American Region
Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland
Operated by the Scouts International Home Association
Cairo International Scout Center in Egypt
Operated by the Arab Region
WOSM Events
- The World Scout Jamboree is held every 4 years under the auspices of the WOSM, with members of WAGGGS also invited.
- WOSM also organizes the World Scout Moot, a Jamboree for 17-26 year olds, and has organized the World Scout Indaba, a gathering for Scout Leaders.
- The World Scout Foundation is a perpetual fund governed by a separate Board of Governors and supported by donations for the Development of Scouting Programs throughout the world.
Asia-Pacific Scout Region (APR)
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- APR has witnessed the births and rebirths of National Scout Organizations (NSO) since the region was founded in 1956.
- Formed with 10 founding members, it grew to 24 Member Countries, 2 Associate Member countries, 11 Potential Member Countries by 2016.
- 8 of the 15 largest Scout Associations in the world are in the Region, Total membership 30 million plus. Asia-Pacific Region has 83% of the World’s Scouting population.
- The APR Scout Committee is the Chief Executive Body of the Asia-Pacific Region and APR Conference, and is composed of elected volunteers.
- The Committee meets twice a year, usually in different countries in the Region.
- The Steering Committee consisting of the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen and the Regional Director, meet as needed.
- The Committee is composed of 11 members. Including the YAMG. (Youth Advisors)
- From each different county, 5 members are elected for 6 year terms by the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference.
- The members, elected without regard to their nationality, represent the interests of the movement as a whole, not those of their country.
- The Regional Director, Youth Forum Chairman (or Chairperson) and the Treasurer of the Region are exofficio members of the Committee.
- The Committee appoints Sub-Committees and Task Forces under their purview to assist the Committee.
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SRI LANKANS SERVED AT APR
2014-2017
Mr. Janaprith Fernando,
then International Commissioner
Appointed as Chairman,
WOSM Global Support Core Group (2014-2017).
Served until his appointment to the
World Scout Committee in July 2017
2012-2015
Mr. Prabath Kularathne,
then Headquarters Commissioner,
Appointed as 2nd Vice-Chairman,
APR Media & PR Scouting Profile Sub-Committee
(2012-2015)
2012-2015
Mr. Kapila Kalyana Perera,
Asst. Chief Commissioner,
Appointed as APR Member (2012-2015)