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Budhanilkantha,
Kathmandu 21~27 April 2005,Brief Report
SAF Scout Friendship Camp Nepal Scouts hosted the Third SAF
Scouts Friendship Camp from 21-28 April 2005, the third of a
series of friendship camps jointly organized by WOSM-Asia Pacific
Region and South Asia Foundation (SAF). Some 500 young boys
and girls, aged 12-26 years old, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka took part in the
camp. India sent their regrets because of their government's
travel advisory. For the first time, Afghan Scouts joined a
regional event after 23 years.
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The camp was held in Nepal's popular high school, Budhanilkantha
School, in Kathmandu. The participants received a warm welcome
from the Chief Scout of Nepal and Minister for Education and
Sports Radha Krishna Mainali. Chief Commissioner Sri Ram Lamichhanne
said that the presence of Scouts from SAARC area would help
consolidate friendship and mutual relations amongst these countries.
Participating Scouts went around the villages of Budhanilakantha,Kakani
and Nuwakot and made on-site studies of local specialties and
resources, the state of education and health, and later shared
their opinions on community development. Cultural exchange,
life skills, workshop and seminars on various issues were the
part of the camp. Here is the breakdown of the participants:
|
| Country |
Young
People
|
Adult
Leaders
|
Total |
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
| Afghanistan |
6
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
13
|
| Bangladesh |
10
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
22
|
| Bhutan |
10
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
22
|
| Maldives |
5
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
12
|
| Nepal |
136
|
116
|
46
|
23
|
321
|
| Pakistan |
10
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
22
|
| Sri
Lanka |
9
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
10
|
| Total |
186
|
156
|
52
|
28
|
422
|
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The participants and
guest enjoyed a very colourful exhibition of arts and craft
coming from the different countries of South Asia.These handicrafts
were then sold to the guests who visited the camp. The participants
also shared each other’s cultures by presenting songs and
dances from their countries. The five-day friendship camp concluded
on 27 April 2005 at Budhanilkantha located eight kilometres
north of Kathmandu, the base of Shivapuri Hills, which has an
altitude of 2,400 meters. Inaugurated by His Royal Highness.Crown
Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the objective of the Scout
camp is to enhance mutual fraternity among young people of South
Asia Region. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya
Laxmi Devi Shah was also present on the inaugural function. |
HRH the Crown Prince also affixed a special cancellation mark
on the commemorative stamp published to mark the function and
decorated the Asia Pacific Regional Director of the World Scouts
Organisation Abdullah Rasheed and Chief Commissioner of Bangladesh
Scouts Fazlur Rahman with the ‘Golden Rhino’, the
supreme medal of Nepal Scouts. HRH the Crown Prince also gave
away letters of appreciation and citation to various organisations
contributing to the success of the scout camp and the teams
participating from the South Asian countries and from various
Districts of Nepal. |
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Camp
Youth Forum
Under the theme, "Scouting: Preparing together active and
responsible citizens for South Asia” the camp organized
a youth forum, based on the “Scouts of the World”
scheme. The Youth Forum was opened by an address from the Chairperson
of SAF Nepal Chapter, Dr. Rita Thapa.
The organizers prepared two topics for discussions, which are:
First Topic: Preparing Young People to be Leaders of Tomorrow.
An input speaker made a 30-minute input, which showcased initiatives
in preparing young people to be responsible citizens and leaders
of tomorrow, through the Scout movement.
Second Topic: What are learning experiences that struck me
most or that changed me as a person, during the Discoveries?
Three young people was selected from the participants and each
gave a ten-minutes input, as three cases answering the question
on the second topic. |
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Organizers prepared several discoveries and participants learned
about Nepal’s rich and colorful cultural heritage –
its unique and fascinating history and the lifestyle of its
people. Participants articularly appreciated the beautiful and
eye - catching architecture in Bakthapur and Lalitpur.They also
spent a whole day in Kakani Scout Centre, which is the National
Training Center of Nepal Scouts. They did several activities
there, among which is a dialogue with local villagers and planting
trees. After the educational activities, the youth forum gave
them the avenue to discuss their discoveries and xperiences
that might affect their outlook or new perspectives. |
| Syd Castillo of APR office,
together with Ms Liv Pommer Jensen of Denmark, Mr TV Srinath
of India and Maiya Twayanabasu of Nepal, who are both members
of APR Programme Sub-Committee, coordinated the SAF-Scouts Camp
programme and the youth forum. |
Learning Experiences from the Discoveries
# Learned about the life
style of the people; beautiful & eye catching architecture;
rich colourful cultural heritage and unique& fascinating history
# Learned that the people of Bhaktapur and
Lalitpur are self sufficient because they grow their own crops
and make their own clothes. They mainly trade rice for giving
radish and maize;
# Understood the humble situation of
the local people of Kakani.
# Learned how to plant different types
of trees, like Kapoor, Cherry and Uttis. It was an unforgettable
experience, since it was the first time that we planted trees;
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What
we can do as Scouts
# Collect funds and provide free books
and stationeries;
# Visit different places and conduct
basic health awareness or immunization programs for the local
people;
# Teach the people of Kakani some handicraft
work and life skills whichwould help the jobless and motivate
the people to work hard for their own needs towards sustainable
development.;
# Organized Camps to be held in Kakani,
as the National Training Centre. |
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Gathering of SAARC
Chief Commissioners
Chief Commissioners or their representatives
from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Afghanistan convened during the third Chief Commissioners
Gathering on 23rd April in Kathmandu in conjunction with the
SAF Camp. Chief Scout and Minister of Education Radha Krishna
Mainali inaugurated the gathering.
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This
was a forum to discuss the challenges in each country. Chief
Commissioners reiterated the earlier decision that Sri Lanka
will host the SAF Scout Camp in 2006 while it was proposed that
2007 camp be held in Pakistan, and Bangladesh will host in 2008.
Prior to this camp, the first and second camps
were held in Bhutan and in Maldives.It was the first time that
Afghanistan attended the commissioner's gathering, with Gulahmad
Mustafa as representative, who also led the Afghan contingent
for the camp. Nepal Scouts welcomed all SAARC commissioners
to the Kakani Scout project (where skills training is also offered
to non-Scouts) and to the capital, Kathmandu. A grand reception
was given to around 200 Scout leaders to celebrate the event
at Hotel Radisson in Kathmandu. |
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Acknowledgement
We would like to thank UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet
Singh for providing the financial resource for the travel
of the verseas participants, to make the Third SAF-Scout Friendship
Camp a great success. We would also like to thank Dr. Rita
Thapa for gracing the Youth Forum and making an input address
during the Opening of the Forum last but not the least, we
would like to acknowledge the Nepal Scouts for a job well
done.
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3rd
SAF Scout Camp
Kathmandu, Nepal
21 - 27 April 2005
Financial Report
as on 30 May 2005
|
| Grant for South Asia Foundaion |
$ 40,000.00 |
| Less Expenses: |
|
| Subsidies to National Scout
Organization |
|
| Afghanistan |
$ 9,682.00 |
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| Bangladesh |
$ 4,840.00 |
|
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| Bhutan |
$ 4,708.00 |
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| Maldives |
$ 6,490.00 |
|
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| Pakistan |
$ 6,313.00 |
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| Sri Lanka |
$ 3,450.00
__________ |
$ 35,483.00 |
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| Other Cost: |
|
|
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| Land Travel Cost for Afghanistan
Participants |
& 2,500.00 |
|
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| Communication Cost |
$ 125.00 |
$ 2,625.00 |
$ 38,108.00 |
| BALANCE |
|
$ 1,892.00
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3rd SAF Scout Camp
21 - 27 April 2005
Kathmandu, Nepal
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NSO
|
No.
of Participants
|
Route
|
Airfare
|
Total
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Remarks
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| Afghanistan |
12 |
Kabul/Delhi
Delhi/Kathmandu |
$4,872.00
$4,810.00
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$9,682.00
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An additional
$2,500.00 was remitted to Afghanistan for the proposed
Land Travel from Kabul-Islamabad-Delhi which did not happen
at the last minute and instead all travelled by air. It
is to be return to APR.
* $ 4,570 - inclusive of the $250.00 Surcharge for other
10 participants for cancellation of Tickets |
| Bangladesh |
22 |
Dhaka/Kathmandu/Dhaka |
$4,840.00
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$4,840.00
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| Bhutan |
22 |
Paro/Kathmandu/Paro |
$4,708.00
|
$4,708.00
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| Maldives |
12 |
Male/Colombo/Bangkok
/Kathmandu |
$6,490.00
|
$6,490.00
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| Pakistan |
22 |
Karachi/Kathmandu
/Karachi |
$6,313.00
|
$6,313.00
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| Sri
Lanka |
10 |
Colombo/Doha/Kathmandu
Kathmandu/Doha/Colombo |
$3,450.00
|
$3,450.00
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* paid only for the 5 participants
because they are all male |
| Total |
100 |
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$35,483.00
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$35,483.00
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