Phnom Penh: 27 June 2014
- Mr. Jose Rizal Pangilinan, Director of Asia-Pacific Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement,
- Mr. Rajalingam Ramasamy, Chairman of APR Adult Support Sub-committee,
- Dr. Jeffrey Ho Kai Wang and Mr. Rafiqul Islam Khan, Vice-Chairmen of APR Adult Support Sub-Committee,
- Mr. Thian Hiong-Boon, Director of Resources and Administration of World Scouts Bureau/Asia-Pacific Region
- Excellencies, Distingushed Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
- Participants and Scout Members!
It is my great pleasure to join you all at the closing ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Worshop on Adult Support. Taking this opportunity, I would like to warmly welcome you all from more than ten National Scout Organizations to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Your participation in this workshop as resource speakers, coordinators, organizers, as well as participants is of vital significance. I also wish to express my profound appreciation to Mr. Jose Rizal Pangilinan, Director of the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, for choosing Cambodia as the host for this important event, which has been successfully held over the last four days.
Over these four days, thanks to skilled resource speakers and coordinators, our participants had a great opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge, as well as shared their experiences and best practices. I strongly hope that all participants have gained better understanding about the important roles and duties of Adult Leaders at all levels in Scouting.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It was my great pleasure to have learned that the four-day workshop report by H.E. Lak Sam Ath, Secretary-General of the Cambodia Scouts and the remarks by Mr. Jose Rizal Pangilinan, well highlighted the essence of this regional workshop from which ideas and best practices have been generated and shared, aimed at addressing the existing challenges of adult resources of each National Scout Organization (NSOs) in their respective participating countries. The workshop covered its important topics, including Adult in Scouting and formal Adult Training; Competency of adults in delivering Program and Training activities; Structure of Adult in Scouting and Adult Training at Regional and National Levels; Quality of Trainers in Adult in Scouting, Best Practices of Adult in Scouting; Function of Adult Support Sub-Committee in the National Scout Organizations; and Personal Development and Action Plan.
Youth has played an indispensable role, as saying goes: “No Youth, No Scout Movement”. Scouting is a movement for young people, which is managed, guided and supported by adults and leaders. Yet, Scout Movement could not have progressed significantly without the contribution and support of adults, both spiritually and intellectually. Adults and scout leaders, in this context, refer to volunteers responsible for youth program development, delivery and support of other adults and organization structure, particularly patrol leaders, troop leaders and group leaders; that is to say, unit leaders in schools and communities. Troop and group leaders are important in the scout movement development as they are directly involved with youth and those concerned. These leaders more fully understand youth psychology and aspiration. Therefore, NSOs need to promote young leadership with a high sense of responsibility and quality at all levels. I think it is important that the promotion of the Scout movement is linked with a reasonably thorough study and continued development of leadership quality. However, scout movement promotion does not only need leadership quality, but also adult inspiration and encouragement.
National Scout Organizations, especially the newly established NSOs, may face challenges with respect to effective leadership and leaders’ recruitment of the right capacity, appropriate background and experience, strong commitment to perform the tasks and willingness to develop the knowledge and skills.
Since the World Policy of the World Organization of the Scout Movement on “Adult Resources” was adopted in 1993, and was amended and re-entitled as Adult in Scouting and subsequently adopted in its 39th World Scout Conference held in Brazil in 2011, NSOs have adopted this policy and integrated it into their National Policy of each country. The adoption of the World Policy of Adult in Scouting and national training policies, particularly the expansion of networking among National Commissions, has been made, based on the spirit of unity and solidarity, in order to deliver the more effective and efficient implementation of the national scout policies. In this respect, scout resources, in particular young people and scout young leaders, are trained and developed to become good global citizens for a better world.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In order to develop adult resources to effectively respond to the World Policy of Adult in Scouting, I would like to stress that each National Scout Organization needs to attentively and continuously develop its Adult Resources. This also includes particularly focusing on the principles of impartial selection, effective training, unwavering support, recognition and the retention of adult resources.
To this end, I wish to offer my recommendations as follows:
- Adults selected should have better understanding of youth aspiration and psychology, with keen interest in personal development. They should also possess talents and competent skills in organizing and evaluating activities of units, have good communication skills and relationship with communities, be creative with a spirit of teamwork and be responsive to a possible risk, which may arise in each unit.
- Adult training should be provided, based on the needs of the scout movement for the benefits and development of scouts. This potentially provides adults with a better understanding and necessary skills for youth development and the building of good relations with others. The training is required for effective leadership of adults as it continuously promotes personal development growth to ensure a high sense of responsibility of individuals.
- Adults should be supported by each National Scout Organization so that they are encouraged to fulfill their responsibilities and duties and to provide amicable solutions to its remaining challenges and operations. Each responsibility and task should be clearly defined to completely avoid work repetition and overlapping.
- Awards and Recognition of adult resources should be encouraged, according to adult resources development policy in order to highly value the will, contributions, commitments and self-confidence. This highly motivates adults to participate and contribute to scout efforts in gathering potential members, creating a positive environment in scout movement, aimed at providing quality services.
- Retention and training of adults should be made, according to the requirements and needs of each National Scout Organization.
Dear Scout Members!
Adults have fulfilled their responsibilities and duties for the young scout leaders and scouts as consultants, monitors, advisers, designers and supporters, providing them guidance and encouragement. In this regard, youth should actively participate in the scout movement to contribute to its mission with respect to educating young people, with strict adherence to quality in order to build a better world in which global citizens can be self-educated to become qualified human resources in the global society. This can be successfully achieved through the gatherings of all youth to participate in the process of informal education while they are growing up and utilizing special scout methods to encourage personal development with self-confidence, patience, high sense of responsibilities and commitments. Simultaneously, youth should be assisted to create core values, based on the principles of “belief, society and self-development”.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All scout members,
Once again, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Jose Rizal Pangilinan, Director of the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and to all resource speakers, organizers, coordinators, participants and colleagues for your efforts and active participation in this successful and fruitful workshop.
Finally, I wish you all good health, continued success, happiness, and, of course, a safe trip back home.
I now announce the closing of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Workshop on Adult Support!
Thank you!