Belarusian Scout Association
Encyclopedia
The Belarusian Scout Association (ABS, Аб`яднанне Беларускiх Скаўтаў, transliterated Ab'yadnannye Belaruskikh Skaǔtaǔ) is one of the nationwide Scouting
organizations in Belarus
. The association was founded in 1991 and liquidated in 2005 by the Supreme Court of Belarus
, but still continues to operate. In 1995, the association served about 1,500 members.
(BSAA; Аб`яднання Беларускiх Скаўтаў за мяжой, АБСМ), which existed from 1945 to 1951 in Germany
.
The Belarusian Scout Association was founded in 1991 by a small group of people from various cities, based in Minsk, officially registered in April, 1992, and had approximately 1,500 members as of 1995. Groups existed in the capital, as well as Baranavichy, Buiki
, Homyel
, Hrodna
, Rahačoŭ, Ruba
, and Vileika. The Chairperson in 1998 was Nikolai Grakov. Critics of the pro-Russian National Scout Association of Belarus
saw it as a government mouthpiece and direct descendant of the communist Pioneer
s, whitewashed for western consumption. Hence, the dissident, Belarusian and democratically-oriented Belarusian Scout Association had stayed separate, and largely underground due to political constraints. The ABS bought a country house to use as a camping center and organized regional camps there in the summer of 2003. One of the ABS regional newsletters became a citywide school paper with around 1000 circulation, as of 2004. The association was liquidated in 2005 by the Supreme Court of Belarus
, but still continues to operate.
The Scout Motto of ABS is Напагатове! (Napahatove!), Be Prepared in the Belarusian language
. The Belarusian noun for a single Scout is Скаўт. The official language of ABS is Belarusian.
The Scout emblem incorporates the Cross of Lorraine
, due to its appearance in the former national coat of arms of Belarus, the Pahonia
.
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
organizations in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. The association was founded in 1991 and liquidated in 2005 by the Supreme Court of Belarus
Supreme Court of Belarus
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus is the highest-tier court inside of Belarus and acts as the final "court of review." Its general tasks include the oversight of lower-tier courts and can render justice in areas of general civil and criminal law...
, but still continues to operate. In 1995, the association served about 1,500 members.
History and program
The Belarusian Scout Association is an independent non-profit organization of children, youth and adults, descended from traditions of the World Scout Movement and from the Belarusian Scout troops and Belarusian Scout Association AbroadScouts-in-Exile
Scouts-in-Exteris, also referred to as Scouts-in-Exile, are Scouting and Guiding groups formed outside of their native country as a result of war and changes in governments...
(BSAA; Аб`яднання Беларускiх Скаўтаў за мяжой, АБСМ), which existed from 1945 to 1951 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The Belarusian Scout Association was founded in 1991 by a small group of people from various cities, based in Minsk, officially registered in April, 1992, and had approximately 1,500 members as of 1995. Groups existed in the capital, as well as Baranavichy, Buiki
Buiki
Buiki is a settlement located in the Myadzyel rayon, Minsk Voblast of Belarus....
, Homyel
Homyel
Gomel ; also Homiel, Homel is the administrative center of Gomel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus. It has a population of 482,652...
, Hrodna
Hrodna
Grodno or Hrodna , is a city in Belarus. It is located on the Neman River , close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania . It has 327,540 inhabitants...
, Rahačoŭ, Ruba
Ruba
Ruba is an urban settlement in the Vitebsk Oblast of Belarus. It is subordinated to the ispolkom of Zheleznodorozhny District of Vitebsk....
, and Vileika. The Chairperson in 1998 was Nikolai Grakov. Critics of the pro-Russian National Scout Association of Belarus
National Scout Association of Belarus
The National Scout Association of Belarus is one of several nationwide Scouting associations in Belarus...
saw it as a government mouthpiece and direct descendant of the communist Pioneer
Pioneer movement
A pioneer movement is an organization for children operated by a communist party. Typically children enter into the organization in elementary school and continue until adolescence. The adolescents then typically joined the Young Communist League...
s, whitewashed for western consumption. Hence, the dissident, Belarusian and democratically-oriented Belarusian Scout Association had stayed separate, and largely underground due to political constraints. The ABS bought a country house to use as a camping center and organized regional camps there in the summer of 2003. One of the ABS regional newsletters became a citywide school paper with around 1000 circulation, as of 2004. The association was liquidated in 2005 by the Supreme Court of Belarus
Supreme Court of Belarus
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus is the highest-tier court inside of Belarus and acts as the final "court of review." Its general tasks include the oversight of lower-tier courts and can render justice in areas of general civil and criminal law...
, but still continues to operate.
The Scout Motto of ABS is Напагатове! (Napahatove!), Be Prepared in the Belarusian language
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
. The Belarusian noun for a single Scout is Скаўт. The official language of ABS is Belarusian.
The Scout emblem incorporates the Cross of Lorraine
Cross of Lorraine
The Cross of Lorraine is originally a heraldic cross. The two-barred cross consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length. In 20th century use it is "graded" with the upper bar being the shortest...
, due to its appearance in the former national coat of arms of Belarus, the Pahonia
Pahonia
The Pahonia , transliteration: Pahonya, , Lithuanian: Vytis, Pagaunė, is a historical symbol of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of which the eastern part later became known as Belarus...
.