Boy Scouts de Syrie
Encyclopedia
Scouts of Syria is the national Scout
and Guide
organization of Syria
. Scouting in Syria was founded in 1912; Guiding started in the 1950s. The coeducational association serves 9,358 members and is a member of both the World Organization of the Scout Movement
and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
.
. In 1924, a federation of Christian and Muslim associations from Lebanon
and Syria became member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). In the 1930s and 1940s, this federation was affected by the political situation in the region, and especially by the separation of Syria and Lebanon, which led to the registration of the Boy Scouts de Syrie as a separate member of WOSM in August 1949.
Syria hosted the 1st Arab Regional Scout Jamboree
in 1954 and the 3rd Arab Regional Scout Jamboree and the 1st Arab Regional Scout Conference, both in 1958. During this conference, Damascus
was named as headquarters of the Arab Scout Region.
The Boy Scouts de Syrie were removed from WOSM-membership in November, 1999 due non-compliance with the constitutional obligations of WOSM (especially the non-payment of membership fees). Syria still participated in Scouting activities with Arab Scout Region neighbours while seeking return to WOSM membership. On July 1, 2008, it was readmitted to WOSM.
Ali al-Dandachi
, a member of the association, served on the World Scout Committee of WOSM from 1951 until 1957 and. In 1969, he was awarded the Bronze Wolf
, for his services to World Scouting. In 1980, Ibrahim Zakaria was also awarded the Bronze Wolf.
held its 3rd Arab Regional Conference in Damascus in 1970, followed by the Arab Committee Meeting in 1976. When the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party
banned all youth organizations in the 1980s, the association lost its international recognition. Guiding was restarted in 2000 after the election of Bashar al Assad as president of Syria. In July 2008, the Guide branch of Scouts of Syria was re-admitted to associate membership of WAGGGS.
The Scout branch of Scouts of Syria had 9,358 members in 2008 (1,170 Cub Scouts, 4,500 Scouts, 3,000 Advanced Scouts, 250 Rovers and 438 Adult Leaders). The Guide branch numbered 1,020 members.
In 1959, during the period when the Boy Scouts de Syrie was recognized as a unified Scout federation with Egypt
, the Levantine nation had 17,900 Scouts, and in 1990 membership stood at 11,073.
, where the first Arab Jamboree was held in 1954.
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....
and Guide
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
organization of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Scouting in Syria was founded in 1912; Guiding started in the 1950s. The coeducational association serves 9,358 members and is a member of both the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
.
Scouting
Scouting started in Syria in 1912, when the country was part of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. In 1924, a federation of Christian and Muslim associations from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Syria became member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). In the 1930s and 1940s, this federation was affected by the political situation in the region, and especially by the separation of Syria and Lebanon, which led to the registration of the Boy Scouts de Syrie as a separate member of WOSM in August 1949.
Syria hosted the 1st Arab Regional Scout Jamboree
WOSM-Arab Region
The Arab Scout Region also known as the Arab Scout Organization is the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt...
in 1954 and the 3rd Arab Regional Scout Jamboree and the 1st Arab Regional Scout Conference, both in 1958. During this conference, Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
was named as headquarters of the Arab Scout Region.
The Boy Scouts de Syrie were removed from WOSM-membership in November, 1999 due non-compliance with the constitutional obligations of WOSM (especially the non-payment of membership fees). Syria still participated in Scouting activities with Arab Scout Region neighbours while seeking return to WOSM membership. On July 1, 2008, it was readmitted to WOSM.
Ali al-Dandachi
Ali al-Dandachi
Ali al-Dandachi is a Syrian who served as the vice president of the Boy Scouts de Syrie. Dandachi also served on the International Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1951 to 1957...
, a member of the association, served on the World Scout Committee of WOSM from 1951 until 1957 and. In 1969, he was awarded the Bronze Wolf
Bronze Wolf
The Bronze Wolf Award is bestowed by the World Scout Committee to acknowledge "outstanding service by an individual to the World Scout Movement"...
, for his services to World Scouting. In 1980, Ibrahim Zakaria was also awarded the Bronze Wolf.
Guiding
Guiding in Syria started the 1950s. About 1960, the Guide Association became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The Arab Region of WAGGGSWAGGGS-Arab Region
The WAGGGS-Arab Region is the divisional office of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The WAGGGS-Arab Region comprises 17 members of Guiding in Western Asia and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,...
held its 3rd Arab Regional Conference in Damascus in 1970, followed by the Arab Committee Meeting in 1976. When the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party
Baath Party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party was a political party mixing Arab nationalist and Arab socialist interests, opposed to Western imperialism, and calling for the renaissance or resurrection and unification of the Arab world into a single state. Ba'ath is also spelled Ba'th or Baath and means...
banned all youth organizations in the 1980s, the association lost its international recognition. Guiding was restarted in 2000 after the election of Bashar al Assad as president of Syria. In July 2008, the Guide branch of Scouts of Syria was re-admitted to associate membership of WAGGGS.
Membership
The association is open to members of all faiths and of both genders. Many events and most leadership training are carried out jointly, however most local units are single-sex.The Scout branch of Scouts of Syria had 9,358 members in 2008 (1,170 Cub Scouts, 4,500 Scouts, 3,000 Advanced Scouts, 250 Rovers and 438 Adult Leaders). The Guide branch numbered 1,020 members.
In 1959, during the period when the Boy Scouts de Syrie was recognized as a unified Scout federation with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, the Levantine nation had 17,900 Scouts, and in 1990 membership stood at 11,073.
Sections
The association is divided in four sections according to age:- Cub ScoutCub ScoutA Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
s/Brownie Guides - ages 7 to 11 - ScoutsBoy ScoutA Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
/Guides - ages 12 to 14 - Advanced Scouts/Senior Guides - ages 15 to 17
- Rover Scouts/Ranger GuideRanger (Girl Guide)A Ranger or Ranger Guide is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 14 and 25. Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Rover Scouts-Early history:...
s - ages 18 to 23.
Motto
The Scout Motto is Kun Musta'idan or كن مستعداً, translating as Be Prepared in Arabic, but the local variant is Wa-a-iddoo or و أعدوا. The noun for a single Scout is Kashaf or كشاف in Arabic.Facilities
Syrian Scouts have a national training center at ZabadaniZabadani
Zabadani is a city in southwestern Syria in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, close to the border with Lebanon. It is located in the center of a green valley surrounded by high mountains at an elevation of around 1,100 m....
, where the first Arab Jamboree was held in 1954.
Further reading
- Boy Scouts International Bureau, Facts on World Scouting, Ottawa, Canada, 1961
- World Organization of the Scout Movement (1990), Scouting 'Round the World. 1990 edition. ISBN 2-88052-001-0