Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France
Encyclopedia
Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France (Guides and Scouts of France, EEdF) is an interreligious and coeducational Scouting
and Guiding
association in France
. The first interreligious Scouting groups in France were founded in 1911, and interreligious Guiding started in 1914; both movements merged in 1964 forming the EEdF. The association serves today about 35,000 members of both genders.
EEdF is a member of Scoutisme Français
and via this federation it is a member of both the World Organization of the Scout Movement
and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
.
. Three years later, the first Guide groups emerged. They formed the Fédération des Eclaireuses (FEE) in 1921. In the same year the EdF started the Cub Scout section; Rovering
followed in 1926.
In the 1930s, André Lefèvre
, chief of the Eclaireurs de France, set up a training camp for 60 Scoutmasters from all over French Indochina
.
During World War II, the EdF was among the founding members of the Fédération du Scoutisme Français in 1941. In 1947 some leaders left the EdF for its laical
attitude and founded the Eclaireurs Neutres de France
with a more positive position to religion. Despite this the membership of the EdF reached 50,000 Scouts in 1948.
The Eclaireurs de France and the Fédération des Eclaireuses started a process of mutual approach in 1949. This led to joint national jamborees
and finally led to the merger of the EdF, the EF and the FEE in 1964 under the name Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France.
In 1989, five local groups left the EEdF forming the Fédération des Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs
.
.
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 Guiding
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...
association in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The first interreligious Scouting groups in France were founded in 1911, and interreligious Guiding started in 1914; both movements merged in 1964 forming the EEdF. The association serves today about 35,000 members of both genders.
EEdF is a member of Scoutisme Français
Scoutisme Français
The Fédération du Scoutisme Français is an umbrella organization that combines the efforts of the several Scouting and Guiding associations in France and also represents the Scouting movement in French Guiana, Martinique, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, Réunion, Wallis and Futuna and...
and via this federation it 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...
.
Emblem
Bow and arrow were chosen as emblem by the founders of the Eclaireurs de France in 1911. The trefoil is for the girls and women. The Four colours (orange, green, red, blue) represent the four age groups.History
In 1911, two interreligious Scouting organizations were founded in France: the Eclaireurs de France (EdF) by Nicolas Benoit and the Eclaireurs Français (EF) by Pierre de CoubertinPierre de Coubertin
Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin was a French educationalist and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and is considered the father of the modern Olympic Games...
. Three years later, the first Guide groups emerged. They formed the Fédération des Eclaireuses (FEE) in 1921. In the same year the EdF started the Cub Scout section; Rovering
Rover Scouts
Rover Scouting is a service division of Scouting for young men, and in most countries, women. A group of Rovers, analogous to a Scout troop, is called a 'Crew.'...
followed in 1926.
In the 1930s, André Lefèvre
André Lefèvre (Scouting)
André Lefèvre was National Commissioner of the Éclaireurs de France from 1922 to 1940. In the 1930s, Lefèvre set up a training camp for 60 Scoutmasters from all over French Indochina...
, chief of the Eclaireurs de France, set up a training camp for 60 Scoutmasters from all over French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
.
During World War II, the EdF was among the founding members of the Fédération du Scoutisme Français in 1941. In 1947 some leaders left the EdF for its laical
Laïcité
French secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
attitude and founded the Eclaireurs Neutres de France
Éclaireurs Neutres de France
The Éclaireurs Neutres de France is a non-aligned French Scouting association, founded in 1947 by Marcel Lepage and serving 3,000 to 4,000 members of both genders....
with a more positive position to religion. Despite this the membership of the EdF reached 50,000 Scouts in 1948.
The Eclaireurs de France and the Fédération des Eclaireuses started a process of mutual approach in 1949. This led to joint national jamborees
Jamboree (Scouting)
In Scouting, a jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level.The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held in 1920, and was hosted by the United Kingdom...
and finally led to the merger of the EdF, the EF and the FEE in 1964 under the name Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France.
In 1989, five local groups left the EEdF forming the Fédération des Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs
Fédération des Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs
The Fédération des éclaireuses et éclaireurs is an umbrella federation of about 15 regional Scouting and Guiding associations in France. It was founded in 1989 and serves about 2000 members...
.
Values
The EEdF has formulated five core values that are fundamental for the whole association:- LaïcitéLaïcitéFrench secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
: The association and its members respect the diversity of mankind and fight against all types of discrimination and intolerance. - CoeducationCoeducationMixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
means to educate both girls and boys in the same groups for mutual understanding and acceptance. - DemocracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
means to have the choice between equal opportunities, to allow everybody her or his rights and duties to participate in common projects and to take responsibilities. - Openness and solidarity help to be open to the world and to others and to develop a spirit of exchange and working together.
- Engagement for the environmentNatural environmentThe natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
means to know and understand the world, to act for its protection and to respect its balance and harmony.
Sections
The association is divided in four sections, distinguished by ages, and a fifth one for leaders:- Les lutins et lutines (Pixies) - ages 6 to 8
- Les louveteaux et louvettes (Cub Scouts) - ages 8 to 12
- Les éclaireuses et éclaireurs (Guides and ScoutsScoutingScouting, 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....
) - ages 12 to 15 - Les aînés ("Elders" - Rover ScoutsRover ScoutsRover Scouting is a service division of Scouting for young men, and in most countries, women. A group of Rovers, analogous to a Scout troop, is called a 'Crew.'...
) - ages 15 to 19 - Les responsables d'animation (Leaders) - ages 17 and older
Scout Promise
The EdF were one of the few Scouting associations who were allowed to use the Alternative Promise by Robert Baden-Powell. This led to grave turbulences in the 1950s and finally to the introduction of a religious formula which may be used by the Scouts and Guides but is not an integral part of the Scout PromiseScout Promise
Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law. The wording of the Scout Promise and Scout Law have varied slightly over time and from country to...
.