Ethiopia Scout Association
Encyclopedia
The Ethiopia Scout Association (Amharic:የኢትዮጵያ እስካውት ማህበር) is the national Scouting
association of Ethiopia
. The Scout movement was first introduced in Ethiopia around 1933, and opened a school in Addis Ababa
the next year. However, the association was forced to end its activities due to the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
of 1935-1936. Scouting was revived in Ethiopia in 1948, when Scout activities gained a foothold in the schools of Ethiopia. Ethiopia was recognized as a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
in 1969.
Ethiopia is also a former member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
, under the Ye-Ītyōṗṗyā Iscaout Mahber Yeljagered Kifle Mekitle, last mentioned in 1984, now part of the Ethiopia Scout Association.
. The Ethiopia Scout Association experienced its second demise in the early 1970s, when the Marxist Derg
regime dissolved the association and confiscated its properties and funds, claiming that the values of faith enshrined in the Scout promises were incompatible with the philosophy pursued by the new regime.
After twenty years of effort, with the emergence of the democratic system, and in accordance with the proclamation number 512/59, the Ethiopia Scout Association was re-established in 1995. The 35th World Scout Conference, convened in Durban, South Africa July 26–30, 1999, voted to remove Ethiopia from WOSM membership because the national Scout organization had ceased to exist (although earlier that year an Ethiopian contingent had attended the World Scout Jamboree
in Chile
). The Ethiopia Scout Association was readmitted to the WOSM at the World Scout Conference in Greece in July, 2002, the result of ten years effort by Father
Renzo Mancini, the Chief Scout of Ethiopia, commissioners and other members of the Ethiopia Scout Association, who worked to get the association recognized again at the world level. Soon after this most recent recognition by WOSM, with the support of the Africa Regional Office, the Ethiopia Scout Association organized a number of training courses, and conducted recruitment drives and public relation activities.
Presently there are 19,001 Scouts (as of 2011), compared to 9,829 in 1972.
When a Rover Scout leaves the crew after completing his/her 25th birthday, he/she can train to be a Scout leader and takes the title Golmassa.
The Scout Motto is ዝግጁ, pronounced zəɡədʒu, and means Ready in Amharic. http://www.amharicdictionary.com/Index.aspx?word=%E1%8B%9D%E1%8C%8D%E1%8C%81&type=amharic&lang=english
from the earlier flag of Ethiopia
.
, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America
, which supports units around the world.
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....
association of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. The Scout movement was first introduced in Ethiopia around 1933, and opened a school in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
the next year. However, the association was forced to end its activities due to the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
of 1935-1936. Scouting was revived in Ethiopia in 1948, when Scout activities gained a foothold in the schools of Ethiopia. Ethiopia was recognized as a member of 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...
in 1969.
Ethiopia is also a former member of 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...
, under the Ye-Ītyōṗṗyā Iscaout Mahber Yeljagered Kifle Mekitle, last mentioned in 1984, now part of the Ethiopia Scout Association.
History
Ethiopian Scouts assisted during the nation's droughts and famines in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as literacy campaigns and other community services. In the 1970s, Ethiopian Scouts established a new training and camping center at Lake LanganoLake Langano
Langano is a lake in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, exactly 200 kilometers by road south of the capital, Addis Ababa, on the border between the Misraq Shewa and Arsi Zones. The first European to record its existence, Oscar Neumann, records that it was also known as "Lake Kore"...
. The Ethiopia Scout Association experienced its second demise in the early 1970s, when the Marxist Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
regime dissolved the association and confiscated its properties and funds, claiming that the values of faith enshrined in the Scout promises were incompatible with the philosophy pursued by the new regime.
After twenty years of effort, with the emergence of the democratic system, and in accordance with the proclamation number 512/59, the Ethiopia Scout Association was re-established in 1995. The 35th World Scout Conference, convened in Durban, South Africa July 26–30, 1999, voted to remove Ethiopia from WOSM membership because the national Scout organization had ceased to exist (although earlier that year an Ethiopian contingent had attended the World Scout Jamboree
World Scout Jamboree
The World Scout Jamboree is a Scouting jamboree of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, typically attended by several tens of thousands of Scouts from around the world, aged 14 to 17....
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
). The Ethiopia Scout Association was readmitted to the WOSM at the World Scout Conference in Greece in July, 2002, the result of ten years effort by Father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
Renzo Mancini, the Chief Scout of Ethiopia, commissioners and other members of the Ethiopia Scout Association, who worked to get the association recognized again at the world level. Soon after this most recent recognition by WOSM, with the support of the Africa Regional Office, the Ethiopia Scout Association organized a number of training courses, and conducted recruitment drives and public relation activities.
Presently there are 19,001 Scouts (as of 2011), compared to 9,829 in 1972.
Program and ideals
- Tadagi Scouts (Cub Scouts) age 7 to 11/12
- Medebegha Scouts (Junior Scouts) age 11/12 to 15/17
- Wotat Scouts (Venture Scouts) age 15/17 to 18/19
- Awaki Scouts (Rover Scouts) age 18/19 to 25
When a Rover Scout leaves the crew after completing his/her 25th birthday, he/she can train to be a Scout leader and takes the title Golmassa.
The Scout Motto is ዝግጁ, pronounced zəɡədʒu, and means Ready in Amharic. http://www.amharicdictionary.com/Index.aspx?word=%E1%8B%9D%E1%8C%8D%E1%8C%81&type=amharic&lang=english
Emblems
The membership badge of the Ethiopia Scout Association features the lion of JudahLion of Judah
The Lion of Judah was the symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible .-Lion of Judah and Judaism:...
from the earlier flag of Ethiopia
Flag of Ethiopia
The flag of Ethiopia is a flag that was adopted on February 6, 1996. It conforms to the specifications set forth in article 3 of the 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia. The three traditional colours date back to Emperor Menelik and were first used in a flag in 1897...
.
International Scouting units in Ethiopia
In addition, there are American Boy Scouts in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, which supports units around the world.