Fédération des Scouts de la République démocratique du Congo
Encyclopedia
The Fédération des Scouts de la République démocratique du Congo (FESCO), the national federation of eleven Scouting
organizations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, was founded in 1924, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
(WOSM) first in 1963 and again in 1981. The coeducational Fédération des Scouts de la République démocratique du Congo has 71,486 members as of 2010.
Scouting was banned in the Congo in 1967 by the government, and was restarted in the late 1970s. In 1981, the Organisations des Eclaireurs du Zaïre (OEZA) was readmitted to the WOSM. In 1990, the OEZA changed its structure and was renamed Fédération des Scouts du Zaïre (FSZ), the direct predecessor of the present FESCO.
The FESCO consists of eleven regional national Scout associations, reflecting the structure of the country. There was a general meeting in 2004 of all the Scout Associations with the intention of helping pave the way for creating a single national Scout association.
The Scouts are service oriented. They are a non-denominational organization and open to all youngsters. Scouts have promoted primary health care
and community development
. Scouts have built bridge
s and buildings, repaired schools, cleaned dispensaries and organized hygiene
and nutrition
campaigns.
The Scout Motto is Uwe Tayari, Be Prepared in Swahili
, and Sois Prêt (Be Prepared) or Toujours Prêt, Always Prepared in French, depending on the organization. The Scout emblem incorporates an earlier variant of the coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
Scouts existed in the breakaway State of Katanga
prior to its reabsorption into Congo in 1963, but it was never recognized by WOSM.
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 of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, was founded in 1924, and became 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...
(WOSM) first in 1963 and again in 1981. The coeducational Fédération des Scouts de la République démocratique du Congo has 71,486 members as of 2010.
Scouting was banned in the Congo in 1967 by the government, and was restarted in the late 1970s. In 1981, the Organisations des Eclaireurs du Zaïre (OEZA) was readmitted to the WOSM. In 1990, the OEZA changed its structure and was renamed Fédération des Scouts du Zaïre (FSZ), the direct predecessor of the present FESCO.
The FESCO consists of eleven regional national Scout associations, reflecting the structure of the country. There was a general meeting in 2004 of all the Scout Associations with the intention of helping pave the way for creating a single national Scout association.
Program
The federations works in four branches:- Louveteaux (Cub Scouts) — ages 6 to 12
- Scouts — ages 13 to 17
- Aînés (Senior Scouts) — ages 18 to 20
- Routiers (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 20 to 25
The Scouts are service oriented. They are a non-denominational organization and open to all youngsters. Scouts have promoted primary health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
and community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
. Scouts have built bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s and buildings, repaired schools, cleaned dispensaries and organized hygiene
Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the set of practices perceived by a community to be associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between...
and nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
campaigns.
The Scout Motto is Uwe Tayari, Be Prepared in Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, and Sois Prêt (Be Prepared) or Toujours Prêt, Always Prepared in French, depending on the organization. The Scout emblem incorporates an earlier variant of the coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has changed several times since 1997. The current one was introduced in 2006 and depicts a leopard head, surrounded by an elephant tusk to the left and a spear to the right. Below are the three words which make up the national motto: Justice, Paix,...
.
Regional associations
Among the regional members of FESCO are:- Association des Scouts du Sud-KivuSud-KivuSud-Kivu is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Bukavu.Following the 2005 Constitution , 25 new provinces were to be created from the 10 current provinces within 36 months . As of October 2010, this had not taken place...
(ASSK) - Association des Scouts du Nord-KivuNord-KivuNord-Kivu is a province bordering Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Goma....
(ASNK)
Scouting in Katanga
Scouts existed in the breakaway State of KatangaState of Katanga
Katanga was a breakaway state proclaimed on 11 July 1960 separating itself from the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. In revolt against the new government of Patrice Lumumba in July, Katanga declared independence under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local CONAKAT party...
prior to its reabsorption into Congo in 1963, but it was never recognized by WOSM.