Scouting in Turkmenistan
Encyclopedia
There is no formal Scouting
organization yet in Turkmenistan
, due to the political situation
and because Turkmenistan refuses to join any organization because of its "status of permanent neutrality
," which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly
on December 12, 1995. The only widespread outreach activities for Turkmen children between ages 8 and 14 are 10 to 14 day camp
s that do not provide any education
al components, but organize some cultural events
like concert
s, poems and dance competition
s.
With the death of Saparmurat Niyazov
on December 21, 2006, the situation may change, possibly opening for the expansion of Scouting.
There are, however, two Scout troop
s active in the vicinity of the capital, Ashgabat.
As far as is known, Scouting was not introduced to the region during the khanate period of the pre-Soviet era.
The concept of Scouting is at least marginally understood in Turkmenistan, as Turkmenistan issued postage stamps for the October 7, 1997 90th anniversary of the Boy Scouts
; as well as other Turkmen postage stamps with Scout motifs and showing a heavy, darkish colored fleur-de-lis
. Of course this does not necessarily mean complete understanding, and the stamps may well simply have been produced for the sake of marketability, but it shows that the concept of Scouting exists at some level in Turkmenistan.
With the 1991 breakup
of the Soviet Union
, it was suggested that the Türkiye İzcilik Federasyonu
assist in the creation of Scouting movements in the Turkic Central Asia
n republics of Kazakhstan
, Kyrgyzstan
, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
, but it is uncertain if this plan ever materialized.
The Scout Motto would be Daima Häzir, Be Prepared in Turkmen, similar to Azeri
and Turkish
mottoes. The Turkmen noun for a single Scout would be Skaut or İzci. Given recent flux in the Turkmen language
, an entirely different name may be decided upon.
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....
organization yet in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
, due to the political situation
Politics of Turkmenistan
The politics of Turkmenistan takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is both head of state and head of government...
and because Turkmenistan refuses to join any organization because of its "status of permanent neutrality
Neutrality Arch
The Neutrality Arch is a monument located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.The arch is tall and was built in 1998 on the orders of Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov to commemorate the country's official position of neutrality. It cost $12 million to construct. The three-legged arch was...
," which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
on December 12, 1995. The only widespread outreach activities for Turkmen children between ages 8 and 14 are 10 to 14 day camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
s that do not provide any education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al components, but organize some cultural events
Culture of Turkmenistan
thumb|right|250px|A Yomut Turkmen in a traditional attire, early XX century.The Turkmen people have traditionally been nomads and horsemen, and even today after the fall of the USSR attempts to urbanize the Turkmens have not been very successful. They never really formed a coherent nation or ethnic...
like concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, poems and dance competition
Competitive dance
Competitive dance is a popular, widespread activity in which competitors perform dances in any of several permitted dance styles—such as acro, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, and tap—before a common group of judges...
s.
With the death of Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov; , was a Turkmen politician who served as President of Turkmenistan from 2 November 1990 until his death in 2006...
on December 21, 2006, the situation may change, possibly opening for the expansion of Scouting.
There are, however, two Scout troop
Scout troop
The Scout troop is a unit of Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts that usually meet weekly. Girl Guides often use Unit or Company instead. The troop is the fundamental unit, which a Scout joins and via which he or she participates in Scouting activities, such as camping, backpacking, and...
s active in the vicinity of the capital, Ashgabat.
As far as is known, Scouting was not introduced to the region during the khanate period of the pre-Soviet era.
The concept of Scouting is at least marginally understood in Turkmenistan, as Turkmenistan issued postage stamps for the October 7, 1997 90th anniversary of the Boy Scouts
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
; as well as other Turkmen postage stamps with Scout motifs and showing a heavy, darkish colored fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
. Of course this does not necessarily mean complete understanding, and the stamps may well simply have been produced for the sake of marketability, but it shows that the concept of Scouting exists at some level in Turkmenistan.
With the 1991 breakup
History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)
The history of the Soviet Union from 1982 through 1991, spans the period from Leonid Brezhnev's death and funeral until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Due to the years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development, economic growth stagnated...
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, it was suggested that the Türkiye İzcilik Federasyonu
Türkiye Izcilik Federasyonu
Scouting and Guiding Federation of Turkey is the national Scouting and Guiding federation of Turkey. It serves 33,974 Scouts and 2,883 Guides...
assist in the creation of Scouting movements in the Turkic Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n republics of Kazakhstan
Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan
The coeducational Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan was officially founded in 1992, and received World Organization of the Scout Movement recognition on January 16, 2008...
, Kyrgyzstan
Scouting in Kyrgyzstan
Scouting in Kyrgyzstan was founded in November 1994 and is not yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, but is working toward WOSM recognition...
, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Scout Association of Uzbekistan
Scouting in Uzbekistan was founded in 1995, and is working toward World Organization of the Scout Movement recognition. In 1998, Scouting was limited to two Scout troops with a total of 15 members...
, but it is uncertain if this plan ever materialized.
The Scout Motto would be Daima Häzir, Be Prepared in Turkmen, similar to Azeri
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
and Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
mottoes. The Turkmen noun for a single Scout would be Skaut or İzci. Given recent flux in the Turkmen language
Turkmen language
Turkmen is the national language of Turkmenistan...
, an entirely different name may be decided upon.
See also
- World Organization of the Scout MovementWorld Organization of the Scout MovementThe 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...
- Organization of the Scout Movement of KazakhstanOrganization of the Scout Movement of KazakhstanThe coeducational Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan was officially founded in 1992, and received World Organization of the Scout Movement recognition on January 16, 2008...
- Scouting in KyrgyzstanScouting in KyrgyzstanScouting in Kyrgyzstan was founded in November 1994 and is not yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, but is working toward WOSM recognition...
- Scout Association of UzbekistanScout Association of UzbekistanScouting in Uzbekistan was founded in 1995, and is working toward World Organization of the Scout Movement recognition. In 1998, Scouting was limited to two Scout troops with a total of 15 members...