The Scout and Guide Association of Qatar
Encyclopedia
The Scout and Guide Association of Qatar is the national Scouting
and Guiding
organization of Qatar
. Scouting was founded in Qatar in 1956 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
in 1965; the organization is also a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
. It serves 4,208 Scouts (as of 2011) and 1,916 Guides (as of 2003). The Scout president facilitated the building of the local zoo.
Program emphasis is on out-of-school education in religion
, citizenship
and health
as well as the usual Scoutcraft
s, physical fitness
and community service
.
There are Scout courses in wildlife conservation and projects for increasing plant life.
Guiding was started in 1995, as the present government
issued a decree and accepted the formation of the Guiding movement. Immediately, the Guides joined the Scouts and The Scout and Guide Association of Qatar was established. The Minister of Education
has recruited six Commissioners to promote Guiding as an extracurricular activity in all schools. All leaders are teachers in the schools.
Guiding is rapidly gaining a high profile in society, reflected in their membership. Members come from different areas and various sections of society. Guiding mostly operates from Doha
, however some units have started in different parts of the country. Membership stood at 2,011 as of February 2002.
There is a special program for Sea Scouts who are trained in all water and boat activities. There is also a small Air Scout section.
The Scout Motto is Kun Musta'idan or كن مستعداً, translating as Be Prepared in Arabic. The noun for a single Scout is Kashaf or كشاف in Arabic. The membership badge incorporates elements of the coat of arms of Qatar
, and both the trefoil
representing the girls and the fleur-de-lis
representing the boys.
, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America
, which supports units around the world, as well as Girl Scouts of the USA
and British Scouts
(now closed).
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...
organization of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. Scouting was founded in Qatar in 1956 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...
in 1965; the organization is also a 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...
. It serves 4,208 Scouts (as of 2011) and 1,916 Guides (as of 2003). The Scout president facilitated the building of the local zoo.
Program emphasis is on out-of-school education in religion
Religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
, citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
as well as the usual Scoutcraft
Scoutcraft
Scoutcraft is a term used to cover a variety of woodcraft knowledge and skills required by people seeking to venture into wild country and sustain themselves independently. The term has been adopted by Scouting organizations to reflect skills and knowledge which are felt to be a core part of the...
s, physical fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
and community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
.
There are Scout courses in wildlife conservation and projects for increasing plant life.
Guiding was started in 1995, as the present government
Hamad bin Khalifa
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the ruling Emir of the State of Qatar since 1995.Sheikh Hamad was the appointed Heir Apparent of Qatar between 1977 and 1995 and at the same time Minister of Defense. In the early 1980s he led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets the Qatar's basic economic...
issued a decree and accepted the formation of the Guiding movement. Immediately, the Guides joined the Scouts and The Scout and Guide Association of Qatar was established. The Minister of Education
Education in Qatar
Along with the country’s free health care to every citizen, every child has free education from kindergarten through high school. Some universities from the United States have opened satellite campuses in the country at Education City, Qatar...
has recruited six Commissioners to promote Guiding as an extracurricular activity in all schools. All leaders are teachers in the schools.
Guiding is rapidly gaining a high profile in society, reflected in their membership. Members come from different areas and various sections of society. Guiding mostly operates from Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, however some units have started in different parts of the country. Membership stood at 2,011 as of February 2002.
There is a special program for Sea Scouts who are trained in all water and boat activities. There is also a small Air Scout section.
The Scout Motto is Kun Musta'idan or كن مستعداً, translating as Be Prepared in Arabic. The noun for a single Scout is Kashaf or كشاف in Arabic. The membership badge incorporates elements of the coat of arms of Qatar
Coat of arms of Qatar
The emblem of Qatar show two crossed white bent swords in a yellow circle. Between the swords there is a sailing ship sailing on blue and white waves beside an island with two palm trees. The circle is surrounded by a round doughnut-shaped object, which is divided horizontally...
, and both the trefoil
Trefoil
Trefoil is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism...
representing the girls and the 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...
representing the boys.
International Scouting units in Qatar
In addition, there are American Boy Scouts in DohaDoha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, 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, as well as Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
and British 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...
(now closed).