Learning experience for scouts at World Moot
A group of scouts pay tribute at the grave of the movement's founder Lord Baden-Powel and his wife Olave Powel in Nyeri on August 1, 2010. The scouts are in Kenya for the 13th World Scouts Moot. Photo/ JOSEPH KANYI
More than 600 scouts from across the world have rolled up their sleeves to engage in community work in Embu.
The youths are in the country to commemorate the 13th World Scouts Moot. Aged between 18 and 25 years, the scouts, who are camping at the Njukiiri ASK showground, have been helping in community projects among other activities.
And in their free time, they enjoy cooking local dishes like ugali and githeri. The scouts, whose operating theme is ‘The Ultimate Discovery’, have established new friendships and understanding of different cultures which the organisers say was a key component of the moot.
International approach to things
“I have adapted well. I have many things to talk about with my Chinese, Kenyan, Nepalese and Korean friends,” said German rover Timothy Tibolt.
World Scout Bureau representative Saad Zian from Switzerland said that the multicultural interaction was breeding an international youth who can relate to the entire world.
“Since the world has become a global village, the youths need to have an international approach to things,” he said. The World Scout Bureau is the umbrella body of 160 scouting organisations with a membership of 51 million youths.
Speaking to the Nation at Njukiiri yesterday, Mr Zian said the African tour had been most adventurous. According to him, the youths would soon be leaders and the opportunity to learn should not be lost to any youth.
“If people can live without ethnic, xenophobic or racial barriers, appreciating, tolerating and learning from each other, the world would be a better place to live in.”
Mr Zian added that youths had similar basic experiences all over the world and that by meeting and sharing knowledge and that they needed an opportunity to learn about the world.
The Embu camp boma chief, Mr Simon Muthoga, said the scouts were learning from each other as they took part in discussions, cooking, living together and visiting areas of interest like schools and factories.
The other camps are at Kayiaba in Nyeri, Machakos and Rowallan in Nairobi.
