Scouts celebrate Founder's Day
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 28, 2023 06:00
It commemorates the anniversary of the founder of the Boy Scouts Movement, Lord Robert Baden-Powell. The day marks the birthday of Robert Baden-Powell.
First Baron Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting, was born in 1857. Baden-Powell was a British army officer who founded the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Born in London, England, he died in Kenya, Africa, on January 8, 1941.
Scouts all over the world celebrate Founder’s Day each year in remembrance of their founder Lord Baden Powell who, through his vision, continues to equip young people with life and leadership skills to improve their communities and create a better world. On the other hand, their sister counterpart Girl Guide refers to this day as Thinking Day.
National Scout Organisations worldwide celebrate and observe through activities such as fundraising, food drives, and other forms of community service. In Botswana just as with any other organisation, Founder’s Day was celebrated around the country over the weekend. Since February 22 was on Wednesday it meant activities could only be postponed to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in camps across the globe. This postponement was worldwide since the movement is for young people most of whom are in school at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels and during weekdays are either in school or at work. During one of the camps organised by National Cub Commissioner ALT Moagi Gaadingwe at Sekgele Junior Secondary School in Kweneng District, it was attended by the Africa Scouts Committee Chairperson L T John K Maina and Vice Chairperson Africa Scout Foundation L T Ezekiel Z Malenya who is also the vice chairperson of the southern zone (SADC).
In his message across Africa, Maina urged all scouts organisations to take advantage of this first event of the year to reconnect and reaffirm their shared values:
1. Protect and preserve planet earth by avoiding the use of single-use plastics and adopting sustainable habits. We must take care of the environment. 2. Connect with (and give back to) your community.
The challenges facing our planet can only be solved if we work together, empower each other, and create a feeling of unity.
3. Engage other stakeholders in making a valuable contribution to the communities you come from with a view of bettering the lives of those around you. Take part in advocacy activities in your local communities.
4. Get active. It is hard to take care of others when we’re not taking care of ourselves! So, get moving and get sweating this Founder’s Day! Your body will thank you for it. Make a deliberate effort to improve your wellbeing. This year we encourage you to focus on mental health.
5. Renew and reflect. It is a time for scouts to reaffirm their commitment together and consider how scouting's century-old principles are still relevant in today's rapidly changing world. Take a moment to reaffirm the Scout Promise and reflect on the words of the promise and law.
6. Tell the story: Share on social media one of your memorable moments in scouting, and tag us on #ScoutinginAfrica and #FoundersDay In his part LT Ezekiel Malenya encouraged all the scouts across Africa to join the Africa Scout Foundation whose mandate is to fundraise and support scout projects across Africa, he encouraged the youth to apply for the Africa Scout Foundation Youth-led Project Grants by February 28 for a chance to get resources to implement impactful projects in their communities. Malenya emphasised that as they gather in camps, parades, processions, campaigns, or undertake community projects and other activities to commemorate Founder's Day, they should always remain true to the real meaning of being a scout which they can always find in the Scout Law and Promise. It is the only way we can honour the legacy of Baden-Powell. The event saw several scouts join the Africa Scout Foundation as members.
They donated food hampers to the less vulnerable families in the area
7.Youth mobilisation: as they gather in camps, parades, processions, campaigns, or undertake community projects and other activities to commemorate this Founder's Day, we urge you all to always remain true to the real meaning of being a scout and this you can always find in the Scout Promise and Law. It is the only way we can honour the legacy of Lord Baden-Powell. We also take this opportunity to remind scouts of these upcoming Regional and world Scout events: Africa Scouts Day from March 9 to 12 in Kenya, the first Africa Scout Rover Moot from April 15 to 25 in Kenya, and the 25th World Scout Jamboree from August 1 to 12 in Korea.