World Scout Bureau, APR and Vietnam

It is indeed a very historic occasion to be able to organize this course exclusively for the Vietnamese leaders conducted by a group of leader trainers from different countries including the Philippines. As we all know Vietnam had been a founding member of the Asia Pacific Region and we are extremely happy to be able to organize this course towards the development of Scouting in Vietnam. Congratulations to all the leaders who have made it and are able to attend the course. A large number of leaders of 130 applied for the course but we had to limited participation to 50 as we could not take more for a single course. We intend to continue this course in the future for the remaining applicants. Taking the opportunity of this large gathering of Vietnamese scout leaders from over 30 scout groups let me highlight some of the very basic policies which are being followed by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in assisting the development of scouting in Vietnam.

First, WOSM will only deal with those Vietnamese Scout leaders who are residing in Vietnam and are therefore representing Vietnam. WOSM will not deal with any overseas groups in relation to scouting in Vietnam. Second, as there are many scouting groups in Vietnam and in the absence of any national scout organization, WOSM will continue to communicate with as many groups as possible and will keep in contact with them. However, WOSM does not recognize any one of the existing scouting groups in Vietnam as the sole representative of Vietnamese Scouting. For participation of Vietnam in any regional event as observers, the Regional scout Committee welcomes Vietnam as it did in the past. However, for any such participation, representatives from any two or more existing groups must be there and they will be listed in the event as one troop under the name Vietnam.

In the region, we all look forward to Vietnam becoming a full member of WOSM again. However, this can only happen once the very basics are accomplished. That is starting with a Constitution for Vietnam National Scout Organization, which is endorsed by the majority of the representatives from the existing scouting groups in Vietnam. This will lead to the formation of one national scout organization/association in Vietnam where the office bearers must be elected / appointed by a representative body/gathering. No existing scouting group currently operating in Vietnam will automatically be recognized as the national organization/national association. Once the national organization, together with the office bearers are established, all scouting groups currently operating in Vietnam will be registered in the national body. Hence let us all move forward and do not let history be an obstacle towards the formation of a national association and Vietnam becoming a WOSM member. Let us learn from history and move forward.

This specific course organized by the Asia Pacific Regional office together with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines will meet the usual standard expected for a wood badge course and anyone who completes the course will only receive a “Participation Certificate” but will not receive a wood badge certificate automatically. To qualify for the Wood Badge Certificate and the right to wear the wood badge beads, the participants must duly complete the assignments that will be given to them at the end of the course. The report at the end of the completion of assignment should be submitted to the regional office for endorsement. The Wood Badge Certificate will be issued using the standard as specified in the Training Scheme of the Boys Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) since there is no national association in Vietnam and only recognized national scout organizations can issue the standard Wood badge Certificate. Your Certificate will be issued by BSP co-signed by the regional office.

I appreciate the full support extended by BSP for the running of this course, together with the regional team of leader trainers. A very hearty appreciation to Bill Philipps of Equador who is financially helping to run the course and who has always rendered financial help for the development of scouting in Vietnam. He has visited Vietnam some years back and he is keen to see scouting developed in Vietnam under the guidance of the Asia pacific Regional Office.

Congratulations to everyone who made to this course possible and we hope that all participants of this course will successfully achieve the Wood Badge in the near future. This important training should make a big difference in the development of scouting in Vietnam.

Source: Excerpts from the Remarks of the Regional Director, World Scout Bureau, Asia Pacific Region, at the opening of the Wood badge Course for Vietnamese leaders, APR. Truy cập 1/10/2010 http://giupich.org/Tin-nuoc-ngoai/Bai-phat-bieu-cua-Truong-RaSheed.html. Photo source: Abdullah Rasheed, Regional Director, scout.org. Vietnamese version translated by giupich.org.