The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND Scouts Association has with immediate effect adopted the modern 21st century scouting standards to help children to develop relevant and useful skill for the modern life styles, chairperson of the Manicaland Scout Association Mr Ernest Mungwari has said.
He said this was after observing that despite local scouts being able to carry out the different scouting skills, many still struggle when faced with real life challenges of the digital age.
Speaking at the official launch of the programme recently, Mr Mungwari said Manicaland Scout Association would introduce important short programmes in all camps where scouts would be exposed to skills like carpentry, baking, weaving, basket making and computer skills.
“These skills will be done in camps to make sure all those attending camping will benefit. The aim is to make sure that a Scout is useful whether at home or at school.
“When scouting was launched a century ago, the focus was survival in a world that was new to civilisation and the industrial revolution. As we now get into the digital and electronic era many of our scouts remain lost despite having acquired important traditional scouting skills.
“We, therefore, want our Scouts to acquire relevant skills, this is why we send Vincent (Kofi) to Germany to observe what the developed world is doing and why scouting is so popular in those countries,” he said.
Vincent Kofi spent two weeks in Frankfurt, Germany, with 10 others from different parts of the country at the German Scouts Jamboree.
Thre thousand scouts from Germany and about 300 from other countries attended the event.
Zimbabwe was the only African country among the countries present. The Zimbabwean team had a chance to showcase some traditional Zimbabwean dances and songs.
The team also had a chance to take part in the training sessions.
In those projects Scouts are given a chance to make real-life items, like chairs, key holders, irons, woggles, bricks, using soldering equipment and welding, among others.
The items they make can be sold.
“This equipped Scouts with real-life skills very relevant to what they face as they leave camp. The team also went on a tour of a nearby man-made beach where they had a chance to carry out various water activities, like swimming, skating and riding on speed boats. The team had a chance to visit the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Berlin, the Parliament Building and the president’s residence.
“These ideas came in handy especially in Zimbabwe right now when many youths find themselves being unemployment despite having completed school. It is the aim of the movement to make sure that its members be practically useful to themselves and be self sufficient,” said Mr Mungwari.
The Scouts national camp is held annually in August over the Heroes’ and De- fence Forces holiday.
Scouts from all the five scouting provinces in Zimbabwe meet to learn more life skills and share notes.
