'What I did on my Holidays'

So to the proper update!

I’ve survived the whole duration of a SAGGA camp. Mainly by it not being your normal SAGGA camp! For it was providing the support and running bases for the Starburst programme at World Scout Jamboree.

So over my 6 days of service I worked with scouts from Bangladesh, Nigeria, USA, Israel, Nepal, UAE, Italy, Russia, Japan, Mauritania, Kuwait, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, UK, Zimbabwe, Swaziland (the whole contingent of 9), Algeria, Mexico, Netherlands & Norway. So that’s 21 Countries, to join IST from Peru, Chile, Brazil & Finland.

Of these countries the 2 that stick in the mind most are Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh for the obvious reason of having gone there with Guiding (in 2000 on a Guiding Overseas Linked with Development (GOLD) trip). The look on the face of the 14 year old Scout I was working with on cycles for ReCycle (one of the best countries to get doing bikes!!) when I said I had been there and knew the locations of most of the Thanas (Districts). They were from Sylhet (where most of the UK Bangladeshi come from), but was chuffed with my visits to Dhaka & Rajshahi. I had to do a bit of photo call GOLD style, but also got a photo of them.

The Zimbabwe group stick in the mind, due to the current situation in their homeland. They were a group of both white and black Zimbabweans, both working together and obvious great friends all together, no difference because of race. Given the animosity that has been stirred up between the white farmers and blacks … it was good to see that scouting does still shine through troubles. On talking to the leader, you did feel that you wished things would change for the better for their country to benefit both black and white. They have gone from an affluent African country that exported lots, to one where many exist rather than live due to the huge rate of inflation and poor rates of pay. Maybe by the time the next Jamboree comes in 2011 things will be better in Zimbabwe.

The Swaziland and Mauritanian Scouts also stand out, if only due to their small contingent size. It was great to see the shy Mauritanian Scout be befriended by a huge US scout in the Great Game of Britain. By lunchtime they scout had come out of himself and the US scout was really trying hard with his French to find out about his new friend, as were many others of they mainly English speaking group. They had all made him feel part of this huge group, although he was part of a small contingent.

So by the time I went to the closing ceremony I was really glad and enthused to have been part of the World Scout Jamboree. However I was left with one big thought … why can’t we have this with Guiding? It would be fab to have a World Jamboree for Guiding in 2010… but I think it’s a bit to late to start planning!

… Do you think I will have the best thing for the ‘What I did on my Holidays’ chat at the start of Brownies in September? I better go last in the circle ….