With the scouting fraternity seeking to widen its membership, a modern approach to activities that allows non-members to participate, giving them first-hand experience about the programme, has been suggested.
The proposal was noted by Operations Executive for the Caribbean, Trinidadian Ronald Richardson at a Regional Seminar on Educational Methods held at the Scout Association’s local headquarters, a press release from the Scout Association of Guyana said.
“In an effort to move away from the old system, a new approach that takes the concerns and inputs of young people is necessary. Young people are supposed to be responsible for their own development. These programmes aim to shape mechanisms that would help to incorporate their ideas and also transform the mind-set of leaders on how they implement programmes,” Richardson was quoted as saying.
He noted that while scouting has been growing in the Caribbean, the rate is not as fast as it should be, hence the need for a more modern approach. “The involvement of more non-members in scouting will also serve to attract new membership because when they come and participate in various activities, they will get a first hand view what scouting is all about. They can then go out there and spread the word, not only becoming members themselves but also encouraging others to come on board as well,” he added.
The seminar was the last of four conducted across the Caribbean, the release said. It focused on adults in scouting and the youth programme and saw the participation of 28 scouts, including members from Guyana, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent.
Other visiting leaders who participated in the sessions are Ralf Dillmann Trau, Adults in Scouting Director and Mauricio Calderon, Youth Programme Director, both based in Panama. President of the Scout Association in Guyana Ramsay Ali and other leaders of the local body and visiting scouts opened the seminar with a luncheon held on Friday at the Association’s headquarters. The meetings concluded on Sunday.
