There’s a little bit of a flutter in the air as
it’s not the usual group meeting, nor is it the friendly beer with a few scout
friends. But it’s definitely a friendly scout meeting. We can tell, we have our
scarfs on, but for the people behind the counter of the coffee shop we’ve
booked, we’re just a curious bunch of individuals that are meeting there for
some purpose.
Coffee, tea, lemonade, everyone takes their
pick, chairs and tables are being moved around, as people from our scout centre
as well as others, are still arriving. “Have you thought about what you’re
going to ask?”, “Not really” was the conversation next to me.
Soon enough the special guest arrives.
I don’t recall the exact moment when “president
of the world organisation” flew off somebody’s lips and where the number 40
million came from and became attached to the previous words. What I do remember
was a pause in activity on behalf of the coffee shop’s personnel. It’s not the
type of thing you see every day in your local bar. What they knew so far: a
bunch of people wearing scarfs were meeting with a guy who’s the president of a
world organisation made up of some 40 million people. Of course, you’re reading
this and know quite a bit more than they did.
João agreed to meet with us and talk about rovers,
since they hold a special place in is heart. He found good listeners and quite
a few eager to ask questions. Would it be of any surprise for you to know that
the first question asked was of howhe became chairman?
João laughed at the thought of such enthusiasm and
shared his experience with us: coordinating Roverway, joining the European
regional committee, being a member in the world committee and finally
chairperson. But there's basically no single paved road to walk down.
Soon enough, a new question appeared: “One
thing I experienced is that it’s hard to explain to potential employers here
that scouting builds real experience. They’re not really familiar with it. What
do you think could be done about that?”
João listened attentively and continued: You see, we need to tell stories in a
language that people understand, adapt your scouting experience to normal
language. We can’t just expect people to be familiar with the words we use
inside the organisation.
A sound of agreement fell over the room. But
how could we attract more rovers? Some people seem to think scouting is just
for children.
If you want to
convince the public opinion, you have to communicate. Instead of showing just
cubs, try showing young people having fun. You need to show that young people
have a place here. The community needs to understand that it’s not just for
young children; your local groups should show more young people. It’s a slow
process, but you have a good advantage, you have a lot of young leadership.
Later on, somebody brought up the topic friends
of scouting – what should we do to bring them close? To this we were advised to
invite them to events. “It depends what
type of event you want to have but keep in touch with them, because usually those
who have been scouts want to keep in touch. Show small appreciation. In my
country, we send e-mails at the end of the year and things like that. Some
countries have their own associations for former scouts. If you have a person
with a public profile you can show that this person was a scout and what
scouting meant to them”.
What do you think is the role a rover leader
should play?-somebody asks.
Well, they have a
different role than with other age groups. In rovers, the leader is more of a
facilitator. He’s like the referee in the football game, the players need to
acknowledge that he is there, but he’s not the main person. He has the contacts,
the experience and he can help if they become stuck.
One of the more experienced scouts in the room
stood up and spoke: Some of the people here have never been to a jamboree; can
you tell us more about jamborees, from your experience?
It’s basically a big
and exciting party. In scouting we sortof collect memories and experiences. This
happens on a local level in patrols, but also in jamborees. A jam can’t be same
old, same old. You get to meet people from various places,see how they do
things. If you think of it, for us, to meet somebody from other cities, it’s not
such a big deal, but for an 11 year old it’s really exciting. It can mean
discovering new activities and ideas. And it’s wonderful that you plan to have
international guests as well at your jamboree, because it really lets you see
the world from a new perspective. I always say that a jamboree is an important
opportunity not just to go to the person but also to improve and empower
yourself as an organisation. But it’s also a lot of work. You know, Radu
(Stinghe) was saying at the end of the last jamboree “Never again, hit me on
the head if I ever want to do this again. Now he’s doing it again. I think he
forgot, but it’s that way with these events”.
What was your first jamboree experience?
Oh, my first jam was
many years ago, back in my country and it brought together about 8000 scouts.
My first international one was the World Jamboree of 95’ in Netherlands. After
you experience an international jam, you just want more and more.
What do you think would be necessary to
organise a Roverway in Romania? – somebody asks. A wide smile appears on João’s face. Indeed, this is a room
filled with some big dreams, eager to get up and find their place in the world.
Doing a good job with the Romanian Jamboree of 2017 would be a good first step,
he advises, and then little by little we will learn all we need to take up such
a task. “What you need is to change the
point of view. When you go to international activities, it’s more complicated.
For example, you can’t just do the activities you want and like, or you have to
consider food for vegetarians and various religions”.
On a different note, somebody steps in and asks:
most of us leave from small towns and there are no leaders left there. Can you
give us any advice on this?
This happens
everywhere, my country too. If you can attract the adults that live there in
the town, that’s the best choice. You have to be careful, because scouting’s
purpose is not to make leaders. I know there’s this culture where you’re in a
local centre and you don’t leave because we just don’t do it that way, but if
you really believe in the mission of scouting that shouldn’t matter.
And if you think about
it, you don’t need to be there in order to be your centre’s success, you’re
already a success by being here, Radu Stinghe added to the conversation.
But what would somebody need to do to become
president of the world organisation? João bursts into laughter. What can you say, we
definitely aim high.
“Well, I can’t say do this or that, there’s no one way. How about being an advisor? They’re the
ones who prepare all sorts of policies. There is a team of your advisors, all
elected in their positions by a meeting of young representatives. They propose
resolutions. I don’t see why somebody from Romania couldn’t run for this. And
we have some youth advisors who run for the world committee. So if you really
want to be chairman, this could be a way to start. But you have to be
young-ish: 18 to 26.”But
to sum it up, his advice would be to be as implicated as possible in
international activities and with the national organisation.
Do you have any advice for working with rovers,
considering that at this age most of us attend university and/or work?
Projects need to be
planned ahead of time, have periods when you focus on scouting and periods when
you’re more relaxed. That’s the best you can do. But if you feel it’s
too much, or scouting doesn’t help you anymore it’s perfectly normal to stop
and find something new. In the end, scouting is what you want it to be.
A girl cuts in the silence left by the previous
statement: I’m taking a break from scouting for the moment.
“I tried quitting” somebody else adds “it
didn’t work. My name is Vlad and I’m a scoutaholic”. The room bursts into a
laughter of agreement.
The issue with
Romanians is that they have lots of passion. But the fact that you can stay
away gives perspective. In France for example they have to stay away from
scouting for some time, a few months maybe, to grow perspective. This can
benefit your actions as a scout leader.
A few
nod, taking in the idea while others shake their heads a bit more vigorously in
approval. Looking around, we’re the last customers. The espresso machine has
been silenced, the glasses and cups are drippingdry, the pillows have been
fluffed and put back into their rightful places, and all is set for closing;
all but a handful of eager scouts, puzzling away wondering if there is anything
they might still need to ask that might be answered by the chairman of WOSM.
“Why do you wear that purple scarf” asked a
voice from the back of the room. “Can’t you wear your favourite?”
Well, no I can’t. This
scarf represents the World Organisation, and all members of the committee have
to wear it. On cue, our youngest honorary member steps in
to offer him the scarf of our group. One can only wonder how many such a person
must own. To everybody’s delight, João puts on the scarf and soon enough an eager
photographer shouts for group photos.
Photos are taken, thank yous and goodbyes are
said. Soon groups and groups of young people wearing scarfs walk their ways
into the night. It was a fine Monday evening.
<<Article wrote by Ștefania Sahanschi>>
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