International

WELCOME to Scouting Ireland’s International Department. The International team manages the International Department. The team is lead by the International Commissioner, Ann Foley

The role of the International Commissioner and the team is to look after all aspects of International Scouting for Scouting Ireland. This includes:

Promoting and developing the international dimension of Scouting.
Representing the Association at International Scouting events.
Advising the National Youth Programme Committee and the National Adult Resources Committee of the various policies and initiatives devised through the World Scout Bureau or the European Regional Office.
Disseminating information received from other Scout Organisations to the relevant members of the Association.
Assisting and advising Scout Groups and Scout Counties in the organization of International events and activities.
Developing awareness of intercultural and international issues
Maintaining International Scouting links.

International News

Youth Delegates for European Scout and Guide Regional Conference

Letter from the International Commissioner:

Dear Scouters,

I would Like to advertise two places to Youth Delegates for European Scout and Guide Regional Conference in Beligum from 17th to 21st of July.

The profile of Youth delegates:

Aged 18-25years.
Member of Scouting Ireland..
Familiar with the policies and practices of Scouting Ireland .
Willing to attend training and meetings prior to the event .
Willing to work with the delegation to prepare for the Conference .
Willing to produce or assist in the production of a writen report to be sumitted by the International Commissioner to the National Management Committee .

For further details please see Sid 27 on the National Secretary's Web page .

Applicatants should send :

A cv of there Scouting back ground to the International Commissioner National Headquaters Larch Hill Dublin 16 by the 2nd of April

Ann Foley

International Commissioner

French Sea Scout Centenary

Internaional Camp Staff Program Counselers

Are being currently sought. Interested, click HERE

Describe your Youth Project and Win a Trip to Germany and €5000!

Charlemagne_Youth_Prize_2010Have you organised or participated in a project which helped to promote an

understanding between people throughout Europe?

The European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne prize in Aachen, Germany are looking for projects which promote a European and international understanding, foster the development of a shared sense of European identity and integration, serve as a role model for young people living in Europe and offer practical examples of Europeans living together as one community.

How to Apply: Simply apply online by writing a short description of your Youth Project. The deadline for application is 22 January 2010.

Who: Individual or group, participants of project must be 16-30yrs.

Win: Represent Ireland at Award Ceremony in Germany. Be in with the chance to win €5000 and a visit to the EU Parliament in Brussels or France.

Further info and applications form are availablewww.charlemagneyouthprize.eu

or contact the European Parliament Office in Ireland at 01-6057900 / www.europarl.ie

Please ensure that your project meets all the rules for entering the competition.

Scouting Ireland Expedition announced

The International Team have announced a Scouting Ireland expedition to Peru in 2010 - From the Andes to the Amazon. The expedition will be launched at National Council. Applications will be open to members of Scouting Ireland. Details will be regularly updated here.

World Scout Jamboree Contingent Leader appointed

John F Lawlor has been appointed Contingent Leader for the 22nd WSJ to Sweden in 2011. Details here.

Malaysia 2008

At the instigation of the International Team, Ventures and Scouters from the 177^th Dublin went to Malaysia to fit out and work in a sensory therapy clinic in Malaysia. Full details are available here.

India 2008

Members of the 35^th Dublin (Donore Avenue), 127^th Dublin (Drumcondra), and 5^th Port Dublin (Dollymount) went to India to work with local children over Christmas and the New year. When their report is received, we will make details available.

Information on overseas opportunities and events

Scouting Ireland receives notification of many events and courses overseas. Information on these events is circulated through the Provincial International Co-ordinators.

Your Provincial International Co-ordinators are:

Dublin Metropolitan Scout Province: Jennifer Lynn Simpson
North Eastern Scout Province: Alan Walsh
Northern Scout Province: Michael Daly
South Eastern Scout Province: Aidan Brennan
Southern Scout Province: Jenifer O'Regan
Western Scout Province: Henry Doherty

The Provincial International Co-ordinators are appointed by the Provincial Commissioners and are responsible, among other things, for disseminating information received from other Scout Organisations to the relevant members of the Association within the Province and assisting and advising Scout Groups and Scout Counties within the Scout Province in the organisation of International events and activities. The Provincial International Co-ordinators are here to help you with all your international queries.

Details of summer camps and international events can be found on the international calendar.

Details of European region seminars and events for 2009 are available here as a pdf download. If you are interested in any of these courses or events, please contact the relevant commissioner directly as the International Commissioner does not select participants for these events.

Information for Scouting Visitors to Ireland

Good day,

Many thanks for your interest in Scouting in Ireland. As a matter of protocol all requests regarding visits by Scouts to Ireland should be directed through your International Commissioner. Please contact your National Scouting Organization office and they should be able to assist you.

We ask you to understand that due to the volume of requests received by Scouting Ireland, it may not always be possible to be of assistance.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours in Scouting,

Ann Foley
International Commissioner

Scouting Ireland

Ireland can be a great destination for a Scout Adventure, the country has beautiful mountains and lakes, as it is an island it is surrounded by sea and this presents the perfect environment for any scout.

We recommend that Scouts travelling to Ireland plan their trips well in advance. Making sure that travel and accommodation plans are checked beforehand. Ireland can be an expensive country so make sure you budget for your camp correctly.

All Scouts travelling to Ireland should inform Scouting Ireland's International Commissioner of their intention to travel to Ireland and should carry with them an International Letter of Introduction (which will identify them as members of WOSM) this is available from your International Commissioner.

All Scouts are expected to act in an appropriate Scout like manner and leaders should ensure that Scouts are well supervised while in Ireland.

Best of luck and enjoy your stay

International Reports

2008 International Commissioner Report

World Scouting

Scouting Ireland is a member of WOSM - The World Organisation of Scouting Movements.

There are 216 member countries of WOSM. You can click here to see a list of all the countries where you will also find links to websites of other Scout Associations. Scouting worldwide is managed in 6 regions Africa, Eurasia, Europe, Arab, Interamerican, Asia Pacific

There are many world, regional and International events organised every year to see what events are coming up and where click here & to read the latest World Scouting News click here

World Scout Committee

The World Scout Committee is the executive board of WOSM. Ireland's Therese Bermingham is a member of the World Scout Committee.

European Scout Region

Ireland is part of the European Scout Region. You can find out more about the European Scout Region at their website www.scout.org/europe

Where to Stay in Europe

Throughout Europe there is a large network of scout centers and campsites where scouts and ventures can enjoy a variety of scouting programmes to find out more click The Where to Stay in Europe link on the European Scout Region site at http://www.scout.org/europe/

European Voluntary Programme

Many of these centers take on Voluntary Scout Staff, this is a wonderful intercultural opportunity for any leader or venture aged 18 -30yr. Accommodation and food are provided and travel is subsidised. Find out More click on the European Voluntary Programme on the European Scout website at http://www.scout.org/europe/

Léargas

Léargas is Ireland's National Agency for the management of transnational programmes. Léargas provide information and guidance on transnational and intercultural programme opportunities for young people. Léaegas also provides financial funding for transnational programmes under the European Youth Programme. For example Léargas funds youth exchanges

Action 1 - Youth for Europe Youth Exchange
A youth exchange brings together groups of young people from different backgrounds and partner countries and offers an opportunity to explore various themes whilst learning about each other and their different cultures and countries. Youth exchanges can be bilateral (involving two partner groups), trilateral (involving three partner groups) or multilateral (involving more than three partner groups).

What is NOT a Youth Exchange?
The following do not qualify as youth exchanges: statutory meetings of organisations, holidays, language courses, school class exchanges, study trips, performance tours or competitions, tourist visits, profitable activities.

Who can take part?
Young people aged 15 to 25 and their youth leaders/workers. Also, any group, club or organisation working with young people in the non-formal education sector, for example: youth clubs, youth organisations, social or cultural organisations, youth intervention projects, youth services etc.

What are the criteria and features?

Participants are young people aged 15 to 25
Minimum 16 to maximum 60 participants
Duration of an exchange is minimum 6 to maximum 21 programme days (not including travel days)
Young people should be involved in all stages of the exchange
Projects should have clear and achievable learning objectives based on an intercultural approach, a clear educational process and a strong European dimension
Priority will be given to groups of young people facing difficulties.

More information can be found at http://www.leargas.ie/youth/5actions.html

Thinking of Going Abroad?

The international team have produced a guide to help in planning you trip abroad.

It can be downloaded SID 24_04.doc .

Those groups travelling abroad need to submit an Overnight Approval Form (SIF 002A) and an International Travel Form (SIF 003a) to travel and camp at destinations outside the Island of Ireland form. These forms need to be received by National office 28 days prior to travel to allow for processing of the form, issuing of documentation and informing the Scout Association in the destination country that an Irish Scout troop will be visiting.

You can fill in and print off these forms from the appropriate link

SIF 002a .pdf

SIF 003a.pdf

The international team are always on hand to advise and assist scouts travelling to and from Ireland or to answer any queries you may have in relation to world scouting. You can contact the International Commissioner at international@scouts.ie or contact your Provincial International Co-ordinator.

Scouts of the World

Details of the Scouting Ireland Scouts of the World scheme are available here. The SW award is at a pilot stage within Scouting Ireland, interested parties can contact the Programme Commissioner (Ventures) for criteria for the award.

Kandersteg

Kandersteg International Scout Centre is the only world centre of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). The Centre began in 1923 with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, who, after the first World Scout Jamboree had a dream about a place where all Scouts from all over the world could meet. His dream came true and now YOU have the opportunity to visit Kandersteg International Scout Centre and live YOUR Dream!

The Centre is open to Scouts all year round, as well as to non-Scouts for most of the year. Members of Scouting Ireland have been on Kandersteg staff as 'pinkies' for many years. Scouting Ireland sponsors a room at KISC.

Find out more at www.kisc.ch

JEKA

JEKA have been organising holidays for youth groups since 1960 Now more than 40 years later they provide accommodation in over 120 centres in 11 different European Countries. To date over 700,000 young people have enjoyed a stay at one or other of their summer camp centres. All destinations were especially chosen with the interests of young people in mind. They welcome all types of youth groups with a minimum party size of 15 persons including leaders. Founded as a non-profit organisation, their concept still remains the same as in 1960 – to organise youth group holidays that represent true value for money.

Many Scout Groups from Scouting Ireland use JEKA each year in planning their trips abroad, you can find more information at http://www.jeka-groupholidays.co.uk/ireland/

It is easy to forget that Scouting is a worldwide organization with over 28 million members around the globe.

Scouting differs slightly in different countries and cultures so it is always a good experience to meet other members whenever possible.

Luckily there are a number of ways you can get to meet and work with Scouts from other countries.

European Scout Voluntary Programme

An amazing programme where you can get to work at a Scout site (such as Kandersteg) for anything from 4 weeks.
If you are between 18 and 30, want to experience scouting in different countries, and dont mind helping at a scout site, then the programme can assist with your funded for travel, accommodation and even food!