WOSM-Arab Region
Encyclopedia
The Arab Scout Region also known as the Arab Scout Organization is the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
, headquartered in Cairo
, Egypt
. By 1954, Scouting had become so popular in Arab countries that WOSM established the Arab Scout Region in Damascus, Syria.
The Region comprises 17 members of Scouting
in Western Asia
and North Africa
, including Algeria
, Bahrain
, Egypt
, Jordan
, Kuwait
, Lebanon
, Libya
, Mauritania
, Morocco
, Oman
, Palestine
, Qatar
, Saudi Arabia
, Sudan
, Tunisia
, the United Arab Emirates
, and Yemen
.
Although Iraq
is at present not a WOSM recognized nation, it has a Scouting movement and is among the first founders of the Scout Movement in the Arab Region. Scouting is also being developed in Western Sahara
with the assistance of Scouts from the Canary Islands
.
This region is the counterpart of the Arab Region
of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS).
In 2006, Dr. Atif Abdelmageed Abdelrahman Ahmed of Sudan was named Director of the Arab Region.
and Lebanon
in 1912. In 1938 the Scouts of Syria invited Arab scouting leaders to a gathering in Bloudan
, with attendees joining from Lebanon, Egypt
, Palestine
and Iraq
.
During the 14th World Scout Conference in Liechtenstein
, Syria offered to host the 8th World Scout Jamboree
, but was denied after Israel and other delegations protested that Israeli scouts can't enter Arab countries. The Arab delegations felt that they won't be able to host such international events and decided to organize on the Pan-Arab level. They prepared a draft in March 1954 that was approved by the Arab League Council
on its 21st session, establishing the Arab Scout Organization. The first Arab Scout Conference (and Jamboree) was held at Zabadani
, Syria in the summer of 1954, where the Arab Scout Committee was formed.
The second conference and jamboree were held at Abu Qir
, Egypt in the summer of 1956. Ali al-Dandachi
had done a great deal to encourage Scouting throughout the Middle East
, and during his term as a member of the International Committee he visited practically every country in the region. Shortly, an Arab Scout Bureau was established, with Mohamed Ali Hafez
of Egypt as Secretary-General
. The first gathering (to continue to be held in years when there is no International Conference) was held with six original member states at Ramleh, Egypt.
.
Until 2008, the map on the main page for the Region's official website indicated that Ethiopia
, Eritrea
, Djibouti
, and Somalia were within the bounds of the region. Ethiopia is at present a member of the African Region
, and the others are awaiting WOSM recognition and final geographic disposition.
The Cairo International Scout Center is a lavish six-floor building next to Cairo International Stadium
that welcomes all Scouts, nonScout organizations and individual guests. It hosts both conference areas and hostel quarters.
, a disputed territory home to the Sahraoui Scout Association , is one of 35 countries where Scouting
exists (be it embryonic or widespread) but where there is no National Scout Organization which is yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
. Scouting exists both as part of the Fédération Nationale du Scoutisme Marocain
as well as independent groups.
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
, headquartered in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. By 1954, Scouting had become so popular in Arab countries that WOSM established the Arab Scout Region in Damascus, Syria.
The Region comprises 17 members of Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
in Western Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and North Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, including Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, Palestine
State of Palestine
Palestine , officially declared as the State of Palestine , is a state that was proclaimed in exile in Algiers on 15 November 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization's National Council adopted the unilateral Palestinian Declaration of Independence...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
.
Although Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
is at present not a WOSM recognized nation, it has a Scouting movement and is among the first founders of the Scout Movement in the Arab Region. Scouting is also being developed in Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
with the assistance of Scouts from the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
.
This region is the counterpart of the Arab Region
WAGGGS-Arab Region
The WAGGGS-Arab Region is the divisional office of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The WAGGGS-Arab Region comprises 17 members of Guiding in Western Asia and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,...
of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
(WAGGGS).
In 2006, Dr. Atif Abdelmageed Abdelrahman Ahmed of Sudan was named Director of the Arab Region.
History
Scouting in the Arab region started in SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1912. In 1938 the Scouts of Syria invited Arab scouting leaders to a gathering in Bloudan
Bloudan
Bloudan is a Syrian town located 51 kilometers north-west of the Damascus Governorate, in the Rif Dimashq Governorate and has an altitude of about 1500 meters....
, with attendees joining from Lebanon, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
During the 14th World Scout Conference in Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
, Syria offered to host the 8th World Scout Jamboree
8th World Scout Jamboree
The 8th World Scout Jamboree was held in 1955 and was hosted by Canada at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The Jamboree saw the introduction of the World Membership Badge which is still worn on the uniforms of Scouts the world over....
, but was denied after Israel and other delegations protested that Israeli scouts can't enter Arab countries. The Arab delegations felt that they won't be able to host such international events and decided to organize on the Pan-Arab level. They prepared a draft in March 1954 that was approved by the Arab League Council
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
on its 21st session, establishing the Arab Scout Organization. The first Arab Scout Conference (and Jamboree) was held at Zabadani
Zabadani
Zabadani is a city in southwestern Syria in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, close to the border with Lebanon. It is located in the center of a green valley surrounded by high mountains at an elevation of around 1,100 m....
, Syria in the summer of 1954, where the Arab Scout Committee was formed.
The second conference and jamboree were held at Abu Qir
Abu Qir
Abū Qīr is a village on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, northeast of Alexandria by rail, containing a castle used as a state prison by Muhammad Ali of Egypt....
, Egypt in the summer of 1956. Ali al-Dandachi
Ali al-Dandachi
Ali al-Dandachi is a Syrian who served as the vice president of the Boy Scouts de Syrie. Dandachi also served on the International Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1951 to 1957...
had done a great deal to encourage Scouting throughout the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and during his term as a member of the International Committee he visited practically every country in the region. Shortly, an Arab Scout Bureau was established, with Mohamed Ali Hafez
Mohamed Ali Hafez
Mohamed Ali Hafez of the Egyptian Federation for Scouts and Girl Guides served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1957 to 1963 and again from 1965 to 1971....
of Egypt as Secretary-General
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
. The first gathering (to continue to be held in years when there is no International Conference) was held with six original member states at Ramleh, Egypt.
Shifting geographical scope of the Region
Once nascent Scouting receives WOSM recognition, the Arab Scout Region may also be inclusive of SomaliaScouting in Somalia
Somalia is one of 29 countries where Scouting exists but there is no National Scout Organization which is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement at the present time, and no organization was ever recognized by WOSM during the nation's periods of Scouting history.Scouting existed in...
.
Until 2008, the map on the main page for the Region's official website indicated that Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, and Somalia were within the bounds of the region. Ethiopia is at present a member of the African Region
WOSM-Africa Region
The Africa Scout Region is the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with satellite offices in Cape Town, South Africa, and Dakar, Senegal...
, and the others are awaiting WOSM recognition and final geographic disposition.
The Cairo International Scout Center is a lavish six-floor building next to Cairo International Stadium
Cairo International Stadium
Cairo International Stadium or "Stad El-Qahira El-Dawly", is an Olympic-standard, multi-use stadium with an all-seated capacity of 75,000. It is the Arab World's second largest . It is the foremost Olympic-standard facility befitting the role of Cairo, Egypt as the center of events in the region...
that welcomes all Scouts, nonScout organizations and individual guests. It hosts both conference areas and hostel quarters.
Scouting in Western Sahara
Western SaharaWestern Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
, a disputed territory home to the Sahraoui Scout Association , is one of 35 countries where Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
exists (be it embryonic or widespread) but where there is no National Scout Organization which is yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
. Scouting exists both as part of the Fédération Nationale du Scoutisme Marocain
Fédération Nationale du Scoutisme Marocain
The Fédération Nationale du Scoutisme Marocain is the national federation of several Scouting organizations of Morocco. It was founded in 1933, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1961...
as well as independent groups.
Arab Region Scout Jamborees
The Region has run or sponsored region-wide jamborees in its member countries. Past Jamborees include:- 1st Arab Jamboree-Zabadani, Syria-1954
- 2nd Arab Jamboree-Alexandria-Aboukir, Egypt July 25, 1956
- 3rd Arab Jamboree-(III Pan-Arab Scout Jamboree)-Syria 1958
- 4th Arab Jamboree-Bir el-Bey, Tunisia- 1960
- 5th Arab Jamboree-Maamoura, Morocco- 1962
- 6th Arab Jamboree-Aboukir, Egypt- 1964
- 7th Arab Jamboree-(7th Pan-Arab Scout Jamboree and 1st Arab Girl Scout Camp)-Joudaim, Libya 1966
- 8th Arab Jamboree-Sidi Fredj, Algeria- 1968
- 9th Arab Jamboree (9th Pan-Arab Scout Jamboree)-Zabadani, Syria 1970
- 10th Arab Jamboree-Mussal, Iraq- 1972
- 11th Arab Jamboree-Jbeil, Lebanon- 1974
- 12th Arab Jamboree-Borj Cédria, Tunisia- 1976
- 13th Arab Jamboree-Maamoura, Morocco- 1978
- 14th Arab Jamboree-Joudaim, Libya- 1980
- 15th Arab Jamboree-Joudaim, Libya- 1982
- 16th Arab Jamboree-Sidi Fredj, Algeria- 1984
- 17th Arab Jamboree-Salalah, Oman- 1986
- 18th Arab Jamboree-Maamoura, Morocco- 1988
- 19th Arab Jamboree-Joudaim, Libya- 1990
- 20th Arab Jamboree-Cairo, Egypt 1992
- 21st Arab Jamboree-Būr Saʻīd, Egypt- 1994
- 22nd Arab Jamboree-Borj Cédria, Tunisia- 1996
- 23rd Arab Jamboree-Jbeil, Lebanon- 1998
- 24th Arab Jamboree-Ta’if, Saudi Arabia- 2000
- 25th Arab Jamboree-Jordan- 2002
- 26th Arab Jamboree-Joudaim, Libya- 2004
- 27th Arab Jamboree-London, United Kingdom- 2007 - symbolic during the 21st World Scout Jamboree21st World Scout JamboreeThe 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in July and August 2007, and formed a part of the Scouting 2007 Centenary celebrations of the world Scout Movement. The event was hosted by the United Kingdom, as 2007 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Scouting on Brownsea Island.The event was...
- 28th Arab Jamboree-Borj Cédria, Tunisia- 2008
- 29th Arab Jamboree-Cairo, Egypt- 2010