Sri Lankas initiative to strengthen peace
The Sri Lanka Scouts Association organized the 1st Scout Integration Camp on 18th to 21st August 2011 at the Scout Training & Development Centre, in Pallekette, Kandy, an ideal camping site for its lush and green countryside.
A total of 72 Scouts from Kandy and Kilinochchi districts participated in the four-day camp fostering mutual understanding and friendship through creativity and openness. Kilinochchi is one of the 24 from the 36 districts of the island, covering the nine provinces. Youth Guest Speaker Prof. Nalin Nanayakkara discussed the importance of having a unified national concept with emphasis on developing self-discipline and responsibility among young people.
During the camp, participants were engaged in various leadership-centered activities including “The Hike” where they visited and explored eight sites. A discussion on the history of Sri Lanka and election of officers took place during the Youth Forum where they tackled about issues relevant to them and to their communities and collectively voiced out their aspirations in the form of recommendations. Adding flavor to the camp was the campfire where a display of creative and colourful performances were showcased.
One significant part of the camp was to see Kandy Scouts sharing their homes with the Kilinochchi Scouts. In fact, when Scout leaders checked on them, the parents of Kandy Scouts commented that they enjoyed having Scouts from Kilinochchi in their homes and treated them as their own.
The second integration camp was held on 8th to 11th September in Jaffna, at the northern part of Sri Lanka. With these integration camps through the Messengers of Peace projects, Sri Lanka Scouts Association is making an efforts to strengthen the sense of unity and belonging among young people who come from various backgrounds. This is in line with the MOP’s purpose of mobilising Scouts be agents of peace in their local, national and dunia communities.
Source://www.scout.org/