Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan
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The coeducational Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan (OSMK), Скауттык Қoзғaлыс Ұіымы Қазақстан, (transliterated Skauttik Ķozĝalys Üǐymy Ķazaķstan, in Russian Организация Скаутского Движения Казахстана) was officially founded in 1992, and received World Organization of the Scout Movement recognition on January 16, 2008.[1] As of January 1, 2007, it comprised 1,640 members in 65 troops in different regions and cities, including 711 girls, 754 boys and almost 200 adult leaders.
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[edit] History
As far as is known, Scouting was not introduced to the region during the khanate period of the preSoviet era.
In 1990 a conference (or Congress) of people interested in Scouting was held in Moscow. Viktor Deimund (now the President of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan) represented Kazakhstan at the Congress. The Congress established the Association of Russian Scouting Renaissance. The homegrown Scout troops within Kazakhstan joined the membership of the Ural Scout Region.
Scouting was specifically established in Kazakhstan in 1991 after the fall of communism. The first Scout troops were organized in 1991 by Viktor Deimund and Oleg Mozheyko, and later that year, Scout troops were organized in many towns and districts in Kazakhstan. Republic-wide newspapers published the first articles on the work of Pavlodar Scout troops. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of letters came to Pavlodar from people asking for help to create Scout units. Pavlodar Scout leaders published and sent out Scouting literature, and Scout troops were created in different cities and parts of Kazakhstan.
On December 28, 1992, the Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan was registered in the Ministry of Justice.
In 1993, the first training course was held to train Scout leaders. Later that summer, the first All-Republic Camp (National Jamboree) "Jasybay's Arrow", was held at the national camp, Jasybay, named for a Kazakh mythic hero, near Bayanaul National Park, Pavlodar Province.
In 1994, the first handbook, "Scouting For Everybody" was published and distributed in Kazakhstan, and representatives from Kazakhstan took part in an Informative Council on Scouting in the former Soviet Union, held in the Crimea and hosted by the World Scout Committee. During the Council, President Deimund discussed the development of Scouting in Kazakhstan with Doctor Jacques Moreillon, the Secretary General of WOSM. Leaders of Kazakh Scouts took part in the international seminar "Scouting: Youth without Borders" in Morocco.
In 1995, a small delegation of the Scouts of Kazakhstan participated in the 18th World Scout Jamboree in the Netherlands. Since 1994 the Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan has a continuing partnership and an exchange program with the German Scout Association Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (BdP). The BdP provides the Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan with financial assistance and with organizational support. 20 Guides and Scouts from the BdP travelled to Kazakhstan for the National Camp in 2002. Every year Guides and Scouts from the OSMK and BdP meet each other in camps or training courses either in Germany or Kazakhstan, helping and learning from each other. In 2006 8 Guides and Scouts from the BdP travelled to Kazakhstan for the National Camp.
In 1999, Kazakhstan held the First International Scout Camp "Kakharman-99", and in 2003 held WINGS2003, a subcamp for 10 to 14-year-olds. On October 5, 2004, the Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) brought together 20 Scouts from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for a two-hour online discussion of their activities from the IATP access sites in five cities in Kazakhstan and three in Uzbekistan, aimed to bring together representatives of the Scouting movements from these countries to promote friendship and cooperation. Scouts from Kazakhstan named as their main challenge a lack of funds, and the difficulty of building a successful fundraising operation.
With the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, it was suggested that the Türkiye İzcilik Federasyonu assist in the creation of Scouting movements in the Turkic Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, but it is uncertain if this plan ever materialized.
[edit] WOSM recognition
In October 2007, the World Scout Bureau received an application for membership in WOSM from the OSMK. In accordance with the requirements of the WOSM Constitution, the World Scout Committee considered this application at its meeting from September 28 to 30, 2007, and recommended that it be accepted. The OSMK was declared a WOSM member on January 16, 2008. In becoming a member of WOSM, OSMK will become a member of the Eurasia Scout Region, if it so desires.
If Kazakhstan chooses not to become a member of the Eurasia Region, it is possible that they will join the European Region, as Germany was responsible for the support of OSMK. The WOSM constitution contains no obligation for National Scout Organizations to join the regions, but it is strongly expected.
[edit] Ideals and program
The fundamental principles of Scouting in Kazakhstan are adherence to spiritual values, loyalty to the country, the practice of the Scout Oath and Law, voluntary participation in community service and various program activities.
Scouting in Kazakhstan is for all boys and girls of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds. Scouts take part in a variety of activities; helping handicapped children, cleaning up public areas and teaching children first aid and other outdoor skills; and are active in the environment and nature conservation. All of these activities, based on Scouting principles, are aimed to provide growth in moral strength and character, to enhance the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness.
[edit] Program and ideals
The OSMK presently has no property except a headquarters. OSMK favors youth membership and youth involvement through an active strategy to recruit youth members. The adult policy aims at supporting leadership and recruitment of volunteers.
OSMK is open to girls and boys, women and men, in three age sections:
- Junior Scouts-ages 7 to 10
- Scouts-ages 11 to 14
- Senior Scouts-ages 15 to 17
- Scout leaders are over 18
The Scout Motto is Dayyin Bol, translating as Be Prepared in Kazakh, and Bud' Gotov, translating likewise in Russian. The noun for a single Scout is Скаут in both languages. Kazakh Scouts wear a dark green uniform.
The National Council, composed of eleven members, includes seven women and four men. OSMK has three regularly employed professional staff. The Council Chairman is Victor Georgievich Deimund, and the International Commissioner is Mrs. Ainur Shaikhimova Abylayevna.
[edit] Scout Oath
On my honor, I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God and the Motherland, to help other people and to obey the Scout Law.
[edit] Scout Law
- A Scout is devoted to the Motherland.
- A Scout is honest and truthful.
- A Scout's duty is to help others.
- A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout.
- A Scout is courteous.
- A Scout is a friend to nature.
- A Scout obeys orders of his parents and leaders without question.
- A Scout is thrifty and he respects others property.
- A Scout smiles and never gives up.
- A Scout is diligent and persevering.
- A Scout is restrained.
- A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
[edit] Kazakh Girl Guiding
Other Scout organizations in Kazakhstan include a Girl Guides organization, The Kazakh Guide Association, although work towards World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts membership recognition remains unclear.
[edit] International Scouting units in Kazakhstan
In addition, there are Girl Scouts of the USA Overseas in Almaty and Atyrau, serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in New York; as well as Cub Scout Pack 3975 and Boy Scout Troop 395, both of Almaty, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America, which supports units around the world.
[edit] External links
- Scouts of Kazakhstan
- http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0011/a-kaza.html
- http://www.wings2003.org.uk/Kazakhstan/startup.htm
- WOSM Circular N° 29/2007
[edit] References
Article distilled from information provided by former OSMK International Commissioner Oleg Mozheyko.
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