Scouting in Cambodia
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Cambodia 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, and no organization was ever recognized by WOSM during the nation's periods of Scouting history. Cambodian boys are apparently served by two Scout associations, the Scout Organization of Cambodia and Cambodian Scouts (
, Khamarak Kayarith(y) Kampuchea), with a combined membership of about 25,000. Both are apparently working towards meeting the requirements of membership in the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
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[edit] History
The original Khmer Scout Association Angkar Khamarak Kayarith (AKK) was created in 1934, under the direction of Prince Sisowath Monireth and other leaders, including Tem Im and Pok Thiem. This first era of Cambodian Scouting spread over several provinces and numbered more than 1,000 members.
André Lefèvre, chief of the Eclaireurs de France, set up a training camp for 60 Scoutmasters from all over French Indochina. At the end of 1937, French Scouting sent Scoutmaster Raymond Schlemmer to the Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese areas of Indochina to oversee the setting up of the Fédération Indochinoise des Associations du Scoutisme (FIAS, Indochinese Federation of Scouting Associations) in all three regions.
From 1939 through 1945, the political situation affected Scouting activities all across the country, as World War II engendered a movement for an independent Cambodia. The French began to lose control and were finally overthrown by Japanese intervention. This ceased the French Scouts' activity in Cambodia, as well as all Scouting activities.
Scouts and Scout leaders represented Cambodian Scouting at the World Jamboree in 1955 in Canada.
In 1956, the Cambodian Scouting movement was transformed into the "Scouts of the Queen". That year, there were 500 active Scouts and Guides in Phnom Penh, and some 700 Scouts in the provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In 1957, under the direction of socialist-leaning Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the Angkar Khamarak Kayarith was transformed into the Jeunesse Socialiste Royale Khmer (JSRK, the Royal Socialist Khmer Youth), with Sihanouk himself serving as president of the state ruled organization, now controlled by the Royal government. The 2,000 members and the leaders of Cambodian Scouting were permitted by the government to carry on activities. Scouts and Scout leaders attended the World Jamborees in 1955 in Canada and in 1959 in the Philippines, among them Prince Norodom Yuvaneath, the son of Norodom Sihanouk.
On 1 November, 1964, Prince Sisowath Essaro, then President of AKK, announced the dissolution of the Cambodian Boy Scout Association, whose members were subsequently integrated into the JSRK, a government-sponsored socialist youth movement.
In 1972, the Cambodian Scouts were reestablished for a short period with ten groups, confined to the capital in Phnom Penh. In 1975, the movement was banned by the Khmer Rouge communist regime.
Cambodian Scouting in exile existed at least into the early 1990s in Los Angeles, alongside fellow Vietnamese Scouting in exile and Laotian Scouting in exile groups.
[edit] Present day
As the political system changed in the country, Scouting was gradually reestablished and Scout groups were organized in the refugee camps at the Thai border. After the 1993 election supported by the United Nations, Mr. Beat Gruninger, a Swiss Scout leader was commissioned by the World Scout Bureau to coordinate with Cambodian leaders for the possible rebirth of Scouting in the recovering land.
In 1994, two visits were made by the Asia-Pacific Region to access the development of the Cambodian Scout movement. As with Afghanistan, Scouting is conducted under the auspices of a government agency, in this case the Department of Youth and Sports. Asia-Pacific Region staff met the then Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and several other government officials, after which full government support was assured.
In April 1996, the first Basic Unit Leaders Training Course was held in Phnom Penh, assisted by the National Scout Organization of Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Regional office.
Subsequently, two main Scout groupings emerged in Cambodia and were registered in July 2000. Both Scout associations were run by rival political parties. For this reason, WOSM will not admit either of them as a member. In the effort to unite these into a new single national association, the Coordinating Scout Committee of Cambodia (CSCC) was created on 21 April, 2000. Since then ad hoc contacts continued and finally, a working group composed of leaders from the two groups was established in May 2005 to work on the Constitution and Bylaws. In September 2005, the National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS) was created to finalize the draft Constitution and Bylaws and seek formal government recognition to launch it as a nongovernmental organization.
The Cambodian Scouts are led by Kong Thann of Kandal Province.
The World Scout Bureau Asia Pacific Regional Office, located in Manila, Philippines, reported in their May 2006 Newsletter, The first annual general meeting of the National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS) was held on 27 April 2006 in Phnom Penh, at which the Constitution was adopted and the first batch of office-bearers was elected.
The membership of NACS in 2006 was 2,805 (1,768 Scouts, 540 Rovers, 171 Cub Scouts and 326 adult leaders). In 2007, this figure increased by 25% with an actual membership of 3,763 and with an almost equal number of girls and boys. This figure is expected to double and the association has set a target of 7,310 by end of 2008. This target covers all the 24 provinces and/or municipalities of the country.
[edit] 2008 WOSM recognition
The World Scout Bureau has received an application for membership of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from the National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS). [1] In accordance with the requirements of the Constitution of WOSM, the World Scout Committee considered this application at its meeting on 29 February-2 March 2008, and recommended that it be accepted. Under the terms of Article VI.2 of the WOSM Constitution, "if within three months the recommendation is unopposed or opposed by less than five percent of the Member Organizations", NACS will be declared a member, as the National Scout Organization of Cambodia, of WOSM as of 1 July, 2008.
After the formation of one unified National Scout Organization, extensive development work was undertaken and is still on-going. These are the focal areas:
- Orientation of adult leaders on Scouting at all levels
- Training of adult leaders
- Participating in various community development/service projects
- Production of a range of Scouting literature
- Establishment of partnerships with government and other external agencies
- Participation in regional and other national level Scout activities
NACS is also positively planning to organize their first National Scout Jamboree, to be held in December 2008, close to the Angkor World Heritage Site.
NACS submitted its formal application for WOSM membership on 27 February 2007, through the Asia-Pacific Regional Office after endorsement by the Regional Scout Committee. A formal mission to review the application consisting of World Scout Bureau staff and the Regional Scout Committee was undertaken from 14-19 November 2007 to assess the realities on the ground.
The conclusion is that NACS is mature enough to become a full member of WOSM. All constitutional matters have been fulfilled and the situation on the ground is authentic. The final report on the admission of NACS to WOSM membership was considered by the World Scout Committee at its meeting in February 2008.
[edit] Scout ideals and program
As with most other countries, the Scout sign and salute are made with three fingers. The uniform of the Cambodian Scouts is khaki.
The Scout Motto is ត្រៀមខ្លួន, pronounced Triam Kloun.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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