| Scouts of Greece | |||
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Σώμα Ελληνων Προσκόπων (Soma Hellinon Proskopon) |
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| Country | Greece | ||
| Founded | 1910 | ||
| Founder | Athanasios Lefkaditis | ||
| Membership | 18,482 | ||
| Affiliation | World Organization of the Scout Movement | ||
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| Website Scouts of Greece |
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Scouts of Greece or Soma Hellinon Proskopon (Σώμα Ελληνων Προσκόπων, ΣΕΠ) is the national Scouting association of Greece. Scouting in Greece started in 1910 and was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. The association has 18,482 members (as of 2011).[1] The majority of members belong to the Christian Orthodox Church. However, boys and girls of all religions and ethnic groups, residents of Greece, are welcome to become members.
During the 1908 Summer Olympics, in London, Athanasios Lefkaditis, a young physical education teacher, observed with interest the British Scouts' service and activities at the Games. He met with Robert Baden-Powell and shortly after, introduced Scouting in Greece in 1910. Ever since, Scouts of Greece has been active in social welfare and relief activities during natural disasters such as great fires and earthquakes.
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The Scouts of Greece program is based on the Scout method principles that children can more easily acquire skills through experience than through structured training. The young people plan their own progressive development by choosing from a great variety of programs and activities according to their needs and interests.
The Scout Motto (Προσκοπικό Ρητό) is Έσo Έτοιμος (Eso Etimos), Be Prepared in Greek.
The ancient Greek moto Αιέν Αριστεύειν (Een Aristevin), Forever Excelling in Greek, found in Homer's Iliad, is also used as a National Scout Motto.
Υπόσχομαι στην τιμή μου
να εκτελώ το καθήκον μου στο Θεό και την Πατρίδα
να βοηθώ κάθε άνθρωπο σε κάθε περίσταση και
να τηρώ το Νόμο του Προσκόπου.
I promise upon my honour
to perform my duty towards God and my Country
to help any person at any occasion
and uphold the Scout Law.
The Scout emblem incorporates a phoenix, the mythic bird symbolizing rebirth, allegory to the creation of the modern Greek nation.
A. E. Benakis was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1949 until 1951, and Demetrios Alexatos served on the Committee from 1957 to 1963. In 1963, Alexatos was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting. Other Scouts Association of Greece recipients include Demetrios A. Macrides in 1967, Leonidas J. Skyrianidis in 1974, Christos Lygeros and Costas Tsantilis in 2005.
Scouts of Greece is also active in Australia, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.[2] These groups form a special region within Scouts of Greece's structures.
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