Hungarian Scout Association in Romania
| Romániai Magyar Cserkészszövetség | |||
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| Headquarters | Miercurea Ciuc, Romania | ||
| Country | Romania | ||
| Founded | 1990 | ||
| Executive manager | Sándor Gaál | ||
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Website Website of the Hungarian Scout Association in Romania | |||
The Hungarian Scout Association in Romania (in Hungarian: Romániai Magyar Cserkészszövetség, RMCSSZ) is the Scouting organization of the Hungarians in Romania. Currently, there are 134 Scout groups, of which 107 are active.
History of Hungarian Scouting in Transylvania
The first Scout troops in Transylvania were founded shortly after the first troops in Budapest were formed. They were part of the Hungarian Scout Association (Magyar Cserkészszövetség), because this region was a part of the Kingdom of Hungary until the end of WWI.
The first Transylvanian Scout group was formed in the (Presbyterian) Reformed Church College of Székelyudvarhely (in Romanian: Odorheu Secuiesc) in 1911, under the leadership of PE teacher Z. Sebess József.[1] Three years later, 84 Scouts took already part in the activity of the group. In the meantime, new groups were formed in the Technical Highschool of Székelyudvarhely, in the Reformed Church College of Marosvásárhely (Romanian: Targu Mures), in the Reformed Church College of Kolozsvár (in Romanian: Cluj-Napoca), and also in the Roman Catholic Grammar School in Gyulafehérvár (Romanian: Alba Iulia). WWI disintegrated these initiatives.
After the Treaty of Trianon, Transylvania became a part of Romania, so Hungarian Scout troops lost their membership within Hungarian Scout Association and had to join the National Scout Organisation of Romania. .[2]:242 The Hungarian Scouting in Transylvania was restarted in 1922-23, the organizational operation was in the frame-work of the Romanian Scout movement. In 1929, the first post-WWI Scout congress was held in Romania, and also the second country-wide Jamboree in Bucharest. In 1938, King Charles II of Romania, who had been earlier a Scout himself, put the Constitution out of effect, banned democratic parties and organizations, among them the "pro-English" Scouting.
As from the re-attachment of Northern Transylvania to Hungary in 1940 until the end of WWII, Scouting could operate without difficulties as a part of the Hungarian Scout Association and National Association of Hungarian Girl Guides (Magyar Cserkészlány Szövetség).[2]:304–305
After 1945, Trasylvania became a part of Romania, and in the period 1945-1948 all Hungarian activities were suppressed. In 1948, the communist authorities banned Scouting in Romania.[2]:305
After the fall of the communist dictatorship in Romania, the Hungarian Scout Association in Romania was formed in 1990.[2]:306
The revival of Scouting of Romania took place by the formation of separate Hungarian and Romanian groups. First Hungarian Scout groups were formed during a camp in August, 1990 and also the Hungarian Scout Association in Romania (Hungarian: Romániai Magyar Cserkészszövetség was founded in that year.[2]:306 The Cercetaşii României was formed together with the Romanian Scouts and this organization gained recognition by the World Bureau of the WOSM in 1993.[2]:306–307
The relationship between the Hungarian and Romanian Scouting organization has been problematic. In the 1990s, even legal proceedings were brought against the Hungarian Scout Association in Romania. In practice, Hungarian and Romanian Scouting in Romania work separately, and this is de facto accepted by the WOSM, however, on the formal side, it recognizes only one Scout organisation in the country. Therefore, a tacit undestandng on co-existence was worked out in 1995 which seems to be a viable modus vivendi. The Hungarian Scout Association in Romania is also a member of the 'International Forum of Hungarian Scouting' and has strong ties to the Hungarian Scout Association (Hungarian: Magyar Cserkészszövetség).
Notes
- ↑ RMCSSZ Múlt és jelen
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Kroonenberg, Piet J. (1998). The Undaunted- The Survival and Revival of Scouting in Central and Eastern Europe. Geneva: Oriole International Publications. ISBN 2-88052-003-7.