Tanzania Scouts Association

Tanzania Scouts Association
Country Tanzania
Founded 1919
Membership 91,057
Affiliation World Organisation of the Scout Movement

The Tanzania Scouts Association (TSA) is the national Scouting organization of Tanzania. Scouting in Tanzania was founded in 1919, and became a member of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1963. The coeducational association has 91,057 members as of 2010.[1]

History

Dar es Salaam Boy Scouts cleaning cars

Scouting in present Tanzania started in Zanzibar in 1919 and in mainland Tanganyika in 1921. The TSA became a member of WOSM in 1963.

In 1984, Tanzania hosted the 6th Africa Region Scout Conference.

The Swedish Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund supported the TSA for some years, but withdraw its funding in 2005 because of accusations of fraud against TSA officials. In January 2006 two TSA officials were accused of people trafficking.

Program

Besides the traditional Scouting program, TSA is deeply involved in community development and has special programs for the prevention of AIDS.

The aim of Scouting in Tanzania is to develop the spirit of Ujamaa and self-reliance. Ujamaa is the concept of family ties within the social order. The program emphasizes learning by doing, community development, and nature conservation, particularly in rural areas.

President's Scout badge

The badge system is entirely adapted to the interests and needs of Tanzanian Scouts. The highest award is the President's Scout. Charles Ambrose, Farhad Shivji and Shafik Fazal from the Aga Khan Scouts - 1st Dar-es-Salaam Group, were among the first ten Scouts to be awarded the President's Scout badge by the then President Ali Hassan Mwinyi in August 1992 at Magila Village in Tanga region, the site where Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement, enrolled the first Tanganyika Scouts in 1938.

There is an active cooperation between Scouts and Girl Guides and with other youth organizations in celebrating national festivals, rendering services in villages and occasionally in courses, seminars and training camps. Scouts and Girl Guides often work together in community development projects, which are frequently supported by Scout organizations from other countries. One such project, with support from Norway, is establishing small rural industries and providing agricultural training.

Religious factions

Tanzania Catholic Conference of Scouting was affiliated in 2008. It comprises catholic scouts from 34 dioceses of Catholic Church in Tanzania. TCCS is a member of International Catholic Conference of Scouting.

The Islamic Scouts is a member of International Union of Muslim Scouts.

Ideals

Scout Motto The Scout Motto is Uwe Tayari, Be Prepared in Swahili.

Scout Promise Kwa yamini yangu, naahidi kwamba nitajitahidi kadiri ya uwezo wangu, kutimiza wajibu wangu kwa Mungu na Taifa langu, kuwasaidia watu siku zote, na kutimiza Kanuni za Skauti.

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God and to my nation; to help other people at all times and to keep the Scout Law.

Scout Law

+ Skauti si mjinga na mjinga sio skauti (ilisemwa na Baba wa Taifa Mwl. Nyerere)

Camping and training grounds

Bahati Camp in Morogoro, 190 kilometers from Dar-es-Salaam, is the national training and camping grounds. The camp has some basic training and camping facilities, situated on a site between two rivers on Mount Uluguru. The Association has other district camps, which are not developed. The Association is involved in various community development programs.

Emblem

The national badge of the Tanzania Scouts Association features a giraffe's head, a symbol in use since Tanzania was a colonial branch of British Scouting.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Some statistics". World Organization of the Scout Movement. Retrieved 30 March 2010.

External links