Fermanagh Scouts ready to make trip to Japan for World Jamboree

This week they were hosted to a reception by the Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, at Enniskillen Townhall.

The party is made up of nine Scouts and two leaders representing St. Michael’s Scout Group which is part of the Erne County of Scouting Ireland as well as two Scouts from the Fermanagh Scout Association who represent 1st Rossorry Scouts and 1st Lisnaskea Scouts.

The once in a lifetime opportunity will mean the local Scouts meeting thousands of fellow Scouts from across the world as they meet at Kirara-hama, near the city of Yamaguchi to the west of Tokyo and Osaka and the Jamboree begins on July 28, continuing for 12 days until August 8. The Japan summer heat will be well into the 30 degrees during the day lowering to just around 25 degrees at night and because darkness falls around 6pm, there will be early starts at around 4.30am.

Tony Smith, Camp Chief at Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre and a leader in St. Michael’s Scouts who has international experience in Scouting will be travelling with the local contingent.

He said the scouts from Fermanagh will get to experience multiculturalism at the highest level with 165 countries represented in one small area of Japan.

“The scouts will learn how to live in harmony and peace and as Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting said at the end of the first World Scout Jamboree in 1920: ‘Scouts, I ask you to make a choice. Differences exist between the people of the world in thought and sentiment, just as they do in language and physique. The Great War has taught us that if one nation tries to impose its particular will upon others, cruel reaction is bound to follow. The Jamboree has taught us that if we exercise mutual forbearance and give-and-take, then there is sympathy and harmony. If it be your will, let us go forth from here fully determined that we will develop among ourselves and our Scouts that comradeship, through the world-wide spirit of the Scout family, so that we may help to develop peace and happiness in the world and goodwill among all Scouts” The World Scout Jamboree will welcome 35,000 Scouts and Guides from almost every corner of the world who will live together for 10 days, experience each other’s cultures and have many amazing adventures. They will develop skills and knowledge to act as global citizens, to positively influence their local communities and demonstrate their commitment to Scouting and creating a better world in which we live.

The theme of the 2015 jamboree will be ‘Wa’ meaning harmony, unity, friendship and peace allowing a ‘spirit of unity’ to share others’ cultures and faiths, take part in adventurous activities and grow as global citizens to tackle world issues.

Those who attend will take part in activities that have been organised especially for the Jamboree. They will have the chance to get to know young people from other countries and experience their culture for two weeks, and then to further enhance their experience, will spend a further seven days living in the community alongside families in Japan as part of home hospitality. Tony says the two local Scouting organisations have worked together to break down distrust and to work for the common good.

“We as scout leaders from two scout associations perceived from both sides of the community strongly believe that we have the responsibility to our Scouts to help them develop tolerance understanding and mutual forbearance. Moreover, we believe that through Scouting we can do something to help stop the downward spiral in our communities,” he said, illustrating how they work together at joint camps at Castle Saunderson.

All the Scouts chosen for the Jamboree have been busy involved in many training sessions to prepare them for Japan. For example Hannah and Mark have attended three training weekends in Crawfordsburn Scout Centre as well as helping out as staff at the Northern Ireland Beaver Rally, the Northern Ireland Cub Fun Day, Burn24 which was a 24-hour stay awake camp for the Scout section, TOE (The Outdoor Experience), a joint Scout and Guide weekend camp in June 2014, a weekend at Lorne with a Unit from Scotland and a weekend away in Scotland where they met up with Explorers from five other Units travelling to Japan. As part of their training they have learnt Japanese phrases, how to make Sushi and Sashimi, Japanese culture and spent time in a climate controlled tank to feel what Japanese summer temperatures and humidity feel like. As part of their fundraising they have both done bagpacking at Asda, and they are grateful to Enniskillen Rotary Club and Fermanagh District Council for their support as well as Fermanagh Scout Council. Hannah has abseiled down the Europa Hotel in Belfast, also raising funds.

Hannah is particularly looking forward to learning more about Japanese culture and meeting Scouts from around the world after making contact with a Scout from Spain and they are organising meeting up in Japan through Facebook.

Missing from the main photograph are Aiobhin Dolan, Rory Blake and Erin Webster from St. Michael’s Scouts and Mark Crawford, 1st Rossorry Scouts.