- Home
- Regional Scout Plan 2016-2019
- Countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
Sharjah 2014: An International Rover Scout Gathering in the Heat of the Arabian Desert
(SP-FS/Helsinki) – More than a hundred Rover Scouts from nearly as many different countries and National Scout Associations gathered in Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, in February 2014 for the 6th International Scout Gathering and spent ten days in a part of the world most of them had never visited before. One of the Rover Scouts travelling to the Arab Peninsula was Elias Herva, from Finland, who since has shared his adventures with readers of HEPPU, the magazine of the Scouts and Guides of Finland. Here is his story:
Just before Christmas last year, a notice in the international newsletter of my association, The Guides and Scouts of Finland, captured my attention. They were looking for a representative for a rover event in the Middle East. This interested me right away. And after some consideration, I decided to give it a try. And I was selected for what was to become a memorable international Scouting experience!
Once we arrived in Sharjah, the event started with a stunning opening ceremony in the presence of local and regional dignitaries all wearing their splendid local costumes, which ended in all of us hoisting the flags of our countries simultaneously. During the first few days, we were each given the opportunity to present where we were from and how (Rover) Scouting was happening in our associations. This was quite interesting, as we were some one hundred participants from almost as many different associations.
We went up (by elevator, not by stairs…) Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest building in the neighbouring emirate Dubai, and visited a number of sightseeing spots in the country. One of the next evenings we spent on the rim of the desert while the muezzin’s call to prayer chimed. Listening to these new sounds and being there with my new scout friends from all corners of the world, the atmosphere was mystical – just like in one of the 1001 Arabian Nights.
Apart from a extraordinary programme keeping us busy throughout our stay and the various local Scouting activities we joined in, the most memorable treasures I took home to Finland was the long list of new friends in the Arab Region and from all corners of the world. This event was an incredible experience of Rover Scouts coming together from all over the world and sharing a common open-mindedness, willingness to mutual helping and the clear desire to build and foster friendships regardless of cultural, linguistic and geographical borders. This is really something very cool. And I can only recommend you to hurry enlisting as a candidate when the next such gathering will happen in the Arab Scout Region or elsewhere.’
For more details and plenty more photos:
– The 6th InternationScout Gathering “Sharjah 2014” on Facebook:
– The Scouts and Guides of Finland on the web and on Facebook
– The original article appeared in HEPPU, issue 2/2014 (author: Elias Herva, translation provided by Eeva Riivari)
Comments:
Tagged with: Arab Region • Intercultural Exchange • International Scout Gathering • Rover Scouts • United Arab Emirates

Rupert Schildböck
Rupert comes from Austria and is the Executive Assistant to the Regional Director. His responsibilities include internal and external communications and administrative assistance in Regional events.
Regional Scout Plan
European International Scout Camps – Summer 2018
Based on information made available so far, the European Scout Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) has put together a (non-exhaustive) list of national jamborees organised during the summer of 2018 in Europe. Maybe one of these international camps is exactly what you were looking for?15th European Guide and Scout Conference
The 15th European Guide and Scout Conference (15egsc) and the concurrently held 15th European Guide Conference (15egc) and 22nd European Scout Conference (22esc) took place from 17 to 21 June 2016, in Melsomvik, Norway.#ScoutGuideSupport #Refugees
Between September 2015 and May 2016, the European Scout Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movemente (WOSM) and the Europe Region WAGGGS regularly shared stories featuring Scouts and Guides involved in refugee and migrant support activities in their local communities.Google Translate
Powered by Google Translate.The Official World Scout Shop
The Official World Scout Shop offers an ever-growing range of high quality Scouting products. It is the only authorised supplier of World Scout items, and ALL profits go directly back to Scouting.What did we write about?
Africa Arab Region Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Educational Methods Environment Europe European Scout Committee European Year of Volunteering 2011 event finland France Germany Growth Growth through Quality GSAT Jamboree Junak kandersteg Networking Organisational Development Partnerships Partnerships with other Regions peace Portugal PPÖ Regional Scout Plan Romania Rover Scouts Scouts Serbia Slovenia Spain Switzerland training Turkey Unguvu VCP Volunteering WOSM Youth Youth Empowerment Youth Programme