9 March 2017, Arusha-Tanzania: This year’s Africa Scout Day celebrations have been officially opened in Tanzania at Kisongo in Arusha from 8-11 March 2017 where Scouts from different countries in and out of Africa are attending including; Angola, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Poland, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. From Tanzania Scouts have arrived from different provinces including; Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Arusha, Mbeya, Tanga, Lindi, Iringa, Mtwara, Pwani, Manyara, Njombe, Dodoma, Kagera, Kigoma, Simiyu, Shinyanga, Kilimanjaro, Rukwa, Katavi, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Geita and Mara There was different entertainment from JKT Oljoro Cultural Group who presented a Makonde traditional dance. A special guard of honour by Scouts of Simiyu which was made more lively by a girl, Tamasha Hussein, who showed great courage and determination as the only female in the parade, that made her stand out from the rest. Arusha Alliance School also staged a parade with recitals of the scout promise and local "hapa kazi tu!" chants. Dr. Leonard Akwilapo, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education welcomed the Guest of Honour Gabriel Fabian who is also a longtime Scout, and came as an official representative of the Deputy Minister of Education Eng. Stella Manyanya. The Chief Guest repeated the words of the founder of the Scout Movement to leave the world a better place than we found it especially to increase the number of trees on this campsite. He, also stressed on the need of Scouts to offer various contributions and how they will be able to design various projects of development in the community so as to bring up children who will be disciplined and great leaders of the future through the Scouting. The Chief Guest was also fascinated by the patrol system of Scouting. “Scouting life should correspond with the Scout promise and not only by words but also in practice and commitment the the values of the movement. Scouts should also continue to provide service to the community so that the community can see that the movement is good and appreciate its value," he urged. He added a call to parents saying, "Life has many challenges. In order for youth to evade the the erosion of moral values they should join Scouting for them to be disciplined, righteous, creative and capable. I have learned that the youth if instructed well can understand." “ Young people in Scouting should be given early education on how to combat drug and substance abuse so they can leave the world better than they found it,” he concluded before declaring the Africa Scout celebration officially opened. Story by Devina Adosi and Rehema Ramadhan. Edited and translated by Nelson Opany. Photographs by Konrad Kmieć (ZHP) and Francisco Nyoni (TSA)