Dar es Salaam: Tanzania Scouts Association (TSA) in partnership with the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) is conducting a public relations capacity building workshop for 20 key staff and volunteers, youth and adults with basic and professional skills in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop is part of the ongoing partnership activities between the two National Scout Organizations (NSOs). The week-long workshop dubbed “PR Lab” is a training that aims to improve participant’s ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with the general public while furthering the organizations goals. It involves developing knowledge and skills in areas such as brand building, marketing theory, event promotion, social media, strategic communication, graphic design, photography, video making and web design. By the end of this workshop the participants will be able to acquire knowledge of basic marketing skills in order to properly market various Scout events; develop skills to effectively and efficiently tell Scout stories through various forms of media and media tools; as well as learn about different aspects of brand development and management. The training is being facilitated by trainers from ZHP and TSA with the assistance of the Communications & Public Relations Officer from the World Scout Bureau Africa Support Centre. The training comes at a time when the Tanzania Scouts Association is preparing to host different national, zonal and regional activities. From 11 to 16 December, the NSO will host the East Africa Zonal Scout Conference, Youth Forum and Inter Patrol Scout Competitions in Arusha. 2017 will see the NSO host the annual Africa Scout Day celebrations from 8 - 11 March in Arusha. A series of other activities have been lined up for TSA’s celebration of 100 years of Scouting in Tanzania, which will be marked from 28 June - 5 July 2017 in Arusha. PR Lab provides an opportunity for TSA to relook at its own Scout brand, develop appropriate communication and marketing strategies in order to reach out to more young people and other stakeholders through various mediums of communication. It will also be instrumental in helping the NSO to organise the different upcoming events and well as other future Scout events. The participants will after the training form a much needed communication team that will help plan and implement TSA’s communication activities. Photo Credits: Marek Misiurewicz