
"Northern Rising of the Scouts" - Baladaksha Uthuru Navodaya
The jamboree was organized in the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. This area has been the center of a Civil War for over 30 Years. People in this area were under the control of a Guerilla Terrorist Group which deprived the local community to good health, communication with the outside world, right to education and even to basic needs such as electricity and clean water.
The aim of the project was to build friendship between the two communities, the Sinhalese and Tamils by using Scouting as the instrument. Though the war was won in 2009 the community building through activities is at low levels. This jamboree was a key factor and the leader heading project, Mr. Janaprith Fernando International Commissioner for SLSA took the initiative to create awareness on Scouting through the Exhibition was at the Jaffna Premises, the Exhibition was at the Jaffna Central College. Several floors of Class rooms were used for the Exhibition, where scouts and non-Scouts visited and walked through the history of Scouting, its Founder, its Principals, Values and opportunities. All who visited were given guided tour by young Scout Rovers and Leaders who were assigned to this task. The outdoor activities took place in another area of the Main Jamboree site, the Jaffna Fort, there too activities and games were conducted by Rovers and Leaders. Water Activities were coordinated and supported by the Sri Lanka Navy.
Though the exhibits and video presentations of events both local & international testimonies of Scouts experiences at Jamborees all participants understood the goodwill, true spirit, discipline and longtime friendship created through Scouting.
The impact created for scouting in the Northern Province was that unity can be achieved through diversity by the Principals of Scouts. The Local Community warred up to the visitors who through Scouting their area. They understood that a true spirit of brotherhood, friendship and discipline was followed by all who visited.
The several educational exhibitions held at the GDV all participants were educated on environment pollution, its dangers and recycling. Participants were made aware of nutrition, good food habits and hygiene. Scouts and non-scouts were able to visit and became “Young Zoologists” by spending time with various insects, Birds and Reptiles, thus enjoying nature.
All participants were able to educate themselves on the “Right of a Child”, “Right of Woman” by visiting the Legal Aid Exhibition which created awareness, especially in an area which has been deprived of such a “Right” for 30 Years
The beneficiaries of this exhibition and activates are the Scouts, the youth of the Northern Province who have not seen and experienced Scouting before. The Leaders and the Volunteers who brought its together and created opportunities for the Youth and the locals in the area and a nation on the who. Since this particular area of Sri Lanka has been under civil war, this exhibition and activities provide the way for the youth of the Northern area to realize and understand that there is a safe, happy and united world and Community.