Honourable Minister for Education Jai Bir Rai, The President of Bhutan Scouts Association, graced the Opening of Globalizing Messenger of Peace Network for Rovers, Phase ll, in Thimphu on 2nd August. Director General, Department of Youth and Sports who is also the Chief Commissioner of Bhutan Scouts Association, Director, Directorate of Services, Mr. Prassanna Shrivastava, Director, Organizational Development and Messenger of Peace, and officials from the Ministry attended the event to train 67 Rovers scout from 16 colleges and 3 institutes within Bhutan. Messenger of Peace State Coordinators from neighboring countries are also facilitating the program. With the benevolent support from Messenger of peace Grant, Asia-Pacific Regional Messenger of Peace Office, enabled the strengthening of scouting in Bhutan and inspired thousands of adults and young people. The workshop was ended on 6th August with awarding of certificate and blue scarf of Messener of Peace.

Addressing the gathering, His Excellency shared that it gives him immense pleasure to be among faces of optimism, vibrancy and hope. His Excellency's words of wisdom illuminated  our obscured minds of 

"The very image of a Scout ignites selfless service, limitless optimism and boundless hope for all of us. Today our enemies don’t come wearing iron shields, armors and swords, the shields are your pain, their armors are your degraded habit and you are the sword. If wars were won through physical mercenaries in the past, today’s warfare can only be won through self-discipline, emotional intelligence, mindful thoughts balanced on critical thinking and compassionate action." Lyonpo said.

Following the gracing of event, the first day was basically about integration session where we all were divided and introduced to each other for longer period. The participants were familiarized with Messenger of Peace with its background and details. The ground rules of the workshop were also framed through six groups. The daily program schedules for the workshop was also presented to us. The particippants were made to analyse and share the what peace means to them and what are the expectations from this program. Scouts were also taught about the Better World Framework along with its visions, purposes and programes. The program list of the day were not only the lectures and presentations, but we were frequently energized and inspired by their short inspirational and motivational clips as well as the scout yells.

Initially most of the particioants just knew that the Messenger of Peace is the scout who works for creating and spreading peace, and one who wears blue scarfs. But now we learned that the Messenger of Peace is actually the global network for action to empower young people to become a positive leader of change in their community and vicinity. It basically encourages the scout to contribute to the expansion of a culture of peace through community service action in collaboration with community members and an international network of Scouts. 

The BSA presented wonderful compilation of their achievements which really inspired the participants to be active scout and contribute something bits. Scouts had directly or indirectly contributed lots in achieving Sustainable Development Goals  while they carry out their own basic obligations like services and volunteerisms within their own capacity. BSA has 6502 active users with 5423 projects which generated 18,027,551 service hours.

We were taught how to tell a great story like a grandparents cultures of bedtime story to children. I learned that there are three key points to remember while telling a story. Firstly we have to select the target audience to whom the story is writing. Then to inspire and take action which is basically the purpose of the telling story. Finally it is about presenting what we want to communicate throuogh the stories.Since scouts services helped lots in achieving the 17 sustainable developments goals, the Rovers Scouts were also taught and instilled interest towards the SDGs. We were helped in creating the MoP account in scout.org. to directly help me promoting peace in world and even to contribute to world. 

The another new thing we learned was the 'Scouts of the World Awards'. The three main fields in that program was Service Contribution towards Development, Peace and Environment. It is mainly organized to encourage stronger involvement, to recognize and promote voluntary services and encourage National Scout Organization. There are three stages in doing this work, discovery, passport and evalaution.

Then on the third day, they conducted a demo for the field trip visit to RTC. There we participated in station of various activities hub. At each station they gave us different types of scouts stuffs like stickers, handband, chocolates, etc. Afternoon session was at RTC to present what they had presented to us on previous days. We all divided for the advocacy program and presented the program which was really successful and inspired lots of participants in creating MoP account and promoting peace in community. Finally, after reaching back, the report of field visit was presented on what went well and what went wrong. 

On the fourth day, we had to present our totem pole which was assigned two days before its presentation. Our group members consist of 12 members and the group name was 12 Ravens, which ultimately build the Raven as a crown of totem pole. Our friends sacrificed their time till 2:30am and their efforts was rewarded with first position. Again we have to prepare a presentation on glimpse of field visit to RTC. Even on that competition too we won for the second time because some of our friends again worked till 4am. 

We were taught about the Project Management Skills. We learned the five process of Project i.e., 1) Initiating, 2) Planning, 3) Executing, 4) Controlling and Monitoring and 5) Closing. Further we were taught about the Project proposals and Grant Application for the proposals. Alighning with this, we also learned the project plan and the Donation Platform in scout.org. 

Then, the last day of workshop! We witnessed and analysed the recommendations prepared by the recommendation committe for the improvement of scouting and MoP based on the experiences of workshops. I am glad to see their positive recommendations for the promotion of scout program in the nation. they shared few of the challenges and even presented the solutions too. Then they also gave the feedback on yesterday's presentation too. Finally at the very end, we got chance to know lots about MoP logo and Why MoP. Meantime we were also taught about the licensing of those logos and importance of rigistering the logos for the protection. The criteria for getting Ring Badge and Green Scarf was also discussed. Every participants were familiarized their obligations to be carry out once the training is completed. And we all were made to form a group of same colleges and intitutes to share the scenario and individual action plan to be carry out in the college and institutes after we reach back to respective place.

Then the ultimate session of the workshop was the receiving of Certificate of participation from the World Organization of the Scout Movement along with the Blue Scarf of Messenger of Peace. We pledged in fornt of honorable chief guest the Secretary of Education Ministry Dasho Karma Yeshey accompanied by our Directors, Commissioners and Training officers.

I am grateful to BSA and APR for conducting such a momentous events for the promotion of Scouting and MoP at the tertiary level of education sector. It was inspiration for promotion of Rover Scouts and motivated every participants to be an active crew and encouraged to render services freely as a Messenger of Peace. That is the generation and advancement of peace. And meantime I want to extend my heartfelt gratitute to college management for such noble opportunity, and my parents and friends for supports and guidance. I pledge to be always a messenger of peace and advance scouting and MoP through selfless services and dedications.

Thank You.