The Emirates Scout Association (ESA) has concluded a successful participation in the World Scout Jamboree 2015, which took place in Kirara-hama Yamaguchi City in Japan, from Tuesday 28th July to Saturday 8th August 2015.

The event was held under the theme: "WA: a Spirit of Unity" which embraces many meanings such as unity, harmony, cooperation, friendship and peace. It also represents Japan and its culture.

Khalil Rahma Ali, head of the UAE scout delegation, said the UAE scouts, rangers and guides had gained many life essential skills and challenges including camping in wilderness, teamwork, self-discipline and self-reliance, leadership and decision-making abilities and event organisation and management skills.

On 6th August 2015, everyone at the Jamboree stopped to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The UAE scouts, he added, had also attended the 'Peace Programme', a one-day off-site programme to Hiroshima which provided opportunity for all the participants to learn from the events of 1945. Participants also visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park including the museum. The participants understood and felt the history of what happened on August 6, 1945. There was also a small gathering to hear the memoirs and poems by the survivors of Hiroshima, followed by an invitation for participants to come onstage and share their thoughts on peace.

A scout exhibition organised by the ESA, he said, had drawn commendation and praise from participants.

The official educational event of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement, which involved 32,000 scouts from across the world, featured activities that include Nature, Culture, Science, Faith and Beliefs, Global Development Village, Water, Peace, and Community.

The Global Development Village (GDV), an on-site module programme, attempted to raise awareness of global issues such as peace, the environment, development, human rights and health among participants. As the 23WSJ was held in Japan, the GDV's focus was on disaster mitigation.

A 'Crossroads of Culture" programme was designed to promote the exchange of cultures, and learning respect for the cultures amongst participants. The event also held a programme aimed at deepening the cultural understanding of Japan from traditional culture to pop culture among the participants.
Source: WAM