🚀 go-pugleaf

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

--------------13DC2D9AAD7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Dear Scouts and Guides,

Since august 1996 Scoutinggroups from South Africa and The Netherlands
are sharing their experiences with `local community development
projects', using e-mail communication. Because of this Scouts and Guides
from both countries are supporting each other in doing their projects.
More information about this project can be found at the sites of the
South African Scout Association:
http://www.scouting.org.za/scouts/sadutch/

So far this project was quite succesful and in the Netherlands other
(youth)organisations are now interested in doing such a
(partnership)project. Before we will give those organisations the
information they asked for, we would however like to know the opinion of
Scouts and Guides form all over the world about these kind of
e-mailprojects. 

Therefore I would like to ask You all:
- What do you think of these projects?
- Are you perhaps doing something similar?
- Do you think that (international) e-mail communication can strenghten
your own (or any) Community Development Project?
- Do you see possibilities for using e-mail in your own Community
Development projects?


Yours in Scouting and Guiding

Bas Mulder

--------------13DC2D9AAD7
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Base: "http://www.scouting.org.za/scouts/sadu
	tch/"

<BASE HREF="http://www.scouting.org.za/scouts/sadutch/">

<TITLE>South African - Dutch Scout/Rover Environmental Project</TITLE>
<BODY BGCOLOR=#d1c4ab BACKGROUND=../images/sand2.gif>

<img src=../images/arvore1s.gif align=right WIDTH=108 HEIGHT=97>
<H1 align=center>South African - Dutch Scout/Rover Environmental Project</H1>
<p align=center>
<i>"Youth International Interactive"</i></p>
<p align=center>
<img src=../images/sadutch.gif WIDTH=227 HEIGHT=76>

<center>
<HR>
<A HREF=#intro>Introduction</A> |
<A HREF=#whats>What's involved</A> |
<A HREF=jointproj.html>Projects on the go</A> |
<A HREF=how.html>How</A> |
<A HREF=#latest>Latest</A>
<HR>
</center>

<A NAME=intro>
<H2>Joint environmental projects by e-mail</H2>

In August 1996, seven South African Scout Groups began an exciting
international partnership with 7 Dutch Scout Groups focusing
on 14 self selected local environmental projects in a twinned 
relationship, using e-mail communication.
<P>
At first it was hard to find takers, everyone is busy, but once we
refocused the search on those groups having e-mail connections,
we found that every e-mail connected group we approached was
enthusiastic and keen to get going.
<P>
Only seven groups could be accommodated in phase one of this project 
which ends in February 1997.   But the good news is that it is "almost 
certain" there will be a phase two expanding the project to 25 groups 
locally in mid 1997. 
<P>
The project seems to include just about all the requirements for the
world conservation badge and this could be easily negotiated with your
district or area, but the projects benefits are measured with a far
wide set of objectives than this.
<P>
Some Scout groups are asking for more information about the project
before jumping in. <br>
<b>WELL HERE IT IS!</b>
<P>
Here's a sniff - the rest will be worked out together as we move along 
through each unique project.  I hope this really grabs you as important
and interesting stuff with great opportunities for growing your group
in every way. This really grabs attention, community support and even 
doers to your cause. That's been the experience of the groups in the 
present phase one trial.
<P>
<HR>
<A name=whats>
<H2 align=center>What's involved for my Group/Crew?</H2>

<b>What is the aim of this project?</b>
<P>
Scouts/Rovers in South Africa and the Netherlands are choosing for
themselves to make an interesting  contribution in their own local
environment and will share their action experiences with each other -
forging friendship bridges in the process.
<P>
The projects are not necessarily related to nature alone and may well
involve people and where they live and work, both types are equally
acceptable. 
<P>
Let's consider an imaginary example...
<P>
<center>
<table border=1 cellpadding=5>
<tr><td>
<p align=center>
<B>Group A1</B> [in South Africa] <br>
may want to clean up a mangrove swamp near their home town.
<p align=center>
BUT
<p align=center>
<B>Group A2</B>
[in the Netherlands]<br>
want to put pressure on a cheese factory to reduce odors in their town.
</td></tr>
</table>
</center>
<P>
That's OK! Sure, the projects of the co-operating international
partners are different,  but the METHOD OF SOLVING PROBLEMS IS THE 
SAME and this is what they will share. Each partner will report their
project progress to each other by e-mail every week for 12 weeks and
encourage their partners and perhaps even ask helpful questions or
make useful suggestions.
<P>
For the Scouter  - more formally stated, these are our Scout objectives
in co-operating in this venue....

<OL>
<b><LI></b>
   To stimulate interest and action in environment projects at local
   level.
<b><LI></b>
   To put decision-making power and responsibility into the hands of
   local scouts to prepare them for greater service in the movement
   and their community.
<b><LI></b>
   To skill (empower) these scouts to enhance their chances of 
   employment and serving local communities in leadership capacities.
<b><LI></b>
   To encourage local creative and innovative leadership in Scouting.
<b><LI></b>
   To encourage local scouts to make local community partnerships.
<b><LI></b>
   To enhance the local profile of Scouting through relevant service in
   communities.
<b><LI></b>
   To contribute towards RDP objectives in South Africa (Reconstruction
   Development Programme).
<b><LI></b>
   To build cultural and friendship bridges through international
   partnerships.
<b><LI></b>
   To make youth in both countries aware of the similarity in solving
   problems in the community.
</OL>

<b>But how it will work out in practise...</b>
<P>
Once all groups are ready, say by mid 1997 .... a two-way E-mail
communication between the SA co-ordinator and the selected South
African project groups will begin regularly for the duration of the
project. 
<P>
<b>The project will follow these two major phases....</b>

<UL>
<b><LI></b>
   PREPARATION AND PLANNING    [say  4 weeks]
<b><LI></b>
   ACTION PHASE   [ say 10 weeks allowing for holidays]
</UL>
And that's it! There will be an evaluation phase for me afterwards but
will be doing it continuously through e-mail contact with you [sharing
your problems and helping to solve them in addition to monitoring your
progress] and I will be able to monitor your partnership with your
scout partners in The Netherlands when you send me a copy of your
e-mail messages to them.
<P>
So there will be very few extra reports to fill in and not much reading
only an extra address on your correspondence - that's the beauty of
e-mail communication - the computer does the work.
<P>
<b>Clearly...</b>

<UL>
<LI>This is a longer project that we usually tackle here, but not so long
  that we will lose interest and you can do it faster if you like.  In
  effect 3 months realistically! Good things take a bit longer to
  arrange.

<LI>This sort of project can be worked into our programme [we already
  have badges for this type of thing].

<LI>You will not be left alone for longer than two weeks! I will respond
  promptly to all your queries and make your problems my own. Your
  scout partners will be communicating with you as international
  friends in the scout family.  As we advertise your projects progress
  on the Scout Ready Net and in Scouting About - you'll find yourselves
  on the Scout global map making friends and contacts all over South
  Africa and the world - I bet at some stage some of you will want to
  meet each other but that's  a separate project of your own.
</UL>

<b>But how will you get started?</b>

<OL>
<b><LI></b>
   Commit your group to the project idea now  by  E-mail -
   fopie@ilink.nis.za
<b><LI></b>
   I will link you up with a Dutch Scout partner next year.
<b><LI></b>
   You will not have a project thrust on you ... but you will have lots
   of help in choosing your own project. This will be easy -
   guaranteed!
<b><LI></b>
   A full manual of easy user-friendly project suggestions and
   procedures will be e-mailed to you.
</OL>

Right now all I can say about your project is that it should be....

<UL>
<LI>INTERESTING TO YOU, 
<LI>IMPORTANT TO YOU, 
<LI>IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMMUNITY,
<LI>WITHIN YOUR RESOURCES TO DO [with reasonable help].
</UL>

This is another opportunity for your group to become part of this
project too. Scouts all over the world will soon learn of this project
through the <A HREF=http://www.scout.org/ready/index.html>READY NETWORK</A>...
this is your unique invitation and
opportunity to be part of international Scout/Rover history and forge
the cultural and friendship bridges we are all needing right now.
<P>
Because this phase has not yet been finalised with our Dutch
Partners...the final form of this project is still subject to
development changes, but I'm opening the files now...so get your
name on this list to avoid disappointment.
<P>
Late comers will be added to a waiting list.
<P>
Yours in Scouting,
<P>
Frank Opie
<P>
December 1996

<P>
<HR>
<A NAME=latest>
<P>
<b>Hi Everyone in the Dutch-SA environment project,</b>
<P>
SA National Council were delighted with our project and all the
commissioners in particular expressed an interest which was most
gratifying. This means that your area commissioner is now informed
about your project too and approves. 
<P>
Now that the exams as behind us, the projects should really take off
with roar. While I was away a reports came though to 1st Alberton
and 1st Muizenberg.....but still nothing at all from 1st Marianhill,
Durban and St Columba's in Port Elizabeth. This is a concern of mine as when
there is a long silence in any part of the project I get to wondering
about whether that part of the project is still alive and well. Please
report back chaps!
<P>
Now that you are getting into projects I am ready to inform the 
<A HREF=http://www.scout.org/ready/index.html>READY net</A>
co-ordinator of your activities and get them on the web. I will
prepared a report for Peter van Heek for joint approval and send you a
copy too. I have already informed Jay Heale of our progress 
[<A HREF=../scoutabt.html>Scouting About</A>] so there'll be something 
more in our local Scout  magazine soon.
I will also be reporting soon over the Gauteng and Western Cape Scout
networks.
<P>
Finally, now that you have some movement in your projects, please take
photographs and send me one which shows what you are doing. I will use
this in future publications where this is reported to promote the
project.
<P>
Please don't forget my request to keep your ears open for other groups
who might like to get involved next year in this project at phase two
level. We are looking for about 25 groups and I have about seven
addresses to date. The list is filling up!
<P>
Best wishes for your continuing projects, the exciting stage is coming
up.
<P>
Frank
<P>
Frank Opie<br>
National Commissioner : Environmental Education<br>
For Scouts of South Africa<br>
fopie@ilink.nis.za
<P>
<HR>

<A HREF=..><img src=../images/sa_button.gif align=center> Back</A> 
to the South African Scouting Collection

--------------13DC2D9AAD7--