Iran Scout Organization: Difference between revisions

Iran is one of 35 countries where [[Scouting]] exists (be it embryonic or widespread) but where there is no National Scout Organization which is a member of the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]] at the present time.

== History ==

Gradually, Scouting activity expanded all over the country, but was suddenly suppressed when in August 1941 Britain and the USSR invaded Iran, arrested [[Reza Shah]] and sent him into exile during World War II. In 1943, the government became interested in Scouting movement. The Ministry of Culture was in direct control of Scouting, working with new plans and focus. in October, 1943, an American expert, Mr. Gibson, was invited to Iran to manage Scouting and the Physical Education Organization. However, during the next eleven years, only one or two small groups were functioning. Later notables of Iranian Scouting [[Ebrahim Sadri]], Jalil Ketabi and others were active in this difficult period, and their interest and effort would assist in Scouting's later rebirth.

Iran became a member of the World Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement for the second time in 1955, under the direction of Dr. Banai. The first National Jamboree of Iran was held in 1956. In the late 1950s, more than 15,000 boys joined Scouting in Iran. The [[Majlis of Iran]] passed an act in 1958 recognizing Iranian Scouting as an independent national association. 1958 was a busy year for Iranian Scouting as the next national jamboree was held, with 4,000 Scouts participating, as well as Scouts from Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, England, Japan, Germany and Americans living in Iran; and Scouts established a small poultry farm for fundraising at the national Scout campsite at [[Manzarieh]], at the foot of the [[Alborz]] Mountains outside Teheran, as well as fields and greenhouses for flower-raising. At the meeting of the International Committee in Athens in August 1958, Manzarieh (meaning "pleasant prospect") was chosen as the site of an international Scout training center, similar to [[Kandersteg International Scout Centre|Kandersteg]] in Switzerland, and deputy camp chiefs from around the world were invited to staff and run the training courses. During the 1950s, the focus was on introducing Scouting in rural, agrarian districts, and by 1961, Iran had a total membership of 21,829 Scouts.  

== 15th World Jamboree ==

The [[15th World Scout Jamboree (cancelled)|15th World Jamboree]] was scheduled to be held in Neyshâbûr, Iran in July 1979, at the 10 square kilometre Omar Khayyám Scout Park, near the Afghan and Turkmen borders. The Second Asia-Pacific Jamboree was held at the site in preparation, in the summer of 1977. However, the destabilizing events of the Islamic Revolution cancelled the 15th World Jamboree near the end of 1978. Instead, the World Organization announced the "World Jamboree Year" by holding several international World Jamboree Year camps in Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States that took up the momentum.  

Until the Islamic Revolution, there were American Boy Scouts in Teheran, serving in the Damavand District of the [[Direct Service]] branch of the [[Boy Scouts of America]], which supports units around the world.

== Iranian Scouting difficulties and rebirth ==

Since the 1970s, Iranian Scouting has faced difficulties, and lost WOSM membership. The government placed restraints on Scouting during the 1980s, and the wars that Iran became involved in took into the military many Scout-age boys, as well as leaders.  

The Iranian Scouting uniform of the present period likely has longer shirt sleeves and full-length trousers, in accordance with Islamic edicts.

== Ideals and program ==

== Girl Scouting in Iran ==

Girl Guiding may again be making inroads into Iran, as in 1993 a reception was held in Manila, Philippines in conjunction with WAGGGS' Asia Pacific Symposium of NGOs for Women in Development. The aim was to introduce or reintroduce the Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting movement and to explore possibilities of starting/restarting Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting in Iran, as well as Cambodia, Tibet, Russia, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Fifty women leaders from those nations attended the Asia Pacific Symposium, sharing their Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting experiences.

 

== External links and references ==

[[Category:Needs to be ScoutWikified]]