A beneficial movement...

(Baonghean) - Following my friend to Nguyen Tat Thanh Park (Vinh City) to participate in a Scout group activity, I had the opportunity to learn more about a beneficial movement for young people.

Scouting is a global youth movement. Its purpose is to educate and train young people to adapt to all circumstances and become useful citizens for society. This is a relatively new activity in Vinh City. To date, the Nghe An Scout movement, organized by young people, has been operating for two years. Nguyen Tat Thanh Park is a regular meeting place for Scouts in the province. Currently, the Vietnamese Scout movement has five branches: Junior Scouts (ages 4 to 7), Cub Scouts (ages 7 to 11), Junior Scouts (ages 11 to 15), Senior Scouts (ages 15 to 18), and Senior Scouts (ages 18 and above).

Knot-tying larval biology group.

During a scouting session, I learned how to tie knots. It's a simple and familiar everyday task, yet we're often doing it incorrectly. The scouts explained that knot tying is a fundamental lesson, forming the basis for learning various variations and decorative knots. These diverse lessons stem from many small things, such as first aid, crafts, tent pitching, and knot tying techniques.

Tran Quoc Dat, a Scout, said that Scouts usually live outdoors. The Scout movement often organizes camping trips and educational games that teach life skills and survival skills, creating opportunities for everyone to train and learn. Scouts gain practical experience to grow. The story of the green forest is integrated into the Cub Scout program. The Cub Scouts are called "wolf cubs" and live according to the "Rules of the Green Forest." According to Dat, the image of the wolf is used to refer to the Cub Scouts because wolves are pack animals with high discipline. The "wolf cubs" live in a pack and are led by the elder wolf Akela and his assistants (the Scouts). The Cub Scouts need to learn to love, unite, and help each other to develop.

The Scouting method is built on the spirit of voluntarism. Self-discipline governs everything. No one manages or punishes you for mistakes or failure to complete tasks. You are the one who determines the outcome of your training. Each branch has a different method, but all are based on self-discipline. Cub Scouts have a system of badges and ranks to encourage their striving spirit. Badges include various types such as swimming badges, first aid badges, etc. Each badge recognizes achievements in each field. In addition, Cub Scouts have a good deeds book with the goal of "one good deed a day," through which they gradually learn self-discipline and build good character.

Currently, the environment for Scouts in Vinh is limited, mainly at Blue Sky Academy International School. Scouts go to school and learn with the children through games: quick-thinking games, physical games, team games that foster discipline, etc.

Currently, the Scouting movement is defined as a voluntary, non-political, and non-religious movement, aiming to help children develop comprehensively in terms of physical, intellectual, emotional, and community skills. In particular, life skills become a useful means of perfecting a person's character. The purpose of the Scouting movement today is to contribute, together with families and schools, to perfecting the necessary skills of children of various ages. This helps individuals, upon reaching adulthood, to adapt to all circumstances, become good citizens, value honor and integrity, be responsible to the community, and live useful lives in society…

Text and photos:Ha An