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HELPING AFRICAN SCOUTS

Click here to see an article about the Namo-Ale Scout Cultural Scout Group

Whilst in Switzerland last August I met a Scout Leader and local Commissioner for Scouts from Ghana, a small country on the Ivory Coast of West Africa. I didn't get any badges from him but I did manage to get the shirt of his back! I will be wearing it at County Rally. His name is Abdul Hamid Ibrahim. He runs a Community Scout Troop called the Namo-Ale Scout Cultural Group.

Since our trip I have been in regular e mail contact with Abdul. He is planning to bring 18 Scouts and 3 Leaders to attend the 2006 Jamborette at Blair Athol in Scotland this summer (check out the web site). Obviously there is a cost to do this and he has asked if I would help - my first thought was that he will want my Bank details to transfer money to Scotland - but nothing like that. I've been in contact with the Jamborette organisers and they have confirmed the booking, they are aware of what I'm doing and know that I have no responsibility for their camp fees.

The Namo-Ale Scout Cultural Scout Group is not a School supported Group, they are a Community group, in other words they have only what they can make from local resources and with the skills that they have. In raising money for the trip they are not asking for donations. The Chief Commissioner of Ghana is aware of the help that I and the Scouts of West Lancashire are giving to the Scouts of his Country.

The Scouts have designed a special necker, be aware - it is very colourful! They are Adult size and so are long enough to get a friendship knot on the bottom. They also make woggles from the nuts they collect from the Bodwiabe tree. They have also had some Kente shirts made, no doubt you've seen Nelson Mandela in a Kente shirt. These are 'over the head' shirts and are very, very colourful. Some shirts carry the 'One World - One Promise' and 2007 bands which have been woven by hand. They fit me so I would say they are a Large / Medium.

Abdul has sent me some necky samples which I've already sold and raised £190, this I've paid directly to the treasurer of the Blair Athol camp saving Abdul £40 in international bank transfers.

I have a second parcel of neckers, woggles and some shirts which are all for sale. Abdul won't give me a price for these items, he's left it to me and to whatever others want to pay for them. I've been selling the necker, with a woggle for £10. The woggles alone £2, which I think is fair. The Kente shirts I've seen in South Africa last week and they sell at £20 to £30, I reckon £20 is fair.

I can't help but admire what he's doing, I thought taking my lot to Switzerland was hard enough. If you want an African necky, woggle or shirt please drop me a line. Abdul's e mail address is available from Bill should you want to send a greeting.