Members of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee
and leaders of overseas Scout groups have undertaken a site inspection of
the venue for the 25th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree, to be held in
Had Yao, Sattahip, at the end of December.
Deputy
Minister of Education Piyabutr Cholvijarn (right) converses a member of
the APR scout committee.
The visit, which took place over the period July 27 to
August 2, included 150 Scouting representatives from 23 countries led by
Eric Khoo, chairman 2004-2007 for the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout
Committee World Organization of Scout Movements, and APR director Abdullah
Rasheed.
Delegates also had the opportunity to see the
arrangements made for the 17th National Scout Jamboree of Thailand 2005,
and Red Cross Youth Gathering 2005, which was held from July 25-31 at Had
Yao.
Eric
Khoo (right), chairman 2004-07 APR Scout Committee World Organization of
Scout Movement chats with Prapatpong Senarith (center), jamboree director
and Pratheep Malhotra (left).
The 25th Asia-Pacific Jamboree, to be held under the
concept, “Scouting: the Road to Peace”, will be held from December 28
to January 3.
Minister of Education Adisai Bodharamik, who is also
chairman of the National Scout Executive Board, had invited the group to
inspect the location and the various facilities. Sutham Phanthusak,
international commissioner of the National Scouting Organizing in
Thailand, was there to welcome the leaders.
Eric
Khoo, 2004-07 Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee World Organization of
Scout Movement chairman, presents a souvenir to the welcome party host,
Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhaya, chairman of TAT Central Region 3.
On their first day the group stayed at Au-Dongtan
Lodging, on the Sattahip Naval Base, and enjoyed a welcoming party in the
evening.
Education Deputy Minister Piyabutr Cholvijarn and
chairman of TAT Central Region 3 Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhaya were their
hosts at a reception at Sala Rim Nam, in the Pattaya Marriott Resort and
Spa Hotel.
Chattan
Kunjara na Ayudhaya (right), Director of TAT Central Region 3 presents a
souvenir to Deputy Minister of Education Piyabutr Cholvijarn (left).
“The 25th Asia-Pacific Region Scout Jamboree is an
important milestone in the development of scouts in this area,” said
Piyabutr. “The Ministry of Education in Thailand has wholeheartedly
supported this jamboree, and all of the previous jamborees, as we believe
that these are an integral part of international Scouting today, and
integral parts in the process of growing up for our youth.”
The message and ideas of the founder of Scouting, Lord
Baden-Powell, are just as important today as they were seventy-one years
ago, he said. Baden-Powell had said: “The outstanding need in the
upbringing of youth today is an adequate system of health culture. It is
easy enough to give the youngsters pleasure by taking them to cinemas or
parties, but that is merely giving them pleasure in a moment - it is not
happiness. Take them out of society to be with nature and see something of
the rest of the world; to appreciate the beauty around them; to give them
health and happy companionship, and to introduce them to the satisfaction
gained from helping others.
Sutham
Phanthusak (left), international commissioner of NSO Thailand, welcomes
Edward Cook to the farewell party at the Woodlands Resort.
“On the threshold of adult discovery, including
one’s own personality, exploration and discoveries are particularly
relevant in the life of young people. Scouting provides that rare
experience for all of them.”
On July 30 the group toured Pattaya, calling in at Nong
Nooch Garden, and then visited the National Scout Jamboree No 17 at Hard
Yao. They visited View Point and the surrounding area, and then with
jamboree executive director Prapatpong Senarith discussed various
practicalities such as the provision of the various food types required by
the different cultures and countries that the Scouts will be representing.
In the evening a reception was held with Chonburi
Deputy Governor Weerawit Wiwatwanich as presenter.
Deputy
Minister of Education Piyabutr Cholvijarn (3rd from right), Pattaya Mail
MD Pratheep Malhotra (2nd from left), Dr. Prapatpong Senarith (3rd from
left), 25th Asia-Pacific Regional Jamboree director and representatives of
the National Scout Organization of Thailand at the welcome party at
Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa.
“I am glad you have had the opportunity to inspect
the camp site in the naval reserve at Sattahip. This is a real Scout camp,
as founder Lord Baden-Powell would have imagined it should be. The bush
lands surrounding the main ‘village’ will make it possible for many
city dwellers to enjoy the real excitement of camping and getting to know
nature,” said Weerawit.
Members
of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee and leaders of Overseas Scout
groups gather at the welcome party at Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa.
“This is precisely what the 25th Asia-Pacific
Regional Scout Jamboree can offer your country’s Scouts. An opportunity
to be with nature, but in a safe and supervised environment. Nobody wants
their children to be in danger, but we do want them to grow by
experiencing ‘real’ life, not the concrete jungles of the urban
sprawls.
“Your Scouts will come to the Sattahip camp to learn
about bush craft, and living and communicating with their Scouting
brothers and sisters from all over.”
Some
of the guests tried their hand at dancing with the beautiful Thai dancers
at the farewell party at Woodlands Resort.
After the party all groups went to join the closing
ceremony of the 17th National Scout Jamboree of Thailand 2005, and Red
Cross Youth Gathering 2005.
This jamboree was held to celebrate the vice president
of the Red Cross Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn’s 50th birthday
this year, and the 80th birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess
Petcharatana Ratchasuda Sirisophapannawadee, patron of the National
Scouts.
About 6,550 Scouts, Girl Guides, Thailand commanders,
and Scouts from Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh took part in the
jubilee. The closing ceremony included a rousing show from the Scouts and
Girl Guides.
July 31 was the last day of studying and observation. The group went to
Koh Kham, which will be one of the venues, and in the evening attended a
farewell party at the Woodland Resort in Pattaya. Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn and the president of the Eastern Thai Hotel Association
Buntharik Kusolwit led the reception, which included a Thai cultural show.
The
young Thai Scouts and Guides truly enjoyed the festivities.
The
farewell party at the Woodlands Resort was a night to remember.
Sutham
Phanthusak (right), international commissioner of NSO Thailand, introduces
Chonburi Deputy Governor Weerawit Wiwatwanich, hosted of the welcome party
at the Au-Dongtan Building, at Sattahip Naval Base.
Chonburi
Deputy Governor Weerawit Wiwatwanich presents a souvenir to Eric Khoo.
Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (right) receives a token of appreciation from
Simon Hang Bock Phee, chairman of the management sub committee 2004-2007.
Eric
Khoo thanks the entertainers for the great show they put on at the
farewell party at the Woodlands Resort.
“Welcome
to Thailand!” Sutham Phanthusak, Eric Khoo and the dancers say, “Come
back soon!”
Edward
Cook receives a souvenir from Bundarik Kusolvitya (right), president of
the Thai Hotels Association - Eastern Chapter at the farewell party at the
Woodlands Resort in Pattaya.
The
beautiful jamboree site offers Scouts the opportunity to be with nature in
a safe and supervised environment.
(L to
R) Sutham Phanthusak, Deputy Governor Weerawit Wiwatwanich and Eric Khoo.
The
APR Jamboree committee, led by Prapatpong Senarith (2nd left), jamboree
director, met to discuss the readiness of the Had Yao site.
