Iraqi Scouting

Keith Blackey, volunteerInternational Committee, Pacific Skyline Council

Boy Scouts of America, Foster City, CA

A story of beginnings

Beginning 1

• UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1907

• USA . . . . . . . . . . . . 1910

• Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1921

League of Nations created Iraq from Ottoman Empire in 1919

• 2 years after Iraq becomes a country

Boy Scouts in Silêmanî (Suleymaniah), Iraq in 1927

Iraqi Scout flag Iraqi flag

3rd World Jamboree

Prince of Wales & B-P w/Iraqi Scouts

Arrowe Park, England1929

4th World Jamboree

Egyptian & Iraqi Scouts

Gödöllö, Hungary

1933

Decertified 1939-1943• UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1907• USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1910• Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1921 -

1940– German occupation . 1939 – 1943

Hajj Husseini w/Hitler in 1941

Beginning 2• UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1907• USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1910• Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1921

– German occupation . . . .1939 – 1943– Faltering starts . . . . . . .1943 – 1955

Iraqi Boy Scouts and Girl Guides العراقية المرشدين و الكشافة

Decertified 1979 - 2003• UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1907• USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1910• Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1921

– German occupation . . . .1939 – 1943– Faltering starts . . . . . . . .1943 – 1955– Saddam Hussein . . . . .1979 – 2003

Ashbal Saddam, Saddam's Lion Cubs, in 1998 to prepare young volunteers for Fedayeen Saddam.

Beginning 3

• Chip Beck• Nima Motashar • January 2004• Focuses on:

– Fundraising– Boosting Iraqi Scouting’s profile– Supporting Iraqi Scouting’s efforts– Restoring Iraqi Scouting’s membership in

WOSM.

Today

• $100,000+ Raised• 150,000 Scouts• 18 Provinces• 22 Camps• Iraqi run, uniforms, trained

leaders• Integrated into schools • WAGGGS Certification in 2004• WOSM Certification in 2010?

• Hasar Kashafa, Iraq– 110-120 regular participants– Started by soldiers of 116th Brigade Combat

Team’s Task Force 1-148 Field Artillery & community leaders

– Leaders trained, uniforms distributed, weekly meetings

EXAMPLE

Hasar Tigers (8-11 yr olds)• “One of the first things was to get

the troop its own Scout Badge. The second was to have its own "Pinewood Derby". 1LT Jeremy Thomas

• July 7, 2005• Cars donated by families of 116th

Brigade Combat Team Soldiers

Hasar Lightening (12-14 yr olds)

Cookie Sales

Girl Scout Cookie sale w/Eagle Scout General David Petraeus & Ambassador Ryan Crocker

Girl Guides

Sunnis & Shi'ites

• Co gender

• Co religion

Popcorn!

• Trail’s End donated 2.5 tons of popcorn• DHL shipped to Baghdad at no charge• Fundraising kickoff - Super Bowl weekend 2008• Sold to Embassy staff, GIs & government employees• Raised $25K for Iraqi Scouting.

Field Trips

22 Permanent Scout Camp

Famous Scouters are Helping

Lt. Col. Roberta Luba

Gen. David Petraeus

Ambassador Ryan Crocker

Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp

Iraqi Boy Scouts and Girl Guides العراقية المرشدين و الكشافة

Thank you for all you do for Scouting!

Keith@Blackey.netCell: 650-740-0703