President Joseph Aoun received at Baabda Palace a delegation from the Arab Scout Committee, which included representatives of fourteen Arab countries, and was briefed on the decision to choose Lebanon to host the strategic meetings of the Arab Scout Organization.
At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Lebanese Scouts Union, Wassim El-Zein, delivered a speech in which he said: “On my behalf and in the name of the Lebanese Scouts, I am honored to welcome all of you, the members of the World Scout Organization, the president and members of the Arab Scout Organization and its bodies, the members of the Arab Scout Funding Fund, the International Scout Center, and the Arab Scout delegations.” He explained that choosing Lebanon to hold these meetings is “a confirmation that Beirut is the cradle of Arab Scouting since its entry into the Arab world in 1912, and a center of permanent radiance of scouting and humanitarian values.”
Al-Zein pointed out that the Lebanon Scouts Union has completed a full year of serious work within its strategic plan, during which the vision was translated into practical projects that serve young men and women and open new horizons for them. He announced that the first of this strategy will be presented under the patronage of the First Lady, which reflects the commitment to institutional work and belief in the mission of Scouting in building the individual and society. He thanked the President of the Republic for his continued sponsorship of scouting work and his support for youth, stressing that scouts are “always ready to serve the nation and humanity.”
For his part, the Chairman of the Arab Scout Committee, Saeed Maaliki, gave a speech in which he stressed that his visit comes in his capacity as the elected head of the Arab Scout Committee and as a Lebanese who is proud of his affiliation. He saw that the President of the Republic’s reception of the delegation “is not just a tribute to an ancient scouting institution, but rather a deeply significant national message that confirms the belief in the role of non-formal education and the importance of investing in people as the true wealth of societies.”
Maaliqi stated that the Arab Scout Movement is an integral part of the World Scout Organization, which is the largest youth organization in the world, explaining that the strategy of the committee and the organization stems from considering scouting “a school of values, a way of life, and an educational space that produces generations that believe in public service, respect diversity, and face challenges with hope, discipline, and volunteer work.” He stressed that Beirut is the cradle of Arab Scouting and the spark of scouting activity, and that Lebanon, despite the challenges, remains an educational beacon and incubator for the Arab Scouting message.
In turn, President Aoun expressed his happiness at this meeting, considering that holding the meetings of the Arab Scout Committee in Lebanon is “proof that the entire Arab world is present in Lebanon,” and that this reflects the true rapprochement between the Arab peoples and the Arab youth, regardless of the differences in political situations. He stressed that serving and investing in humanity are fundamental and necessary to confront the challenges facing societies, and stressed that the new generation needs someone to direct them towards the public interest and protecting their homelands. He concluded his speech by saying: “The role you play is important, because you are far from politics, and your main concern is building humanity and citizenship,” thanking the delegations for their confidence in Lebanon.
