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Singapore Scout Association

Singapore Scout Association
CountrySingapore
Founded1910
Membership12,365
Chief ScoutTharman Shanmugaratnam
PresidentRaymond Chia Lee Meng
Chief CommissionerDesmond Chong Kok Hwee
AffiliationWorld Organization of the Scout Movement
Website
http://www.scout.sg
 Scouting portal

The Singapore Scout Association ("SSA") was founded in 1910, two years after the Scout Movement was launched by Robert Baden-Powell in Great Britain.[1] This makes it the oldest established youth movement in Singapore.

As an organization within a multilingual country, the Association is called in Malay: Persatuan Pengakap Singapura-PPS, simplified Chinese: 新加坡童军总会; traditional Chinese: 新加坡童軍總會; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Tóngjūn Zǒnghuì.

History

Troop photo, circa 1937

Scouting was first introduced in Singapore in 1908 but was officially founded on 2 July 1910.[2] A Scoutmaster named Frank Cooper Sands arrived from Nottingham in September 1910 and spent the next 40 years helping to create the Singapore Scout Association. It started as a troop of 30 boys, and has grown since then. Scouting for local boys started in 1919 by Captain N.M. Hashim and A.Z. Alsagoff. From 1922, schools in Singapore adopted the Scout Programme as an extracurricular activity resulting in the formation of school-sponsored troops registered as 2nd Raffles Institution, 3rd Anglo-Chinese School and 4th St Joseph Institution. Although the 04 St Joseph's Pelandok Scout Group was formed in the 1911, 2nd Raffles Institution, subsequently renamed 02 Raffles Scout Group, is currently the oldest continuous-functioning scout troop after the 1st Sand's Troop disbanded.

From 1963 to 1965, the SSA formed part of the Scout Association of Malaysia.

The Scout's Law and Promise

The Scout's Law: A scout is to be trusted. A scout is loyal. A scout makes friends, establishes and maintains harmonious relations. A scout is disciplined and considerate. A scout has courage in all difficulties.

The Scout's Promise: On my honour, I promise to do my best, to do my duty to God, and to the Republic of Singapore. To help other people, and to keep the Scout Law.

Present

Arrow Scout Group at Youth Rally, circa 1949

Today, there are 10,722 Singapore Scouts[3] in the country serving in four mainstream Scout sections. Each section caters to the needs of Scouts in a specific age range through different program focuses. The Cub Scout section comprises youths between ages 7 and 12 (primary school) while the scout section is made up of youths between ages 12 and 16 (secondary school). In addition, there are the Venture Scout and Rover Scout sections which accept youths between the ages of 15 and 18 and young adults from 17 to 25 respectively. Besides the mainstream Scout sections, there is also the Sea Scout section, which comprises Sea Scouts, Sea Venture Scouts and Sea Rover Scouts, and the Extension Scouts which is open to all physically or mentally disadvantaged youths who enjoy Scouting.

An Air Scout section was previously abolished, but it was revived in 2011 under the name Black Knights Air Scouts. On 24 March 2012, an investiture ceremony was held to officially welcome the latest batch of Air Scout Rovers.[4] Some 20 students and two lecturers from ITE College Central's Black Knights Air Scouts, completed the airborne training conducted by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) from 5 to 8 July 2012, during their Overseas Training Program 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand.[5]

The emblem uses the red and white from the Flag of Singapore, plus the 5 stars and crescent symbolizing unity of Scouts regardless of ethnic origin, religion or mother language.

Singapore Scout Association Structure

The President of the Republic of Singapore is the Chief Scout. The Chief Scout holds the highest authority in the SSA and grants warrants and awards to uniformed adult leaders and commissioners who are recommended by the Association Headquarters. The Chief Scout also awards deserving and outstanding youth members who have attained the Standards of the Highest Award — the President's Scout Award.

The Association Headquarters is led by the Scout Council, which comprises the uniformed and lay officials who assist the Chief Scout in his functions. The Scout Council is responsible for finding funds to support the Association's activities and providing strategic direction and financial oversight on the Association, while the Commissioners' Council formulates operational policies and directives in the respective fields and departments. The Area Council and the Districts implement the various National policies and directives to the grassroot units. Full-time professional staff provide day-to-day management of the Association Headquarters and provide support services to Commissioners' Council and Scout Council.

The Scout Council is headed by an elected President of the Association, together with his Vice Presidents and Council members. Several committees are formed to look into the various aspects of the Association including the Finance Committee, Uniform Committee, and Scout Shop Committee.

The Commissioner's Council is the highest operational policy and directive body headed by Chief Commissioner. The Commissioner's Council structure is as follows:

  • Chief Commissioner
  • Deputy Chief Commissioners
  • Assistant Chief Commissioners
    • National Training Commissioner
    • National Programme Commissioner
    • Area Commissioners
    • Membership Growth Commissioner
    • Partnership Commissioner
    • Adult Resource Commissioner
    • Programme Resource Commissioner
  • International/Relations Commissioner
  • District Commissioner

The National Training Commissioner is the head of National Training Team whose role is to provide adult leader training towards Woodbadge.

The National Programme Commissioner is the head of National Programme Council whose role is to provide Scouting Programmes and updates for all youth members.

The International/Relations Commissioner is the head of International/Relations Department that handles both relations within Singapore and internationally.

Bid for 23rd World Scout Jamboree in 2015

The SSA made a bid to host the 23rd World Scout Jamboree at its campsite on Coney Island, Singapore, in 2015.[6] In a decision made at the World Scout Conference in 2008, the Jamboree was instead awarded to the Scout Association of Japan.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Singapore Scout Association (SSA) | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  2. ^ K. Y. L., Tan; M. H., Wan (2002). Scouting in Singapore 1910–2000. Singapore: Singapore Scout Association & National Archives of Singapore. p. 13. ISBN 9810454619.
  3. ^ "Membership Census 2018 (Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venture Scouts, Rover Scouts)" (PDF). The Singapore Scout Association. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Picture taken to commemorate Black Knights Air Scouts Investiture Ceremony". Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Black Knights Air Scouts Awarded the Prestigious RTAF Honorary Paratrooper Wing". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  6. ^ a b Singapore bids for World Scout Jamboree 2015. Coney Island, Singapore: The Singapore Scout Association. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2015 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ The Conference Report - 38th World Scout Conference (PDF) (Report). World Organization of the Scout Movement. 2008. p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
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