Bangladesh Scouts

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, 7 – 14 December 2007

COMDECA Programme

International Centenary COMDECA–an APR event, hosted and organized by Bangladesh Scouts, will be held in the vicinity of the sea beach of the Bay of Bengal in the beautiful natural environment of southern district of Bangladesh - Cox's Bazar. A total of 5,500 participants including Scouts, Rover Scouts and COMDECA Service Team (CST) from home and abroad will get the opportunity to take part in this International Centenary Programmes. Attractive, varied and exciting programme have been arranged for the participants of this COMDECA. The Program elements of the seven day long COMDECA have been termed as "Challenge". The responsibility of directing the challenges has been given to the individual Challenge Directors.

On one hand the participating Scouts and Rovers will be enjoying the excellent beauty of the longest sea beach of the world; on the other hand, they will take part in the community development activities with excitement for the upliftment of the local people of the coastal area. Scouts and Rovers committed to their motto of social service and community development will participate through their sub camps in these activities in the meeting place of the sea, hills and the plain lands of Cox's Bazar beach.

Programme implementation in each sub camp will be the responsibility of Deputy Sub Camp Chief (Programme). He will carry out the responsibility of programme implementation with the co-operation of sub camp programme officials, unit leaders and COMDECA service team (CST) members and in consultation with the sub camp chief and the challenge co-ordinators.

Participants in the challenges scoring standard marks will earn coveted “sticker" from the challenge director / judge/Deputy sub camp chief (Programme), CST member or any other leader nominated by the challenge director in each station. The sticker has to be fixed in the marked place of COMDECA certificate with care.

COMDECA Programme has been chalked out with 11 challenges in addition to central functions of inaugural, closing ceremony, grand campfire and Wood badge re-union. The performance of Scouts and Rovers will be evaluated in all the challenges including central events. The challenges are as follows:

Challenge-1: Beach walk and BP's exercise:

During COMDECA this challenge will be arranged early in the morning in each Sub Camp. With the break of the day the participants will get the opportunity to energize their spirit while they walk in the sea-shore and enjoy the adventurous and exciting natural beauty in the open air. All members of the Sub Camp will assemble with appropriate dress for this programme (trousers, keds etc.) in the designated place on time and with proper discipline.

Each Sub Camp has to take part in this challenge for four days (2 days Beach walk and 2 asp’s Exercise). It’s worth mentioning that the participants, who will take part in the challenge 3, will not take part in the Beach walk and BP's Exercise on the day of their tour and the next morning. Concerned challenge Director will run this programme and present stickers.

Challenge-2: Camp Craft:

Camp life and sleeping in the tent is an excellent experience with sweet memories to Scouts and Rovers, regardless whether it is a short and temporary one. Through this challenge the participants will get the opportunity to present their camping area with attractive camp crafts. They will have to keep their individual camp area very neat and clean. Every day the camp inspectors will visit the camp area (tents) at any time of the day. They will evaluate and award stickers. The following aspects will be considered under camp craft:

a. Tent pitching using appropriate knotting, tent care and digging trench around the tent for draining water.

b. Making useful gadgets using proper knotting and lashing to implement the plan for cooking, garbage pit, dining space, keeping clothing and beds etc.

c. To use smokeless oven/ improved furnace (kerosene stove, LP or cylinder gas stove may be used)

d. All camp rules will be applicable for camp craft.

e. Locally available natural resources should be used for the purpose of decorating camp area. In no way artificial expensive things (colour, coloured papers etc.) should be used. It needs to be mentioned that damaging natural resources in the COMDECA area is strictly prohibited.

f. If possible a ten- feet observation tower may be constructed in the tent area.

g. Troop flags and banners may be used in the tent area.

h. To participate in this challenge the Scout and Rover units must come prepared and they should bring the necessary equipments.

Challenge - 3: Health & Environment Development:

This challenge will take place at Moheshkhali sub district under Cox's Bazar District. Scouts and Rover Scouts will arrive at Moheshkhali on foot from the COMDECA School (BIAM Laboratory School) and then take trawler to cross the Sea. They will implement CD activities with the Community people (the beneficiaries). During the period of COMDECA each day one of the sub camp participants will involve them in CD programme and stay over night at Moheshkhali. Scouts and Rover Scouts will take part in various activities in groups. On arrival at Moheshkhali the participants will visit the historical ‘Adinath Temple’ and the ‘Buddhist Monastery’. In addition they will also visit the famous ‘Sweet betel leaf forms’ of Moheshkhali, Shrimp culture farms , Salt production ground in between their CD activities.

Having completed the visits, the participants will return to their respective venues for the night. Leaving their belongings in their respective rooms they will be involved in CD Programmes in groups set well ahead of time. The highlights of the CD activities at Moheshkhali are described below:

3. a. Sanitation:

The Scouts and Rover Scouts will work with the village people to set up water- sealed latrines using ring and slabs. This activity of COMDECA aims at bringing the 100% members of Moheshkhali communities under sanitation programmes. The Scouts will encourage the village people to build one latrine for each family and make them aware of the use of water-sealed latrines. The Scouts will brief them on how to use the latrines and also tell them about the disadvantages of defecating in the open field.

Unit preparation:

Each unit will have to carry one spade and one crowbar with them while going to attend this challenge.

3. b. Communicating message from door to door:

The participants will visit pre-designated houses of Moheshkhali Sub-district and exchange their ideas and views with the villagers on specific messages/slogan /information/questionnaire as to create awareness of the people. During this time the participants will be supplied with related posters and leaflets centrally. The Scouts will talk on mother & child health care, brief on nutrition education, check body weight & blood pressure, distribute medicine for killing worm of children and distribute slippers, water purification tablets, vegetable seeds and Or saline. They will also create awareness among the village people on the harmfulness of chemicals used for dry fish, ORS, personal hygiene and cleanliness.

Unit Preparation:

The participants will collect messages for exchanging ideas/Slogan/ information questionnaire etc. on the previous night from the central store. The scouts will visit the designated houses and exchange ideas with careful motivational language so that the village people will be receptive to their consultation. If necessary they will prepare questionnaire and motivational messages on their note books. They will also make two placards on those subjects by themselves and carry them during this programme.

3. c. Vaccination for domestic animals and birds:

There will be an arrangement to diagnose diseases of domestic animals (cattle, goat, ducks, and chickens) and to give necessary treatment to the affected birds/animals. Experts in this field will run this programme. A team of 20-30 participants will inform the villagers of this arrangement and assist them in bringing their animals and fowls to the vaccination centres.

Unit preparation:

This programme will involve 20/30 Scouts and Rovers after selection of the participants from different units, they will be involved in the programme (they will return to their units) on accomplishing their tasks.

3. d. Establishment of a Children Park:

A beautiful children park will be designed & constructed at the designated place, adjacent to Moheshkhali sub-district council field for the physical and intellectual development of local children. The park will be named “Scout Park”. The Scouts and Rover scouts will assist the experienced architects in constructing the park.

Selected Scouts and Rover scouts from different units will be involved to work for the park. So, earlier preparation will not be required.

3. e. Special Camp fire:

After day-long hard work in the field on community development, Scouts and Rovers will take part in an enjoyable camp fire after dusk at the Moheshkhali model high school ground. A unit or a contingent will perform the campfire items. Items of the campfire will abide by campfire rules. However, items related to community involvement will be given top priority. For example- Sanitation, minor-age marriage, polygamy, dowry practice personal hygiene, folk songs (jari, shari) skids on environment education and so on. Pop music will be a part of items. The village people of Moheshkhali sub-district witness the camp-fire.

Unit preparation:

As the participating Scouts will not get enough time for preparation on their items before they leave Cox’s Bazar for Moheshkhali, the Scouts and the Rover scouts are advised to be prepared on educative and enjoyable items before they arrive at Cox’s Bazar.

3. f. Directives for the participating Scouts and the Rovers in this challenge:

To participate in this challenge of Health and Environment the scouts and the rover scouts of concerned sub-camps shall be present with full preparation at the selected tent area at 07-00 hrs. After breakfast, Challenge 1, 2 and flag hoisting ceremony will be held on the day of departure for Moheshkhali and the following day. They will walk two kms and reach Nuniachhara trawler ghat.They will go by trawler from Cox’s Bazar jetty to Moheshkhali Adinath Temple jetty. For the advantage of this challenge the participants will be grouped and involved in the implementation of the activities. Besides, they will follow the instructions as stated below:

· Highest implication of Scout law and promise shall be observed.

· Those who cannot swim shall not take part in this programme. Life jackets available to the units should be brought with them. Certificate of swimming experience jointly signed by unit leader and guardian shall be presented the previous day. Alternate programme will be arranged for those participants who do not know swimming.

· The participants will be in either Scout uniform or dress appropriately for CD works during this programme. Scarf is a must.

· While traveling by trawler, the participants must follow necessary instructions.

· All Scouts and unit leaders will participate in this challenge. Scouts will be accompanied by their unit leaders (This is compulsory)

· The participants will need to carry sun glasses, caps, water bottles, seatmates, and bowls to take cooked food, personal plate/glass, jug, ground sheets and beds to pass one night. However, it is advisable not the carry heavy things or valuable items.

· Cooked food will be provided to the participants.

· On return from Moheshkhali each and every participant will submit a report (impression) to the challenge director through his or her sub-camp chief in not more than 250 words. The report shall be examined/reviewed and scouts will be recognized. The reports may be published through Agradoot (BS monthly bulletin)

· The participants shall collect lunch items and finish prayer within the break time from 13.00-13.30 hrs. ( They may take food and pray between work intervals)

· Each unit will maintain cleanliness as per scouting way before they leave at night. A sticker of the challenge mainly depends up on the quality of cleanliness maintenance.

· Next morning the participants shall arrive at Moheshkhali jetty ghat at 07.45 hrs and return by trawler to the tent area at 09.00 hrs. Later they will participate in other activities.

Challenge-4: Water activities:

The most thrilling, attractive and enjoyable activities offered to the COMDECA participants are the water activities at the sea beach. This challenge will facilitate that objective. The activities included in this challenge are: a) Tube race, b) to arrive sea shore before the wave that chases, c) Balance race, d) Save the barrel, e) Hurdle race, f) Rope pulling, g) Collecting different colors that floats on sea surface etc. To take part in these activities the participants must be proficient in swimming certified by their guardians. They will have to use water costumes. They will get ample opportunity to bathe in the sea. The unit leaders must accompany their Scouts/Rovers in this challenge.

Precaution to be taken to participate in the water activities: Avoid wearing, wrist watches and ornaments.

Challenge-5: Fun & Game:

An educative, creative and amusing activity for the COMDECA participants is fun & game. They will get the opportunity of developing their intellect through this activity. Each Scout/Rover will get a sticker if they take part in at least three activities putting on scarf and ordinary dress. The activities are as follows: Beach foot-ball, beach volley ball, kite flying, making models with sand in the beach, Thai Volley, group race, beach biking/beach scoter, crossing the ground strech, gujule soar race, crab race etc. No participant will dip into sea water during this challenge. The authority will take administrative action against violators.

Challenge-6: Beach Festival:

This challenge includes displaying and performing items on local and international culture, heritage, costumes, articles, formalities, traditions and some amusing programmes (Musical dance/concert/one act play/contingent wise dance). The participants will gather themselves at the selected area and display their traditional items, express their originality through songs and dance and exchange gifts among themselves. Before they arrive at the COMDECA venue, they must have full preparation on the various items of this challenge. All sub-camps will take part in “Beach Festival” programme at 18:30 hrs on 09 December’07.

Challenge-7: Global Development Village (GDV):

Conservation of wild life, Mushroom culture, Blood group test, Blood donation, post humus eye donation, Great independence war of Bangladesh, Agriculture, Industry, cultural heritage, Nature conservation, Solar technology, Improved furnace, Bio-gas plant, Population education, Prevention of child & woman abuse and ICT will be included in the GDV establishment. The participating Scouts/ Rovers and near by residents will get the opportunity to view the GDV. Child fair with various ride devices will be arranged for the entertainment of children. The children will have access to these rides on payment. Besides, stalls for selling commodities made of sea shells, dried fish, and bettle leaf of Moheshkhali will be set up at the GDV. A total of 18-20 stalls will be set up by the government and NGOs who are working in development activities in different parts of the country. Every day one of the sub-camp participants will observe the GDV. The participants who will complete their visit to the GDV will be provided with a questionnaire containing 15-20 questions as to evaluate their observation skill. They will have to return the same with answers unit/contingent- wise.

After reviewing the answers, the participants who will secure standard marks, will be recognized with stickers of this challenge. Besides, seminars/ symposiums/ workshops/video presentation/cinemas on wild life conservation will be arranged in the GDV. The participants will get the opportunity of enjoying these activities at the time allocated by their challenge directors.

The participants will visit the GDV on the first half of the day while the village people will observe the same in the second half of the day. To create public awareness stage songs and folk songs will be presented in the GDV. Scouts/Rover Scouts will also get opportunity to perform on stage.

Challenge -8: Camp Fire:

After participating in different activities in the whole day the Rovers & Scouts arrange camp fire to get relaxed & cherished. In the camp fire Scout & Rover will get chance to show entertainmental, educational & social awareness creating programmes. Scout song, patriotic song, folk song, dance, local culture, and heritage social awareness activities, drama, comedy will be included in this challenge. Camp fire item should be decent & solemn. Political, religious or any other item which may bring reaction to any person or group is strictly prohibited to perform. All units will bring the necessary dress & musical instruments required to participate in the camp fire.

All participants will have to prepare themselves by groups before the comdeca to attend in the camp fire. Later on camp fire will be held in a particular day in sub camp / contingent basis. Eight to ten items will be selected for grand camp fire in the evening from each sub camp/ contingent and the grand camp fire will be held on the last day of the comdeca. Top three items presenting units will be rewarded.

Challenge: 9: Nature observation:

All participants including unit leaders attending in the Comdeca might have the desire to visit the Safari Park in Chokoria, Himchari fountain, Burmese market & above all making a round to the beach. So to with that context there is a special arrangement to see the Safari Park in Dulahazra & other places around Cox's Bazar. Paying certain fee there will be an arrangement to go to Safari Park & Himchari fountain. While visiting the Safari Park the participants will have to take care of the plants or to take part in the mulching activities

To participate in this challenge every unit will have to carry two mulcher & one water pot with them. It has to be mentioned that if Bangladesh Scouts gets any sponsor for this challenge, participants may get back their fees proportionately.

Information on Nature observation- its venue, time and fee:

(a)Dulahazra Safari Park: The only Safari Park of the Country is situated in the Chokoria Sub-district of the Cox's Bazar district. This park is playing field of different animals from various part of the world. From the Comdeca venue the park is about 46 KMs. To move around on foot inside the park it takes about one & half hour. It takes nominal fee to enter the park. Comdeca programme authority will arrange the visit in a concession rate.

(b) Himchari: Himchari is about fifteen minute drive along side the sea & the hills from Comdeca site. From the top of the 150 ft high hill of Himchari tourist centre one can view the beautiful Sea & its lagoon. Besides, any body can enjoy the beauty of red crab in the sea beach. An enchanting fountain slides from the Himchari tourist centre along the hills. None can’t go without taking a shot of his camera. Entry fee does not exceed taka 10.00 only.

During COMDECA every day one sub camp will go for nature observation. Interested participants will gather in the main arena at 12:30 PM. From there they will leave for Dulahazra Safari Park by reserved buses. From Safari Park they will start at 3-00 PM & will reach Himchari at 4:00 PM. From Himchari they will be back to COMDECA site before sunset. To participate in this event per head fee will be more or less Tk. 200/- (Two hundred BD TK).Which covers bus fare, entry fee and light refreshment. This programme will be unit or contingent based. Interested Scout, Rover, Unit leader & officials are requested to inform member secretary of the COMDECA Secretariat of their exact number & other information. Those who will not go to Safari Park & Himchari will be going to Cox’s Bazar, Burmese Market, Local shell market or they can spend their time with their unit leader in the Cox's Bazar Sea beach.

Challenge - 10: Learning from Nature

The Scouts participating in this seven day International Centenary COMDECA will have the opportunity to come across with the nature and environment, local habitants and gather experiences in health & environment development activities. To evaluate that knowledge and experience this programme will be held in the morning of the last day in every sub camp. Questionnaire will be set on different challenges of the COMDECA programme and this challenge will summaries the whole COMDECA experience.

Challenge 11: Beach Cleanup

In every sub camp all Scouts and Rover Scouts will participate in cleaning up the COMDECA main ground, sub camp and above all the Sea beach. The participants must implement the famous saying of B.P. “Try to leave this world better than you got it”. All participants will take the initiative to clean the longest unbroken sea beach in the world will make the local people and tourists aware to resist them bad habits of making the environment polluted rather to keep the beach clean.

<Central Events

Central events include Inaugural Ceremony, Closing ceremony; Grand Camp Fire and Wood badge Re-Union etc. Central events of the International Centenary COMDECA will be held as per scheduled time.

<Inaugural Ceremony:

The Inaugural Ceremony of the International Centenary COMDECA will be held at 9-00 AM on December, 9, 2007 in the central ground (Main arena). All units will have to participate in this inaugural ceremony with proper uniform carrying their unit flags and they will have to follow the instruction of the concerned programme director.

<Wood badge Re-Union:

Wood badge holders from all sections can participate in the wood badge re-union in International Centenary COMDECA. Scouters participating in COMDECA will pay BD Tk. 150 (one fifty) to member secretary of International Centenary COMDECA in the form of bank draft/DD/Pay order to COMDECA Secretariat by 15 November, 2007(Registration form attached).

Wood badge reunion will be held on 12 December 2007 at 8-00 PM in the main camping ground. Other then COMDECA official or participating unit leader any body interested to attend the wood badge re-union will have pay Tk. 300/-(Three hundred only) which includes Tk. 150/- (one fifty) for staying one night (12 December 2007) & food. During registration he/she will have to mention regarding one night stay clearly. Registration can be made by paying double fees up to November 30 2007. After that registration shall be closed.

<Grand Camp Fire & Closing Ceremony:

Grand campfire & the closing ceremony will be held on December 14, 2007 in central main arena. Centrally selected items will be presented unit & contingent wise in the grand camp fire, All participating units will attend in the grand camp fire as per sub camp wise & will upheld the scouting values and spirit.

Day-wise Programme format is attached herewith as Appendix 1 of this circular. Look forward to having wholehearted co-operation of all concerned to make the International centenary COMDECA Programme fruitful with the spontaneous participation of Scouts and Rovers.

M. Fazlur Rahman

Chairman

International centenary COMDECA Organizing Committee

Chief National Commissioner

Bangladesh Scouts.