Two national camps aim for appreciation of agriculture and special needs

Two national Scout camps were held in Indonesia recently. First, the National Community Service Camp for the Agriculture Special Unit of Rover and Senior Rover. This camp was held in West Sumatra Province from 25 to 30 June 2013.

The Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Ir. H. Suswono, opened the camp in front of more 1,200 Rovers and Senior Rovers who came all the way from 33 provinces of Indonesia.
Indonesia is known as an agriculture country, and through this camp, Minister Suswono expressed hope that many young people would learn to appreciate farming and fisheries, even though many people nowadays tend to shy away from agriculture. This camp, said the Minister, “can be create a momentum to develop young farmers in Indonesia”. With Indonesia’s goal for food self-sufficiency, this move is to create a cadre of young movers for agricultural development. Participants of this community camp learned about the many aspects of agriculture and new technologies for farming and fishing.

"The seriousness of fostering this special unit in the past has produced many young cadres in agriculture area”, he added. The Minister was accompanied by Chief Commissioner of Gerakan Pramuka, Prof.Dr. Azrul Azwar, and Deputy Governor of West Sumatra who is also the Chairman of Gerakan Pramuka in West Sumatera Province.
The other national Scout camp was held at Cibubur Scout Camp, from 30 June to 5 July 2013. More than 600 Scouts with special needs from many provinces in Indonesia participated in the camp. Officially opened by the Chief Commissioner of Gerakan Pramuka, Prof. Dr. Azrul Azwar, the camp attracted many young people with special needs.

Once referred to as “children with disabilities”, the term has changed to “children with special needs” to respect their dignity and equality with other children.
-- Berthold Sinaulan, APR Honorary Correspondent, Gerakan Pramuka, Indonesia