JEDDAH/DAMMAM — The Exploration camp 2017 in Wayanad, India, organized by Bharat Scouts & Guides, KSA, provided the Scouts and Guides of New Al Wurood International School, Jeddah and Al Khozama International School, Dammam a lifetime opportunity to explore the nature beyond the reach of their imagination.

The students lined up barefoot for their maiden chance to experience the most exciting part of the camp — rice cultivation; transplanting the seedlings, which had been kept ready for them, in the murky water-filled paddy. The paddy cultivation experience came as part of community development programs project undertaken by Yuvajana Swasraya Sangham — a local organization promoting sufficiency among youth.

The camp with its adventurous trekking to the picturesque Kuruva Island and multiple adventurous activities that were physically and intellectually stimulating provided opportunities for Scouts and Guides to expand their reach and camaraderie. The students could see, touch and feel the local tribal life and get mesmerized at the uniqueness of its culture, art, dance and music. About 22 Scouts and 9 Guides of New Al Wurood and 15 Scouts and 8 Guides of Al Khozama passionately participated in the camp. Students also took part in the Rajyapuraskar test camp.

Students were keen to listen to the different stages of rice cultivation right from germinating the seeds and transplanting the seedlings in the real field to the stages of harvesting and threshing. They were excited to know that the crop would be ready for harvesting in 4 months’ time. Their faces told that they could visualize tilling of the fields, driving the tractors and farm animals, and packing paddy in gunny bags after harvesting.

All seemed to be enjoying their meeting with nature. Some took the first stride into the pool of muddy water and enthusiastically invited the rest to follow them. As per the instructions, they plucked a few bunches of seedlings and started planting them in rows. For the first time in their lives, they made small holes in the muddy field with their fingers and planted the seedlings. Once they got the hang of it, some of them were seen planting the seedlings effortlessly.

“We didn’t know exactly how we were going to do it. But it turned out to be a great experience and an excellent initiative to feel the mother earth and to show how to grow the crop and how much effort is taken by farmers,” said a girl Guide.

Another student said, “We learned three great lessons from our experience — one about the love of the earth and the environment and another one about the value of the great efforts taken by farmers in helping to feed the world and finally the need to stop food wastage.’’

Bino Mathew, secretary, Bharat Scouts and Guides, KSA said the children received first-hand experience of what they are learning in their text books.

Abdul Gafoor Irumban, the Scouts and Guides coordinator from New Al Wurood reflected, “Farming has not only taught them another vocation but the whole experience has been a humbling one. They (students) went back happily and some have even expressed their keenness to support farming and farmers in future.”

The Scouts and Guides Movement in the school is very well supported by the in-house resources. The schools ensured extensive training sessions for the Scoutmasters and Guide captains in the exploration camp. Saifuddeen, Kannan Salim, Rafeeq Moochikoottathil, Ms. Mumtas Paloli, Ms. Sheeja Mol from New Al Wurood, Noushad and Ms.Mukti Tiwari from Al Khozama attended the training.

They unanimously stated that the students who attended the camp will ascertain a clear understanding and a deeper sense of commitment to the ideals of scouting through a special emphasize on physical fitness and conservation of natural resources in today’s world.

New Al Wurood and Al Khozama International Schools believe scouting, one of the greatest character factories, is so important and take conscious efforts to yoke the movement together with their students’ lives. The astonishing statistics of the schools’ Scouts and Guides legacy shows that scouting and guiding in both the schools is not merely a program of the youth but a way to sensitize them about the environmental and societal needs.

Both Al Khozama International School Dammam and New Al Wurood International School Jeddah boast of glorious achievement in Scouts and Guides. Their Scouts and Guides have brought laurels to their schools and the Bharat Scouts and Guides in Saudi Arabia by winning the covetous Rashtrapathi Puraskar (President’s award) — the highest achievement in Scouts and Guides.

This attainment is very special because these are the only schools in the entire Middle East to win the prestigious Rashtrapathi Puraskar. Indian President will soon present the awards to the proud winners in a special ceremony in India. — SG