Lietuvos Skautija
Encyclopedia
Lietuvos Skautija, the primary national Scouting
organization of Lithuania
, became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
in 1997. The coeducational Lietuvos Skautija has 2,311 members as of 2011.
by Scouter Petras Jurgėla. In 1922, the first Scout General Assembly united the Lithuanian Scout Movement into the Scout Association of Lithuania. In 1924, the Scout Association of Lithuania was registered as a member of the World Bureau. Lithuania was a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
from 1923 to 1940. Scouting prospered until 1940, when occupation forces banned Scouting.
In 1940, the Soviet occupation of Lithuania resulted in Scouting being banned. In the years after World War II
, a displaced Scouting movement started in the camps for displaced persons, and provided a makeshift but quite effective camp postal system, using Scout postage stamps
like the one illustrated.
Many of the Scouts-in-Exile
soon moved to the United States and Australia. The organization was able to continue its work abroad, and grew into a large organization with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts
and academic Scout divisions in Canada
, the United States
, Australia
, England
, Germany
, Italy
, Argentina
, Uruguay
and Brazil
. If the Scouting movement
had not been kept alive in the diaspora
, Scouting would have had a slower time being reestablished upon Lithuania's regaining of independence.
On April 29, 1989, on the eve of Lithuanian independence, the Scout Movement in Lithuania was reestablished and Scouting activity restarted. Regular contacts were established and maintained with WOSM. In November, 1989, after the fall of communism, Scouting formally reemerged in the newly democratic Lithuania. Scouting in Lithuania is conducted by several organizations. In 1992, Scouting in Lithuania applied for membership in WOSM. Their constitution was approved by the World Committee. However, serious conflicts with the organization of Lithuanian Scouting, especially former Scouts, resulted in the postal vote being suspended. From 1992 to 1995, attempts were made to insure democratic decision-making processes and to simplify structure, with little progress made.
A new association, formed by the majority of youth leaders in all regions of Lithuania as well as by key members of the former National Council, was created in the spring of 1995 under the name Lietuvos Skautija. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice in September, 1995. A meeting of the general assembly was called in November, 1996, which was open to all active leaders registered in any of the several Scout Associations existing in Lithuania. A new constitution, conforming to WOSM requirements was adopted and a new National Council was elected. Members of Lietuvos Skautija, Lietuvos Skautų Sàjunga and the Lithuanian Sea Scout Association attended as delegates. The Lietuvos Lenka Skautų Sajunga (the Polish Scout Association in Lithuania) attended as observers. Representatives of all the above mentioned associations were involved in the drafting of the constitution and planning the meeting. It was confirmed by the General Assembly that the name of the organization would henceforth be Lietuvos Skautija, Lithuanian Scouting.
Lietuvos Skautija (Lithuanian Scouting) is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognized Scout organization. Lithuania was readmitted as a national member organization of WOSM on July 25, 1997. Lietuvos Skautija has a membership of 2,074 boys and girls as of 2004, spread throughout the country. Lietuvos Skautija has sent contingents to European and World Scout events. Lietuvos Skautija was represented at the 1995 and 1998 World Jamborees, and held a national camp in 1998 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of Scouting in Lithuania.
The Scout Motto is Budėk!, translating as Be Prepared in Lithuanian
; the response is Vis budžiu!. The Lithuanian noun for a single Scout is Skautas.
The membership badge of Lietuvos Skautija incorporates the national colors of the flag of Lithuania
.
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
organization of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
in 1997. The coeducational Lietuvos Skautija has 2,311 members as of 2011.
History of Lithuanian Scouting
Scouting first came to Lithuania in 1909, as part of tsarist Russia. The indigenous Lithuanian Scout movement began in 1918, when the first Scout troop was founded in VilniusVilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
by Scouter Petras Jurgėla. In 1922, the first Scout General Assembly united the Lithuanian Scout Movement into the Scout Association of Lithuania. In 1924, the Scout Association of Lithuania was registered as a member of the World Bureau. Lithuania was a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
from 1923 to 1940. Scouting prospered until 1940, when occupation forces banned Scouting.
In 1940, the Soviet occupation of Lithuania resulted in Scouting being banned. In the years after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a displaced Scouting movement started in the camps for displaced persons, and provided a makeshift but quite effective camp postal system, using Scout postage stamps
Scouts on Stamps Society International
Since the advent of Scouting in 1907, Scouts have been depicted on the postage stamps of almost every nation during different times of their political development....
like the one illustrated.
Many of the Scouts-in-Exile
Scouts-in-Exile
Scouts-in-Exteris, also referred to as Scouts-in-Exile, are Scouting and Guiding groups formed outside of their native country as a result of war and changes in governments...
soon moved to the United States and Australia. The organization was able to continue its work abroad, and grew into a large organization with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts
Lietuvos skauciu seserija
Lietuvos skaučių seserija is a Guiding association in Lithuania. Guiding in Lithuania started in 1918, was banned by the Soviets in 1940 and restarted in 1989....
and academic Scout divisions in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. If the Scouting movement
Scouts-in-Exile
Scouts-in-Exteris, also referred to as Scouts-in-Exile, are Scouting and Guiding groups formed outside of their native country as a result of war and changes in governments...
had not been kept alive in the diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
, Scouting would have had a slower time being reestablished upon Lithuania's regaining of independence.
On April 29, 1989, on the eve of Lithuanian independence, the Scout Movement in Lithuania was reestablished and Scouting activity restarted. Regular contacts were established and maintained with WOSM. In November, 1989, after the fall of communism, Scouting formally reemerged in the newly democratic Lithuania. Scouting in Lithuania is conducted by several organizations. In 1992, Scouting in Lithuania applied for membership in WOSM. Their constitution was approved by the World Committee. However, serious conflicts with the organization of Lithuanian Scouting, especially former Scouts, resulted in the postal vote being suspended. From 1992 to 1995, attempts were made to insure democratic decision-making processes and to simplify structure, with little progress made.
A new association, formed by the majority of youth leaders in all regions of Lithuania as well as by key members of the former National Council, was created in the spring of 1995 under the name Lietuvos Skautija. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice in September, 1995. A meeting of the general assembly was called in November, 1996, which was open to all active leaders registered in any of the several Scout Associations existing in Lithuania. A new constitution, conforming to WOSM requirements was adopted and a new National Council was elected. Members of Lietuvos Skautija, Lietuvos Skautų Sàjunga and the Lithuanian Sea Scout Association attended as delegates. The Lietuvos Lenka Skautų Sajunga (the Polish Scout Association in Lithuania) attended as observers. Representatives of all the above mentioned associations were involved in the drafting of the constitution and planning the meeting. It was confirmed by the General Assembly that the name of the organization would henceforth be Lietuvos Skautija, Lithuanian Scouting.
Lietuvos Skautija (Lithuanian Scouting) is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognized Scout organization. Lithuania was readmitted as a national member organization of WOSM on July 25, 1997. Lietuvos Skautija has a membership of 2,074 boys and girls as of 2004, spread throughout the country. Lietuvos Skautija has sent contingents to European and World Scout events. Lietuvos Skautija was represented at the 1995 and 1998 World Jamborees, and held a national camp in 1998 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of Scouting in Lithuania.
Program sections and ideals
- Cub Scouts-6 to 10
- Scouts-10 to 14
- Venture Scouts-14 to 18
- Rovers and Rangers -17 to 25
The Scout Motto is Budėk!, translating as Be Prepared in Lithuanian
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
; the response is Vis budžiu!. The Lithuanian noun for a single Scout is Skautas.
The membership badge of Lietuvos Skautija incorporates the national colors of the flag of Lithuania
Flag of Lithuania
The flag of Lithuania consists of a horizontal tricolor of yellow, green and red. It was adopted on March 20, 1989, almost two years before the reestablishment of Lithuania's independence following the end of the Soviet Union. Before its readoption, the flag had been used from 1918 until 1940 when...
.
Scout Oath
Do not expect anything from others, always give them what you can. Live for your Motherland and mankind; be a friend of nature and animals. Be a gentleman and a protector of the poor and weak, and always take the right road. Strengthen your body and soul and educate yourself. May your will be as a bowstring resiliently drawn. Follow Saint George, the patron of Scouts: exterminate the evil in the world, but first of all in yourself. First think of others and only then yourself. Grow up as a mighty oak tree and do not bow down as a weeping willow. Be better tomorrow than you are today or than you were yesterday. Keep God in your heart and remember your motto "Be Prepared".Scout Law
- A Scout is straight forward and keeps their word.
- A Scout is faithful to God and Motherland.
- A Scout is useful and helps neighbors.
- A Scout is a friend to neighbors and is a brother or sister to other Scouts.
- A Scout is polite.
- A Scout is a friend of nature.
- A Scout obeys parents and the authorities.
- A Scout is lively, does not lose both self-control and hope.
- A Scout is thrifty.
- A Scout is sober and chaste in mind, words and actions.
See also
- Lietuvos skaučių seserijaLietuvos skauciu seserijaLietuvos skaučių seserija is a Guiding association in Lithuania. Guiding in Lithuania started in 1918, was banned by the Soviets in 1940 and restarted in 1989....
- Lietuvos skautų sąjungaLietuvos skautu sajungaLietuvos skautų sąjunga is one of Lithuania's Scouting organizations. The organization serves about 1,300 members .-Ideals:...
- Scouting in LithuaniaScouting in LithuaniaScouting and Guiding in Lithuania consist of a number of different organizations, some of them connected to international bodies. Besides open associations, there are also some for the national minorities living in Lithuania, as well as Girl Scouts of the USA....
- Young RiflemenYoung RiflemenYoung Riflemen is a patriotic youth paramilitary organization in Lithuania. There are various local units of this organization throughout the country. It accepts people from 12 to 18 years of age and is a subordinate to Lithuanian Riflemen Union with "Young Riflemen" making about 61% of the whole...