Maltese Scout Leaders participate in the Third Mountain Discovery Safari at Jabal Akhdar in the Libyan Jamahariya

The World Scout Movement consists of more than 28 million Scouts, youth and adults, boys and girls, in 216 countries and territories and is further sub divided into six World Scouting Regions, mainly the African, Arab, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, European and the Interamerican Regions, with the Scout Association of Malta forming part of the European region, neighboring the Arab region. With the Official opening of the Scout Association of Malta’s International camp at Ghajn Tuffieha on the 2nd November 2002, the Maltese association is looking ahead to serve as a stepping-stone between the European and Arab Scout regions, bringing closer together scouts from different countries, different religions and different beliefs. Steps envied by our neighboring governments. Malta has already established itself as a very popular scouting destination with the Tunisian Scout Association, where no fewer than three hundred boy and girls scouts hailing from seven different scout groups visited Malta in these last two years. Likewise over one hundred and fifty Scouts from four of the Maltese Groups also organised similar scouting exchanges in Tunisia. In Malta, our Tunisian counterparts have found the Maltese Scouts as a warm and friendly people that are most hospitable where similarly the Maltese scouts discovered for themselves that Arab scouts share most of our finer qualities. However despite the short distances between the two continents, very little was known by the Scout Association of Malta about the Arab Scout regions, their scouting programs and organizations, the only exception being the Tunisian Scout Association.

The Arab Region was established in 1954 in conformity with the requirements of the World Organisation Scout Movement Constitution (WOSM), comprising of nineteen member organizations. These members forming the Arab region are Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The Arab region, an extremely organised scouting region has just recently organised the 52nd Arab Jamboree earlier this year where over six thousand scouts gathered together in Jordan, sharing experiences with their member countries within their region. When the Scout Association of Malta received an invitation from the Public Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Movement of the Libyan Jamahariya to attend the third mountain safari in the Green Mountains of Libya located at four thousand meters above sea level, the Maltese association realized that this was a golden opportunity not to be missed in its quest to establish further contacts with our Libyan brother scouts.

David and Pamela Schembri, Island Commissioners for Human Resources and Support together with the Qrendi Cub Scout Leader openly accepted this invitation to proceed to Libya and attend the Mountain Safari. The Maltese scout leaders were to be the guests of the Public Boy Scouts and Girl Guide movement of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahariya at this Discovery Mountain Safari that was held between the 6th and 15th September 2002.

Forming eight man patrols, participants were equipped with a patrol “first aid” kit, cooking utensils, food for their journey, and tentage together with detailed instructions of a 200 km. set route to be followed during the next three days

The Archaeology patrols together with the Safari participants were given a golden opportunity to learn about the history of the ancient people of the area, visiting numerous Roman, Greek, Byzantine and Punic archeological ruins together with some of the finest museums of the area. Visits to the World Heritage archeological sites such as those of Apollonia and Sabratha were included in their program itinerary.

But Libya is not just ancient ruins, sun and sand that one imagines the country to be. It is a country with a picturesque countryside that includes waterfalls, mountainous valleys, and green pine forests full of wild life, flora and fauna and above all truly tranquil surroundings.

The Environment patrols were being required to make and record observations and collect various samples during their experiences with the respective program directors together with their service teams, regularly monitored the patrols' progress during their adventures. These patrols witnessed some really breathtaking valleys and a truly unimaginable spectacular countryside whilst opting to camp in the numerous cave dwellings of the region.

Navigating from one oasis to the other was the quest entrusted to the Desert patrols, sheltering from the direct sunlight in the abundance oasis vegetation and nourishing themselves on Arabian pasta dishes supplemented with a large array of palm dates that were found growing near the cool clear water. The patrols witnessing for themselves the desert environment at its finest. Wind eroded boulders, a healthy bird and wild life blended well with the numerous palm trees in the area where as we were informed, scorpions were to be found in abundance. However despite the warnings, no scorpions were sighted.

On returning back to base at the end of their journey, the respective patrol’s reported on their findings, hardships, difficulties and their experiences. Reports together with the collected samples were examined and later exhibited for all to see and admire. Successful team members were presented with a commemorative badge award to be worn on their uniform portraying the hoopoe, a bird biblically renowned for its discovery attributes.

But the visit to Al Bayda by the Maltese scout leaders was not just about scouting as the scout representatives were personally welcomed by the People’s Committee, the mayor and council of Al Bayda and its inhabitants wherever they visited the Libyan community. The Maltese scout leaders, together with Mr. Tarek Fayed, the Arab director on the World Bureau and the Jordanian representative Mr. Abdulbuali were cordially invited to participate in the 33rd anniversary Al Fateh parade and celebrations that were held their town. All local inhabitants present, honored with the Maltese presence at the parade whilst wishing to give their best in honour of their foreign guests

The excellent relationship that was bonded in a relatively short visit was openly publicized in the Al Bayda newspaper who reported on the warm and friendly character of the Maltese nation and its people, auguring that this very same relationship would further develop in Libyan and Maltese scouting. The paper reported that “tears flowed from all nationalities present at the end of the mountain safari“, clear evidence of the close fraternity bonded between the Libyan, Jordanian, Egyptian and Maltese scout participants. The Maltese scouts were additionally interviewed about their Libyan experience on Libyan JANA television and national radio and their newly made contacts with the Arabic scout region. Returning back by air to Tripoli, the association’s senior officials welcomed the Maltese leaders at the Libyan Scout Headquarters, the Scout association’s training programs and aims were cordially compared and discussed. Visiting the “Guddem” 60,000 hectare Libyan International camp site at a pine forest some twenty kilometers outside the capital the Maltese leaders were later shown around the camp facilities capable to house over 7,000 scouts under canvas. Amongst which was a football stadium, an “Olympic size” swimming pool, volley ball and basketball pitches together with fully equipped kitchen and dormitories.