Flag of Belarus		Arms of Belarus

Scouting established in 1909 as part of Tsarist Russia.
Disbanded 1922. Rejoined the World Movement in 1998 as the 149th member.

World Scouting News, March, 1998, reports:

The Belarusian National Scout Association became the 149th member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Membership became effective on March 13, 1998.  Belarus is the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Belorussia which was part of the USSR before its collapse. In december 1991, Belarus became a founder member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The capital city is Minsk.  

The Belarusian National Scout Association includes more than 7,500 members, both boys and girls, in 3 branches ranging from 8 to 17 years of age. They are spread all over the country but the majority of members come from the major cities.   The first Belarusian Scout groups were created in 1909, just after the founding of Scouting in the England in 1907. Scouting’s development stopped during the Soviet control.   Scouting was reborn and reorganized in 1989. In december 1991, a National co-ordinating Committee was set up under the aegis of WOSM in order to promote the unification of the various Scout Associations which appeared in different parts of the country.

Scouting grew steadily with support from the Christian Orthodox and Catholic Churches, aswell as the Youth Commission of the Parliament. In March 1997, as a result of a long process of reconciling divergent nationalistic trends in Scouting, a constituent assembly was held in Minsk. This assembly approved the creation of a united National Scout Association under the name, "BELARUSKAYA NATSIANALNAYA SKAUTSKAYA ASATSIYATSIA".

The Scout Association regularly invites underprivileged children, some of them coming from the Chernobyl contaminated areas, to some of their national summer camps. Belarusian Scouts have regular contacts and exchanges, particularly with members of Scouts de France and the CIS Scout associations.  

There are over 10 million people who live in Belarus. The largest minorities are Russians (13%), Polish (4%) and Ukrainians (3%). There are 2 official languages which are Belarusian and Russian.

Eurofax Reports on the aftermath of Chernobyl

TEN YEARS ON

It is 10 years since the world’s worst nuclear accident struck Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Neighbouring Belarus (especially the southern parts) received some of the highest levels of radiation. The results of this can still be seen in the environment and in the health of the population. The Association of Belarussian Guides is working on its Chernobyl project to raise awarness of the ongoing problems resulting from the disaster and to encourage associations in other countries to welcome groups of Belarussian children in order to give them a healthy break in a "clean" environment. For further details or information, please write to Svetlana Korotkevich, International Commissioner, Association of Belarusian Guides, 14 Kirov Street, Minsk 220 030, BELARUS

Reprinted from Eurofax 46, July 1996. Eurofax is the monthly newsletter of the European Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). It is produced by the European Scout Office and is distributed by fax to all member associations in the European Scout Region and the Europe Region WAGGGS, and others.

A Chronicle of Scouting in Eastern Europe

With the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe and Russia, Scouting has returned to many lands where it had previously taken root. These pages chronicle the return of former members and the addition of new members to the World Organization of the Scout Movement. They also report the growth of Scouting in the other nations of Eastern Europe.

Scouting organizations around the world are assisting in the growth of Scouting in both Eastern Europe and Russia. They have been identified by country where information is available.

Currently, the "Chronicle" reports on the progress of Scouting in 19 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The Chronicle Home Page provides links to each.

Return to the Chronicle of Scouting in Eastern Europe and Russia

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Please write to: Lewis P. Orans

Copyright © Lewis P. Orans, 1998
Last Modified:10:06 on June 20, 1998