On the 29^th April 2008, the General Commander of the Algerian Muslim Scouts received Chief Carlos Blanco of the Spanish Scouts at his office. His visit was of a friendly nature, with the purpose of becoming acquainted with the Algerian Muslim Scouts, and what accomplishments it has achieved, particularly on a national level. After chatting with the leaders of the General Command Centre, Mr. Carlos Blanco presented his willingness to cooperate with the Algerian Muslim Scouts, especially as he is now residing in the city of Mascara, working as a director of regional growth with a specialist Spanish company. He expressed his delight with the scouts shop as he viewed its contents, and promised to notify the Spanish Scouts of the accomplishments achieved by the General Command of the Algerian Muslim Scouts.
 

At the invitation of the head of the Algerian Muslim Scholars Association, Sheikh Abdurahman Chiban, the Algerian Muslim Scouts, represented by Colonel Mohammad Rida Bastandji, National Director of the Exploration Division, on behalf of the General Commander Mr. Nourreddine Ben Brahm, participated in the official opening of the third conference for the Algerian Muslim Scholars Association, which was in session Wednesday 7^th May 2008 at the family centre for building aid in Zeralda. In attendance were various national personages and statesmen.

And in his opening words the Sheikh Abdurahman Chiban commended the role of the Algerian Muslim Scouts, saying:

“Indeed, the association has maintained an interest in the Algerian Muslim Scouts since the beginning of its establishment. Among those who called to it and strove for its sake and that of its youth was the Imam Ibn Badis (May God have mercy on him), and the members of the association continue to support the Algerian Muslim Scouts and work to guide it and strengthen the faith of its youth as well as encouraging them in the path of truth and the way of the nation. And truly, the association today, like yesterday, has shown the scouts a concern no less than that of Ibn Badis, with a friendship and desire for its success and uprightness so that the nation will develop pure and strong in its intentions, solid in its architecture, vigilante in the benefit of the nation, for its affairs to be founded in the religion and its value in knowledge and work.”
 

On the occasion of African Children’s Day which occurred on the 16^th of June 2008, the General Commander of the Algerian Muslim Scouts, Mr. Nourreddine Ben Brahm attended the official start of a coordinated campaign which was organized by the Almarhoum Tayeb Khiraz group from the municipality of El-Biar on the 16^th of June 2008, and which will last until the 25^th of June 2008. Also in attendance was the representative of the Western Saharan embassy in Algeria, Mr. Mohammed Al-Aghdhaf, and the head of the national committee for solidarity with the Saharan people alongside local authorities. During his opening speech, the General Commander confirmed that the efforts of the scouts came in the context of the continuous support for the case of justice, and the effective embodiment of solidarity with the Saharan people, through the collection of various types of aid from traders and benefactors, including clothing, toys and food items. He stressed that this assistance was not merely material aid, but humanitarian solidarity with the cooperation of all those who love children and peace, thereby renewing the solidarity and continual support of the scouts for the Saharan people to choose their own destiny and realize their own sovereignty, for the sake of truth and justice. Furthermore, the scouts stand beside the Saharan children as a token of friendship from the Algerian Muslim Scouts. The demonstration in El-Biar was enlivened by the unity of those from the area along with the efforts organized by the leaders of the Almarhoum Tayeb Khiraz group
 

Under the high patronage of his Excellency, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika; the minister of El-Mudjahideen; and the General Commander of the AMS awarded the Scouts National Merit Medal to Dr. Othman El-Tuaijiri, Director General of  ISESCO, in recognition of the tremendous efforts he  has made to serve the Islamic culture and promote peace in the world. Receiving it on his behalf was Dr. Mohamed Ben Salah.
 

The Algerian Muslim Scouts protectorate of Annaba organized several activities on the occasion of the International Day for the Environment on the 5^th of June 2008, in coordination with the environmentally concerned German organization GTZ, on the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th of June 2008. The most important day concerned environmental education and included the participation of 20 students and scouts, as well as the involvement of Coach Abdelhakim Ruby and Dr. Khlif Ar-Rabi, who discussed the subject of the environment and its importance during their contribution. During the assembly participants touched upon the dangers threatening the environment and how to work to protect it, which was the last stage of the closing events of the 5^th of June 2008, before they resumed their meeting on the 6^th of June 2008 where they concluded the presentation and discussion of the environmental scheme and how best to implement it in order for it to be realized, whilst also organizing a campaign to clean one of the provinces beaches for a set period. In addition, scouting games were held for the occasion as well as a neighborhood awareness campaign concerning the environment. Scouts participating in the competitions were honored by the German organization
 

The National Council’s Cubs division has issued a sixth register as part of the publications that the council plans to prepare, such as the register of unity and the register of progress, amongst others.

These publications form the groundwork in meeting the need for references that ease the work of scout groups on different levels, especially since the new methods and programs have become operational, necessitating the preparation of similar technical registers to accompany the new look of this program of sixth registers. The rest of the publications will made available at a later stage in groups throughout the homeland, as well as being made available from the Scouts shop.
 

Due to its sufficiency in running its affairs and in organising, running and succeeding in its activities, the governorate of Setif has benefited from a youth hostel at Ain Arnat, which is 10km away from the province’s residency. This is in accordance with a decision from the governor of the province of Setif. The new project, which carries the name “Scout Hostel”, will be in the service of the programs of the organisation as a place to embrace scout activities and large meetings and gatherings, so congratulations to the governorate of Setif.
 

The family of the deceased Assadik Djaidja, consisting of his wife and both of his honourable parents, departed to the Holy City on the evening of Sunday 27^th April 2008, to perform the minor pilgrimage (Umrah).

The trip was paid for by the Algerian Muslim Scouts general command in fulfilment of a promise from the General Commander, Mr. Nourreddine Ben Brahm, given on the morning of the official opening of the 20^th session of the National Assembly which gathered on the 27^th, 28^th and 29^th of February 2008, at the National Scouts Centre, Mohammad Bouras, Sidi Fredj, Algiers.

Receiving the family in the place of the General Commander, who was otherwise engaged, were Scout Commanders Abdelkader Keroudj, Abdelkader Slimani and Mohammad Boukhalfa, with the General Commander wishing the family farewell by telephone from the General Command Centre.

May the pilgrimage being carried out for the deceased Scout Commander Assadik Djaidja, who always wore a smile, be blessed.
 

British scout Malik Aouziya, a member of the Greenford group of the British Scouts, expressed his admiration of the Algerian Muslim Scouts during his last visit to the General Command Centre with his father, who is an Algerian national. He viewed the General Command Centre, visited the scouts store and was received by the GC, and was given a resounding welcome wherever he went.

His concern during the visit was his future involvement with the Algerian Muslim Scouts and forming a relationship with them, as he had been greatly impressed by the participation of an Algerian Scout delegation in the events of a recent jamboree held in Britain, and as a result decided to visit the scouts in Algeria.
 

The Governorate of Blida province’s Algerian Muslim Scouts Itinerant Division will be organizing an inter-wilaya conference concerning good citizenship and youth on the 30th of April 2008 at the Saad Dahleb university in Blida, under the slogan: For the Youth: An Evolving Consciousness and good citizenship.

The essential aims of the conference are to highlight the importance of good citizenship by leading a discussion concerning the problems faced by youth, with the aims of conveying their concerns to the organizations involved in assuring them. The conference will devote itself to highlighting the role that the scouts can play in generating a good citizenship spirit in the youth, which is intended to preserve the national spirit and promote a culture of good citizenship. Officially superintending the opening will be the General Commander of the Algerian Muslim Scouts, Mr. Nourreddine Ben Brahm.
 

The GC of the Algerian Muslim Scouts, Mr. Nourreddine Ben Brahm, accompanied by Scout Commander Abdelkader Slimani (head of finance) and Scout Commander Mohammad Boukhalfa (head of resources), visited the province of Boumerdes, where the delegation were shown ‘Anis’ a local centre to provide help for afflicted children. There they met with the contractor responsible for the project, viewed the building site and on the occasion, presented guidelines for its completion in the shortest time possible. The project will be completed in the New Year.

 The delegation then turned its attention to the new residence of the province’s governorate which is awaiting inauguration on the 27^th May 2008, which the GC has promised financial aid, by taking responsibility for the maintenance of the building, as it is considered an asset to the Algerian Muslim Scouts, due to its central location in the city of Boumerdes. Following this, the delegation turned to Boumerdes Provincial residence where they met with his Excellency the director and expressed their gratitude to his Excellency for donating the governorate centre.
 

An agreement involving the Algerian Muslim Scouts, to provide a call centre with the hotline 33-30, has been signed.

Completed on the 14^th April 2008 at the Ministry for Mail, Information and Communication Technology, with the concurrence of Algerian Telecom and the Algerian Muslim Scouts, to provide the Algerian Association for the Protection of Children’s Rights a call centre with the hotline number 30-33, which will be in operation starting from 3^rd May 2008.

Mr. Abdelkarim Araar, member of the General Directorate and head of the call centre, explained that this hotline, which is a part of the ‘I hear you’ program, will allow children suffering physical or emotional abuse, or psychologically damaging social issues, to make direct contact with a call centre, staffed by specialists from a number of different fields to provide help and necessary advice. Twelve developmental experts met for a week to oversee the organisation of the call centre and its day-to-day operation, which will be from 9am until midnight. As a part of this plan, a flood of advertisements will be released for a year, before it will be expanded to other provinces across the nation.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister for Communications, Mr. Boujema Hichour and the GC of the Algerian Muslim Scouts, Mr. Nourreddine Ben Brahm who expressed his satisfaction at the signing of this agreement, which counts as another means of fighting social corrosion in Algeria, as well as representing a big step towards the development of the welfare movement in Algeria, which has already begun to take steps to fulfil its aims.

And for his part, the Minister for Mail, Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Hichour, pointed out that this agreement is part of a framework including a number of schemes which the government has undertaken, to protect the rights of children and other vulnerable groups in society.
 

Under the slogan “no to drugs, no to illegal emigration”, the governorate of Médéa’s Algerian Muslim Scout’s Itinerant Division will be organising an inter-provincial scout’s itinerant rally.

The aims of the activity are to join in the fight against the spread of drugs amongst youth and in the war against the appearance of illegal emigration, which is haemorrhaging youth.

The caravan will traverse each of the following provinces: Médéa, Blida, and Algiers, and will continue for two days, from 30^th April until the 2^nd May 2008, finishing with a tour of the Algerian Muslim Scout’s general command centre.
 

In an interview with Scout Commander Toufik Rahmani, who is in charge of supervising the preparation of the National Manual for Pedagogical Methods and Approaches, this latter confirmed that the manual would ready in the next few days. Meanwhile, preparations for regional meetings to explain how to apply, track and evaluate the manual are taking place. He declared that the idea evolved out of the recommendations of the AMS’s national conference held in Nov. 2005, where there was a special emphasis on the need and necessity of developing new pedagogical methods and approaches for the scouts. Following this conference, a national meeting took place in Feb. 2006 about pedagogical methods and approaches, which made important recommendations concerning this issue.  The most important of these being the consideration of the latest breakthroughs in the field of education and the various changes the world has witnessed in the division of such programs. The meeting generated a series of contacts with curriculum advisors at the level of the Ministry of Education responsible for the division and application of such programs.

The new pedagogical approach in the manual covers several areas such as religious education, patriotism, social studies and ecological education seeing scouting from a completely different angle and presenting it as an influential educational movement. Experts are to find a suitable pedagogical frame to apply the manual to scout troops and will be ready to explain procedures, and track and revise them when necessary.

The crew charged with task, according to scout commander Toufik Rahmani, consists of highly qualified education experts with a lot of experience in the field of designing pedagogical methods and approaches. They were, Scout Commander Toufik Rahmani said, informed about the AMS’s needs and, as a result, two work teams were made up: one for religious education headed by religious education inspector Dr. Moussa Sari, and the other for patriotism, social studies and ecological education headed by Dr. Sliman Tayeb. The two commissions presented their work to the GC who showed his admiration for the final result. Hopefully, Toufik Rahmani said, this manual will be a success and will help prepare the youth to serve their country.

At the invitation of the National Committee for the Support of the Sahrawi People, on February 18, 2008 at the Sidi Fredj tourist resort, Scout Commander Boukhalfa Mohamed, representing GC Noureddine Ben Brahem, took part in a forum that was attended by a number of ambassadors and national figures. The forum came out with a statement of support that was read by the European Coordinator for the Support of the Sahrawi People.

Under the high patronage of his Excellency minister of El Mudjahideen, Mr. Mohamed Cherif Abbas and the chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council Sheikh Bouamran and within the frame the martyr’s day celebration, GC of the AMS Mr. Noureddine Ben Brahem along with a great number of guests supervised the opening of the 1st Scouts store that is to provide the scouts with all of three pedagogical needs. After that, the participants walked up to the Mougar Movie theatre where they watched the first documentary ever about the AMS’s historical and pedagogical role.

The documentary is considered as the first audiovisual document about the AMS. Participants stressed the fact that this documentary will help preserve the AMS’s historical legacy and will market the new image of the organization which keeps up with the fast pace of change scouting witnesses at the international and regional levels.



 

After the convention signed with the Algerian Television Corporation, Algerian Television has made use of Mohamed Bouras international camp for hosting the TV show “Alhan Wa Shabab.” Under this agreement, the camp’s facilities underwent some radical improvements, especially those concerning lodging, catering and hygiene, which raised the standards now to the aspirations of every scout. The camp, which is the only one of its size at the national level, has a very strategic site located in the touristic region of Sidi Fredj, west of Algiers. Within its borders, the camp offers spacious natural lands covered in trees and bushes which makes it a great space for hosting scouts from all over the country for either training sessions or entertainment. This move comes with a series of radical changes initiated by the AMS’s headquarters with a view toward maximizing the camp’s effectiveness. Other scout camps across the national territory such as the woods of Mustaghanem, Oran, and Jijel will undergo similar improvements.
 

Within the frame of the annual plan for 2008, the AMS devised a rich program that aims basically at validating and organizing the scouting movement so that it copes with the various recent changes. This, said the GC, is to provide the scouts with the necessary training, framing and materials to move forward; a good example of this is the scouts store that is to open its doors in the next few days in Algiers and will be later extended to other parts of the country. This store—the first of its kind—will provide the scouts with different materials, especially those for camping. This achievement will be a great asset to the Algerian scouting movement, a leading one in the Arab world.
 

Under the supervision and financed by the Ministry of El-Mudjahideen, Tassili Edition House produced a documentary about the AMS’s historical and educational role. The documentary, which is 52 minutes long, includes testimonials by ex-scout commanders who served the movement for many years and gives a concrete image about the AMS today and its pedagogical methods helping at educating and preparing the youth to serve the country.
 

GC Noureddine Ben Brahem had a meeting with the AMS’s staff members within the frame of its 11^th session on Thursday, Jan 3^rd, 2008. The agenda of the meeting included:

·          The preparation for the scouts’ 20^th national council.

·          The annual action plan for 2008 and the scouts store.

·          The presentation of the financial and literary reports for 2007.

In addition to this, participants dealt with the various recent developments both at the national and the international levels.
 

The distribution of scout uniforms started on Thursday, October 26, 2007 at the AMS headquarters under the personal supervision of GC Nouredine Ben Brahem along with staff members Slimmani Abdelkader, financial manager and Boukalfa Mohamed, logistic means officer. The operation will continue until next January.
 

In an attempt to eliminate the phenomenon of illegal emigration, GC Nouredine Ben Brahem called officials to devise emergency programs for the youth in his appearance on the talk show “In the Light Spot.” The General Commander confirmed that illegal emigration, or “El-Harga” as it is commonly referred to, is a serious problem that requires immediate action. He said that the media should work closely with the concerned sectors in order to raise awareness by correcting misconceptions and false hopes, and developing an anti-emigration culture. He also expressed his sorrow for young people who think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the Mediterranean, and try to get there – if ever they do – just to find out that it’s even worse. The GC attributed the motives that push the youth to leave the country and risk their lives to the recent political, economical, and social changes that have resulted in various vicious phenomena harassing the youth – the top of the list being unemployment, which is spreading at unprecedented rates even among the educated. He argued as well that gaining the trust of the youth through encouraging investment and creating jobs is the best way to prevent them from leaving their country to the unknown. And, in answer to the question of how to deal with this problem, the GC asserted that the affluence and relative political stability the country has witnessed in recent years would certainly allow for the devising of new mechanisms aiming at helping, guiding, and protecting the youth in a constantly changing world. He also strongly called for the revision of the old youth policy dating back to 1970s and stressed the need for the establishment of a procedure to activate social communication and the necessity of creating new jobs through granting micro-credits and starting new projects. He referred, in this respect, to the East-West highway, which is helping to create thousands of jobs, and praised the efforts his Excellency President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is making to ensure the successful accomplishment of this great project. In addition to this, the GC confirmed that the AMS, on its side, is working hard to sow the seeds of patriotism and ethics in young people with the prospect of reaching the number of 1 million scouts.
 

September 8, 2007:  The official launching of the national strategy for the elimination of illiteracy under the supervision of the ministry of national education was announced. The strategy was hindered by several obstacles, the most significant of which was the delay in the promulgation of laws regulating the employment of teachers of adults by the civil service. Use was then made of the decree of 13/10/84 No. 84/266 regulating overtime work of baccalaureate, BA holders, and above. According to some sources from the National Council for the Elimination of Illiteracy, the decrees concerning the employment of degree holders are to be signed soon by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance and will be implemented by this January 2008.
 

The general commander of the Algerian Muslim Scouts (AMS) announced the official opening of the 2007/08 scouting season on Thursday, October 4, 2007, from the Wilaya of M'dia. This was at the city's cultural center "Hassan el-Hassani" in the presence of AMS's chief executives, the Governor of M'dia and the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Youth and Sport as a representative of his Excellency who apologized for not attending the ceremony. And after the performance of the official national anthem, Mr. Saffar Bouni, the Regional Scoutmaster of the Wilaya of M'dia,  opened the ceremony and welcomed the audience, particularly the Governor of M'dia, who gave his patronage to the meeting. After that, the speech was given to the governor – a former scout himself - who praised the active role the AMS plays as a model of civil society. He considered the meeting as an opportunity to give the youth a chance to take part in local development, and informed them that the government has lately devised and allocated an emergency program for them. The floor was then turned over  to the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Youth and Sport who referred to the critical role civil society plays – and should play –  in such circumstances; and gave examples from the western world where civil society makes a substantial contribution to local development. The address of the General Commander centered on the following points:

1- The need for devising a policy to protect the youth from social ills and maladies rampant in recent years.

2- Improving ways of communication with the youth in order to give them back hope, especially with the depressing increase in suicide and illegal immigration rates.

3- Openness to society while maintaining scouting traditions.

4- Illustrating the numerous achievements of the AMS for the public benefit.

5- Reminding of upcoming dates, particularly the visit of the Secretary-General of the World Organization of Scouts, Dr. Eduardo Missoni.

6- Strengthening and raising a sense of patriotism, especially with the latest overseas attacks compromising the stability and image of Algeria.

7- Devising new mechanisms to activate local development for the benefit of the poor and deprived.

8- Validating the agreements made with different international bodies particularly those concerning the youth.

8- Validating the agreement made with the national council for the elimination of illiteracy and finding mechanisms to employ scout leaders.

10-Showing more interest for scout troops in remote rural areas and forming new troops there.

At last he announced the official opening of the 2007/08 scouting season. This was followed by a performance of an operetta about the life of the martyr Muhammed Bouras by the Fda'a troop of M’dia.
 

At the invitation of the Ministry of the Interior and local communities, the G.C. of the AMS, Noureddine Ben Brahem, participated in a meeting that was held on the 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd  of October, 2007 at  the Palais des Nations under the high patronage of his Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The meeting assembled the state’s senior executives and governors to discuss the problems of the youth through several specialized workshops. The G.C. took part in the workshop concerning delinquency and social ills.
 

Is to take place from 7th to 12th of November 2007 at Cairo’s international center the 25th Arab Scout Conference under the slogan: "Centenary and Future Vision". The conference agenda includes:

- An ntroduction to the Arab Scout Conference

- The financial report and monetary allocations for every scouting district, general secretary and the pedagogical laboratory.

- The general outline of the Arab scouting activities for 2008-2010 and their time table.

- The general outline for the development of the Arab scouting movement for 2011-2020.

- Nominations for the membership of the Arab Scout Committee.

- Awarding the Arab Scout medal.

- The Arab policy for youth and sport.

The G.C. of the AMS, Noureddine Ben Brahem, who is to lead the AMS delegation, will forward his candidature for the presidency of the Arab Scout Committee.