PRT News
Iraqi Scouts Help to Transcend and Heal Wounds
(Children distribute food gifts at 86th CSH, Mt. Ibn Sina Hospital)
By David Olsen
Special Correspondent
March 24, 2008
Baghdad -- Members of the Boy and Girl Scouts of Iraq recently paid a visit to a U.S. Military hospital bearing gifts of thanks and consolation for its patients and staff. Armed with popcorn and smiles, the Scouts treated both Coalition and Iraqi patients to cheer and snack food, called comfort food in America, as they visited treatment wards.
In turn, the Scouts, including girl scouts called Girl Guides in Iraq, were given a tour of the 86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)/Ibn Sina Hospital, and had an opportunity to ask many questions of the hospital staff. Questions were wide ranging, running the gamut from “do you like being a nurse” to pointed questions about the treatment of Iraqis in the hospital.
More than two tons of popcorn was donated to the Iraqi scouting movement this past January by the Trails End corporation with shipment from the United States provided free of charge by the international shipping firm DHL. An anonymous donor bought $400 worth of the popcorn, donating it to the scouts for their hospital visit.
After a ceremonial hand off of their gifts to prior U.S. Eagle Scouts and Girl Scouts who now staff the hospital, the Iraq Scouts and their new U.S. friends began their mission of healing as they were led from unit to unit, bestowing the warmth of their smiles and the openness of their appreciation, and the gift of snack food to Coalition and Iraqi patients.
And, to make their trip more memorable, they came across a young Iraqi girl their age that was an inpatient at the Hospital. Conversation and laughter soon erupted and it was very apparent that the injured girl’s day had been brightened by a surprise visit by children her own age.
Once done gifting the popcorn, the visiting scouts were treated to western style food and deserts. On the television in the dining facility, pro wrestling came on, and soon both boys and men, regardless of nationality, were watching wrestling theatrics and an occasional arm wrestling match broke out. The girls and ladies gathered together and enjoyed their food and occasionally shook their heads at the male antics.
After lunch, the hospital personnel reciprocated by presenting an opportunity for the scouts to play piñata. The victim piñata was sculpted by the CSH orthopedic unit out of cast material and painted bright red, and was filled with candy and gum. It took no time at all for the scouts to get the routine down, and soon, the piñata was beaten into submission, disgorging its contents to the glee and laughter of scouts and adults alike. Game toys were introduced, and soon, spontaneous games of Frisbee and catch were ongoing between the scouts and CSH unit members.
Scouting is not new to Iraq and is as old as the Republic itself; both were established in 1921. In 1922 Iraqi Scouts became a part of the World Organization of Scouts Movement (WOSM). But after more than 50 years of community service the scouts were disbanded in 1979 by Saddam Hussein to form a politically-oriented Ba’athist youth group called Ashbal Saddam, or Saddam’s Lion Cubs.
Iraqi scouting was reborn when U.S.-led Coalition Forces forced Saddam from power in 2003. Since scouting is prevalent in every country that makes up the Coalition, it was only natural that Coalition members would contribute to its revival. In 2004 the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) established the Green Zone Council (GZC) charged with assisting Iraqis to reestablish the scouting movement.
Since 2004 the GZC has raised more than $100,000 in support of 20 scout camps throughout Iraq’s 18 provinces.
In 2004 President Bush heralded the rebirth of the Iraqi scouting movement saying, “The program will allow boys and girls of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds to join together in activities that promote good citizenship, community service, honor and self-confidence. The reestablishment of scouting signals a brighter future for Iraq’s youth and is another step forward in reconnecting Iraq with the world community.”
To date, there are approximately 150,000 scouts across Iraq.