The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, highlighted the government’s practical support for the Scout Movement, noting an increase in the state contribution from €50,000 to €75,000, as well as the Cabinet’s decision to provide an additional contribution of €100,000 to the Cyprus Scout Corps for summer camps.
Speaking at the ceremony for the awarding of the Republic’s Scout Badges, held today at the Presidential Palace, President Christodoulides stated that the State supports and will continue to actively support Scouting and stand by the Scout Movement.
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“We are here for whatever else you need; just ask, and we will respond,” he said, emphasizing that any financial support for the Scouting Movement “is not merely an accounting entry for us; it is not an expense, but an investment in the future of our country.”
During the ceremony, 110 young men and women from all over Cyprus received the highest Scouting distinction, and the President of the Republic awarded them the Republic Scout Diploma.
President Christodoulides expressed the appreciation and respect of the Government and, more broadly, the State toward the officials and leaders of the Scout Movement in Cyprus, speaking of a Movement with a global presence and a timeless legacy.
He also referred to his own experience as a former Cub Scout and Air Scout, describing his participation in Scouting as one of his parents’ wisest decisions.
Scouting in Cyprus Since 1914
Addressing the young men and women, he noted that they have committed themselves to serving Scouting, which, as he said, is synonymous with altruism and solidarity, values that “we so desperately need, especially in today’s world where alienation and individualism prevail.”
He congratulated them, on behalf of the State and the Cypriot people, for their “continuous, tireless, discreet, and above all, selfless” service to their country.
Referring to the historical journey of Scouting in Cyprus, the President of the Republic said that it began in 1914, on the initiative of Charalambos Nikolaidis, a physical education teacher at the Pancyprian Gymnasium, and is directly intertwined, among other things, with the Cypriot people’s struggles for freedom and democracy.
He made special mention of the Cypriots who voluntarily enlisted in the Greek Army to take part in the Balkan Wars, noting that they were trained in Alexandria by Scouts who had enlisted in the Greek Army as instructors.
As he said, this fact proves that those who serve Scouting also serve “universal and humanistic values, foremost among them the right of every person and every people to freedom.”
He also noted that throughout its more than 100 years of presence in Cyprus, the Scout Movement has always stood in solidarity with the people’s struggles, citing the EOKA liberation struggle of 1955–59 and the response of hundreds of Scouts to the call for help following the Turkish invasion of 1974.
He added that the same holds true for every call for help following a natural or man-made disaster, with Scouts always stepping forward to assist and offer their support.
Referring to the Republic’s Scout Diploma, he said that it represents the highest distinction and recognition of a Scout’s achievement of goals and training, as well as a long journey from childhood to adulthood.
Completing this important stage, he continued, requires dedication, valuable time, and considerable commitment, while the badge leads to the next stage of leadership, allowing young people to pass on the spirit of Scouting and maintain an unwavering commitment to service.
Discipline, cooperation, team spirit, responsibility, decision-making, and facing difficulties and challenges with courage and determination are “life skills,” he said.
Finally, he described the young Scouts as “one of the most promising segments of our society,” which, he said, allows us to look to the future with greater optimism and with the conviction that efforts toward a better Cyprus can be crowned with success.
The Scout Association says the awarding of diplomas is a recognition of their efforts
For its part, the Cyprus Scout Association states in a press release that the awarding of certificates to the 110 young people at the Presidential Palace “is a recognition of the young people’s efforts, but at the same time highlights the importance of non-formal education and volunteerism in shaping active and responsible citizens.”
According to the Cyprus Scout Association, behind every Scout Badge awarded by the Republic lies a journey spanning many years—filled with experiences, challenges, activities, and service, through which young people develop skills, take on responsibilities, and cultivate a spirit of volunteerism.
As he notes, the ceremony marks the completion of an important chapter in their Scouting lives, adding, however, that the values they have acquired along this journey “continue to guide them far beyond it.”
Source: CNA
