AFOFSAG

 ISGF-AISG Fellowship Day Message 2007

From Martine Levy, World Committee Chairman of the International Scout and Guide Fellowship. Speech delivered on the 1st of August 2007 when the Scout&Guide Spirit Flame arrived at the Jamboree

The emotion on February 22 of this year, when more than one thousand Scouts, young and less young, boys and girls, men and women of several nationalities walked in silent procession from Paxtu, last residence of Lord Baden Powell, to the cemetery of Nyeri, in Kenya.

The emotion when the 400 persons gathered in the small cemetery attended the ceremony of the lighting of the “Scout & Guide Spirit Flame” from a small candle placed in the middle of the grave of Lord and Lady Baden Powell.

The emotion when all together, facing that grave, each one uttered his or her Promise again in his or her own language.

The emotion, crossed with anxiety, when this Flame left the cemetery in the hands of a young Girl Guide of Kenya to reach to this Jamboree of the Centenary.

The visual emotion, looking at the beautiful photos taken all along the 10 countries, where huge crowds, Scout or not, were applauding the Flame on its way.

The emotion of live situations in Ethiopia, Sudan, France, Belgium, Brownsea.

The emotion in the faces of the enthusiasm of all the youngsters we met, who wished to carry the Flame.

The emotion in the faces of the fervour of the older people who wished to touch the Flame.

The emotion in the faces of those who came to take a little bit of this “Scout & Guide Spirit Flame” and bring it back in their country.

The emotion facing the pride of those who have decided to bring a little bit of this Flame to Senegal with the Caravan of Peace, conveying the Spirit of this Flame to Spain, Morocco and Mauritania.

The immense emotion here, in Hylands Park, where the Spirit of the Flame will be conveyed symbolically to the young gathered in this Jamboree; this Flame, which is expected to be the symbol of the link between the youth of today and the Founders.

At the dawn of the second centenary of Scouting, these young people will be the holders of these Values that we collected on the grave of our Founders, which names are Brotherhood, Friendship, Sharing, Respect of one another, Tolerance, Peace, and that the Flame has told day after day, kilometre after kilometre arousing an immense enthusiasm in the crossed countries.

To paraphrase a well known man of the 20th century, I say to all: “whatever happens, the Flame of the Scout and Guide Spirit must not die down and will not die down”.

Martine Levy, Chair ISGF World