THE Scout Association of Guyana (SAG), on Tuesday afternoon, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based non-profit organisation, ‘Where We’re From’, for the holding of a STEM robotics camp in August.

The agreement was inked during a simple ceremony at the association’s Woolford Avenue head office.

Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association, Andrew Ramcharitar, underscored the importance of the signing to the youths of Guyana.

He said: “We’re trying our utmost to get the youth members from the country involved in constructive activities. One of the things people have seen here is we don’t want the members to be out on the corners, throwing dice. We want a constructive programme so that we’re going to be able to mold them into better citizens of the country, and more so in their communities.”
He noted that SAG has units all around the country and constantly works to develop constructive programme for its members.

Youth members, according to him, begin scouting at age seven.

“We have three different sections [or] units if you want to call it so. We have (from) seven to 10, 11 to 15, and 15 to 19,” Ramcharitar disclosed.

SAG’s Deputy Chief Commissioner, Yonnick David, later explained that the MoU was for the administration of the 2023 STEM robotics camp and will benefit youths across Guyana.
Meanwhile, the NGO’s director, Jessica Abrams, said that the two organisations will collaborate to host the three-week camp from August 14 to September 1.

She informed that the camp will take the format of half day sessions.

Additionally, Abrams and two other educators will be coming to Guyana to facilitate and teach the STEM robotics curriculum.

Attention will also be given to youth development. “Specifically, young women’s leadership, and young men’s leadership…We’re catering for students as young as six to 16,” Abrams explained.
“We’ve created our own curriculum, infusing engineering, mathematics [and] technology. So hopefully, the collaboration will set up a framework for future collaborations, instead of this being a one-time STEM camp to being a consistent programming of stepping up what Guyana already has,” she added.

The focus on STEM has been accelerating over the years. Presently, there are STEM clubs spread across the country.

The Scout Association of Guyana has been in existence since the early 20th century. It was first introduced to Guyana by Sergeant Major George Manley, who saw the need for a youth organisation that could teach boys valuable life skills, and instill in them a sense of civic duty and responsibility.

Today, scouting is stronger than ever in Guyana. The association is committed to promoting values such as community service, leadership, self-reliance, and remains dedicated to helping youths to develop the skills they need to become responsible and well-rounded adults. (Faith Greene)