The precursor, 1 mars 1972, Mars - Avril

;* tà 4)THE PRECURSOR March-April 1972, Ville de Laval—Vol.XXX—No.2 BOLIVIA Iw^Sâ ' il, >1971 S 2 X i Pé ______ ?v v ^ * ' : primitif de Savoie xy f .i >0 4 V - T®«*l Ai imHIHU OLSAMPAR.1968 lyy (/ % NI AVI Al AN U b ?»vt ¦t 'L.ff & 20 fA*JlA RRE *>* IffMv 4SI sas N rM>i Canada -V- »a.u:,«wi ^C8na»f»nt ««-wnCSSi V>B^ .^t0 70, X ï / > ^ ti- WfitHE 40 ^«aanifHt RIPUSII» 1865 SKSSfiS jbaio.1965 Sio jgo HHr itfCA-.REPUBU011[ DHAÏTI K V A] i ^ P '.v -s «II^ROI^kMKEnN MÉMHIHMMMMM Malagasy Republic: Our tent stands open to the world.THE PRECURSOR No.2-March-April 1972-Vol.XXX Second Class Mail Registration No.0358 Return Postage Guaranteed NY FANILO MALAGASY REPUBLIC Sister Angèle Lemaire, answers a few questions regarding Malagasy Girl Guides.Once upon a time, in the Island’s Far West, there were a few Girl Guides who were as surprised as could be to realize that they really belonged to the great Guide family.The first company numbered ten young girls.Rich in simplicity and dynamism they eagerly accepted the leadership of a Guider who had been in the Movement since early childhood.This happened in Morondava, back in October 1965.c' r .^6 ¦*" 1^?- - First Company of Our Lady of the Stars Morondava-Madagascar i Since then the company has recruited a few more members.They are now twenty in all.A greater number can hardly be expected in a land where the girls return to their own home village as soon as they leave school.— Don’t you think this difficulty in recruitment might be ascribed to differences in religious persuasions or to tribal rivalries?— I don’t think so.According to the basic principles of Guiding, we admit girls belonging to any religious denomination.The same applies to tribal rivalries which can have no place inside Guiding.— I gather that ways of life in these regions are very primitive.Camping can hardly have any appeal for young people.— On the contrary, they enjoy camping which is a far cry from their way of life at home.They enjoy living in the great outdoors where their activities converge on the formation of character.All that is new is welcome to our Guides.Nature has made these girls rather easygoing, liable to succumb to routine.Guiding enables them to develop their personality, broaden their horizons, and find out their right place in the world.They bring the Movement an original concept of things.All live the team life to the hilt, and collaborate in their own formation by joining in the activities they like best.— Does Malagasy Guiding come in for its share of criticism?— It does, especially as regard the financial aspect.Some resent the contribution fee and the sum required to buy uniforms.However, such criticism usually comes from outsiders, from people unacquainted with Guiding.I admit that the financial problem is a serious one for us, Guiders.There are hardly any committees of assistance around here, especially in remote provinces.Each Company must fend for itself with the meagre resources at hand.Lack of financial means is also a headache for Captains and Guiders who would like their Guides to participate in the Annual National Camp held on the plateaux or on the coast.For those who live at the other tip of the Great Island, however, this means a journey of three or four days over almost impassable roads.Need we be surprised that parents hesitate before allowing their girls to go?— Do you think these meetings on the national level are profitable?— I would say they are not merely profitable but essential for the progress of Guiding.They prove to be a precious incentive for our National Team which aims at helping out all the Malagasy Guides as much as possible.Our Fanilo Malagasy aims at creating new dimensions in Guiding such as will benefit our young girls.They must be taught the difficult art of being “captains of their own souls”.This is the main point in their formation.Unless they grasp the inner meaning of freedom they cannot hope to live fully rounded out lives.— What about the daily good deed which is part of the Guiding law?Do your Malagasy Guides find it difficult to perform?— Perhaps they do, in the beginning at least.It upsets selfish plans.As they grow in the true Guiding spirit, however, our Guides can no longer let a day pass without trying to do this good deed.Otherwise, they feel unhappy.Thus charity develops and conscienciousness is awakened.— What is your opinion regarding the expansion of Guiding in the Malagasy Republic?— I would like to improve its relations with other Guides belonging to various religious persuasions.Of its very nature, Guiding is non-denominational.Then, while accepting the Baden-Powell system of active education, I wish we could give it different overtones.For example, activities could preferably be centered around one project at a time.We must keep in mind that this is a developing country.Our young people are always proud of realizing a given project together.— Thank you for the information you have so graciously given us on Malagasy Guiding.— The pleasure was all mine.Veloma! (goodbye) until we meet again.Our tent will always be wide open to welcome you. WH m rf- MALAWI BUILDING A NATION ml W: ? j - ¦ cbtA' ,4f>t >&3V M The celebration of a National Youth Week marks the dynamism of a young nation like Malawi.According to Mr.Aleke Banda, Deputy Commander of the Malawi Young Pioneers, the aim of this celebration is to teach the young how to serve their M > :â r.¦£&h.a* t* Jfv ftâiï 4P.A- t# *'X ^ Ml»**.r- ; / ' 'i * J** * # |V i w «* l VA»’ ^ I# wv 1 homeland.Their role in national development is an important one.A remarkable educational project, the M.Y.P., trains young people in values of discipline, loyalty, unity, cooperation, etc.In an essentially agricultural country, it promotes better methods of cultivation.Photos: Pawek 'Mwm Mzuzu Secondary School Students clear up a route to Ekwendeni, and prepare the sima. V ^4.» *S!Î fS** ÎP«î| 3^ ï** •> ?X» -^ .'^ %aPr #;:.VJfS»