Welcome

You have found the title page of a brand new resource that has been designed to help members achieve the International Friendship Group Award.

Get Global is the National Programme Initiative for 2005 and it will help you arrange within your Group and/or Unit/Network an exciting and worthwhile programme of events and activities that will lead to your members wearing their International Friendship Group Awards with pride.

It is the first time the Scout Association has launched a web-based resource of this nature and being a website Get Global will be updated regularly during 2005.

So ... go on and Get Global.

The International Friendship Group Award (IFGA) is about developing friendships - but not just international ones! Its aim is to bring Scout Groups and members of Explorer Scout Units and Scout Network together to encourage friendship and links, both internally and internationally.

The IFGA can open up new opportunities in the Programme for all Sections and can run along side other International Challenges and Awards in each of the Sections.

more about What is the International Friendship Group Award all about? ...

Have you ever thought of buying a cow or giving a pair of goats to an African farmer? What about funding an Aqua Box or Shelterbox? These are just a few examples of how some Group fundraising in the UK can impact very positively on others in the developing world or faced with natural disaster.

But your chosen project need not involve charity fundraising. It could focus on meeting and building relationships with people in other countries, cultures and traditions. Spend time looking through the pages of the site. We will be adding further brief case studies, hyperlinks and programme ideas as the year progresses. So if nothing catches your imagination now - visit the site again in a few weeks.

more about Choosing the Right Project ...

Once you have a project in mind, discuss it with other members of your team and decide who should take part. Would it be best to involve the whole group or perhaps just the Troop and the District Explorer Scout Unit should undertake it? It is important to ensure that the project is achievable and that it will fit into the Programme of all the Sections involved. The project should last between 3-6 months and while you will be doing other things during this period, do ensure that all involved have some regular programme time associated with the project.

Someone will need to take a lead, possibly, but not necessarily, the Group Scout Leader and they need to ensure that a plan is in place to achieve the Award, and that all the Leaders involved are signed-up to it.

more about Getting Started ...

If you are looking for a selection of International activities, here is a list of ideas, events and games arranged by section. They include those already listed under each project, plus others you can adapt.

Where a game can be used by more than one section we have listed it under more than one section.

• Beaver Scouts

• Cub Scouts

• Scouts

• Explorer Scouts

• Scout Network

more about International Activities in the Balance Programme ...

Don't keep your project a secret. Let the local media know that you're working on the International Friendship Group Award and the difference your young people are making to the world. If you don't have a copy of Shouting for Scouting, download it now on (http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/hq/pr/s4s.htm)

We would also like to hear how your project is progressing. Let us know about your successes, and tell us about any useful resources you discover and programme ideas you develop that work well. Contact is via getglobal@scout.org.uk.