In his speech, the President instructed every minister, governor and other state officer to help Gerakan Pramuka in implementing Scouting, seeing its pivotal role in molding the character of young people that leads to nation building.

Accompanying him was First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, other several government ministers, Malaysian ministers and different country ambassadors to Indonesia.

 

Also, in this occasion, the President presented the Lencana Melati Award to different key people in the government and in Scouting. Among the overseas recipients were former Regional Scout Committee Chairman Anthony Thng (Singapore), Regional Scout Committee member Prakorb Mukura (Thailand) and Secretary General JR Pangilinan (Philippines).

Just a week before the National Scouts Day, Scouts in Jakarta area joined a clean-up drive jointly organized by the Department of Seas and Fisheries and the State Minister Office of the Environment at the Pramuka Island or Scout Island. Scouts, together with some scuba divers from the Indonesian Navy and other organizations, helped in cleaning up the sea and planting mangrove trees. A recycling workshop was also conducted for the young people.

-- Report and photos by Berthold Sinaulan, APR Honorary Correspondent, Gerakan Pramuka