All is set for the 45 Vietnamese Scout Leaders as they begin today their Advance Unit Leader Training Course at Mt. Makiling, in Laguna Philippines. The participants all come from over 30 different Scout groups currently running in various parts of Vietnam.

This advanced training course is organized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, Asia-Pacific Region, in cooperation with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines to enable these leaders to acquire the standard Wood Badge training.

Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed officiated the opening ceremony together with BSP Secretary General JR Pangilinan. Overseas trainers Dr Cyrus Wadia from India and Mr Young Chang Kim from Korea who is a member of the APR Adult Support Sub-Committee joined the large group of experienced BSP leader trainers led by Roger Villa as the course director. APR executive Mr Thian-Hiong Boon is the programme coordinator.

At the opening session, Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed highlighted the current WOSM policies in dealing with the development of Scouting in Vietnam and urge the leaders to take the challenge when they return home to further improve Scouting in their country.

For the past years, Vietnamese Scouts and leaders have always been visible in different Scouting events as observers including the regional jamboree last year in Mt. Makiling where the idea of conducting a comprehensive leader training course for Vietnamese leaders was conceived. This course is only organized for Vietnam and the first of its kind.

One of the strong supporters of Scouting in Vietnam is Bill Phillips of Ecuador who through his generous financial contribution make this training course possible.