Per Eriksson

I’m a 32 year old member of and leader in the Temperance Guide and Scout Association in Sweden. Through out my time in the Scout Movement, since being a 12 year old Patrol Leader until today’s involvement in organizing leader training programs and other activities I’ve been overwhelmed by the Scout Method and the Patrol System.

These tools and the traditions of using them as I’ve been part of them, are ways of developing and strengthening the individual and the common values, I believed I shared with Scouts, Guides and Girl Scouts (“same, same but different”, in Sweden we have had co-education since late sixties) all over the world.

These values, respect of others, openness to diversity (race, religion etc), … and through these values and beliefs Scouts, as individuals with character to stand up against discrimination and other malfunctions in our societies.

I got to know about Scouting for All in my work being part of the team, organizing the activities in the Global Development Village in the Swedish Guides and Scouts Council’s National Jamboree “Scout 2001”. These activities aimed at opening the eyes of the Scouts and Guides participating, to issues that citizens in societies mostly our own but also others, are involved in trying to work for what they believe, will be a better place for us all.

One issue that some of the 5000 participants per day (in total about 20 000 during the whole Jamboree) worked with was discrimination and prejudice. Our first thoughts and one subject being brought up was the situation of immigrants in Sweden. But thinking further someone mentioned discrimination in our own organization. Unfortunately for the common knowledge of Scouting in Sweden news of BSA’s Discrimination Policies hade reached our country now and then. After some research we learned of a teenaged Eagle Scout named Steven Cozza and Scouting for All.

Steven’s and Scouting for All’s way of trying to change a structure instead of just condemning it or tearing it down, impressed us! It was a good example of how you, in a strong and peaceful way can work trying to change things you disagree with in ever so static structures. Swedish Scouting ended up inviting them among other external organizations, as UNHCR, the Red Cross and others to be apart of the program in the GDV at the Swedish National Jamboree. They did great workshops.

As a Scout it was natural for me to sign Steven Cozza’s petition. Then my studies in early spring 2002, by chance brought me to a course learning about EQ in San Fransisco. I got an opportunity to meet members of Scouting for All’s Board and was honored and proud to be asked for my assistance as an Volunteer International Consultant.