Finland

Promise:

Promise (Finnish)

Tahdon rakastaa Jumalaani ja lähimmäistäni, isänmaatani ja ihmiskuntaa, toteuttaen elämässäni partioihanteita.

Promise (Swedish)

Jag vill älska min Gud och min nästa, mitt land och mänskligheten, i det jag söker förverkliga scoutidealen i mitt liv.

Guide Promise

I will love my God and my neighbour, my native country and mankind by fulfilling the Girl Guide ideals in my life.

Brownie Promise (Finnish)

Lupaan parhaani mukaan rakastaa Jumalaani, toteuttaa sudenpentujen lakia ja olla toisille avuksi joka päivä.

Brownie Promise (Swedish)

Jag lovar att efter bästa förmåga älska min Gud och följa vargungens lag.

Brownie Promise

I promise to do my best to love my God, to fulfil the Brownie Law and to help others every day.

Law:

Ideals (Finnish)

Partiolaisen ihanteena on

– kehittää itseään ihmisenä
– kunnioittaa toista ihmistä
– auttaa ja palvella muita
– tuntea vastuunsa ja velvollisuutensa
– rakastaa ja suojella luontoa
– olla uskollinen ja luotettava
– rakentaa ystävyyttä yli rajojen
– etsiä elämän totuutta.

Ideals (Swedish)

En scouts ideal är at...

– utveckla sig själv som människa
– känna aktning för andra
– hjälpa och tjäna sin nästa
– inse sitt ansvar och sina plikter
– älska och skydda naturen
– vara trofast och pålitlig
– främja vänskap över gränserna
– söka sanningen i tillvaron.

Guide Ideals

The ideal of a Girl Guide is...

– to develop herself as a human being
– to respect other human beings
– to help and serve others
– to recognize her responsibility and duties
– to love and protect nature
– to be faithful and reliable
– to build friendships across borders
– to seek for the truth in life.

Brownie Law (Finnish)

Sudenpentu on reipas ja rehellinen.

 Brownie Law (Swedish)

En vargunge är ärlig, glad och hjälpsam.

Brownie Law

A Brownie is cheerful and honest.

Motto:

Motto (Finnish) - Ole valmis

Motto (Swedish) - Var redo

Motto (English) - Be Prepared

Brownie Motto (Finnish) - Tahdon tehdä parhaani

Brownie Motto (Swedish) - Jag vill göra mitt bästa

Brownie Motto (English) - I will do my best

Age groups:

Vaeltaja (Finnish) Rover (Swedish): Ranger 15-20

Partiolainen (Finnish)Flickscout (Swedish) Guide 10-14

Sudenpentu (Finnish) Vargunge (Swedish) Brownie 7-10

Development of the movement:

The first Girl Guide company in Finland was formed in 1910, but the years that followed saw great political upheaval, resulting in a ban on Girl Guiding. The Movement was officially revived in 1917, and it has expanded steadily and gained strength ever since. The first Brownie pack was started in 1925, and the first Ranger company in 1930. In 1928 three Finnish Associations, Suomalainen Partiotyttöliitto, Finlands Svenska Scoutförbund and Suomen Vapaa Partioryhmä, were recognized together as a Founder Member of WAGGGS.

Interest in the Movement grew fast, and before long there were five active Girl Guide Associations in Finland. In 1934 Girl Guiding was introduced for girls with special needs. The Second World War created the need for closer co-operation, and in 1943 a single Association, the Union of Finnish Girl Guides, was established.

The Union of Finnish Girl Guides worked in co-operation with the Scout Union of Finland, and in 1972 the merged organization, Suomen Partiolaiset - Finlands Scouter ry (The Guides and Scouts of Finland) was formed. As a result of this, administration for national events and training is a combined undertaking, and all the Guide and Scout districts work together. At local level many companies still work separately. The GSF has 75,000 members (Guides and Scouts) in all.

Lately an internal migration in Finland has created a need to found new local groups in areas where there are high numbers of young people. The More Groups: More Members project started in 2002. Another challenge GSF is facing is welcoming young people with a immigrant background into the Movement and assuring that their needs are met. During 2001, a study was undertaken to discover the best possible ways to involve all young people into Guiding.

Programme:

Guides and Scouts have the same basic programme, with a separate section for each age group. The programme for the Brownies and Cub Scouts is based on eight fairy tales/adventures about various themes. It is sub-divided into three stages: Pikkuhukka (the pet name for a wolf cub), Hukka (the pet name of folk origin for a wolf) and Susi (wolf in Finnish).

The programme for the Guides and Scouts is based on three class stages and it consists of both obligatory activities and optional activity badges. There are three levels of achievement: third class, second class and first class. Implementation of the programme depends upon the interests of each patrol.

The GSF also has a programme for Sea Guides and Scouts. Their activities involve learning skills and knowledge of boating, sailing and other forms of seafaring and related activities. Safety is a very important aspect. Activities are concerned with sailing and boating in the summer, and maintenance of equipment in the winter.

The programme for the Rangers and Rovers aims to achieve and realize the educational goals of Guiding and Scouting: to help Members to develop as human beings capable of living in harmony and peace with themselves, other people and the environment.

The Association runs Radio Guiding and Scouting which is centred on such communication activities as walkie-talkies, amateur radio and orienteering. Many Radio Guides and Scouts participate in voluntary rescue service teams.

Members with special needs are integrated into existing units where possible. There are also special units with activities adapted to individual needs through the Sisu Programme.

Annual themes to support the Programme

The basic programme is strengthened through annual themes. During 1999-2001 the GSF gave special attention to ‘Service’ with emphasis on the environment, friendship and society. The year 2001 started a new triennial theme called ‘Back to the Woods.’ The aim of this is to boost traditional Guide and Scout activities such as camping, hikes and nature.

Relationship to society:

Members participate in rescue service teams, and they have raised money for disabled war veterans. In line with its emphasis on service, the Association has helped establish workshops for people with special needs.

Communication and Co-operation

The Guides and Scouts of Finland promote international understanding and all members are encouraged to identify themselves as Finnish citizens, as well as members of a major worldwide organization. International education is an important aspect of the programme, promoting international understanding, co-operation and peace.

The Association has embarked upon several major projects in co-operation with other countries. In 1986 a three-year vaccination project was initiated in Nepal in co-operation with UNICEF, in order to improve the situation of Nepalese children and their mothers. This project was followed by a re-afforestation project with Nepal from 1989. In 1989-1993 the Guides and Scouts of Finland built a health care centre in Senegal together with Eclaireurs et Eclaireuses du Sénégal. Finnish Guides and Scouts have participated in this project by attending work camps, by raising funds, and in troops by carrying out international education activities connected with the project.

Today different kinds of co-operation projects are introduced to the districts and local groups in a co-operation leaflet (Kehy-basaari). The Association helps those who are willing to start a local / district level project with education, material and information. Three projects have recently started some of which are already successful. The GSF is currently working with the Eclaireurs et Eclaireuses du Sénégal, the Guide Association of Zambia, Zambia Scout Association and Nepal Scouts.

The Guides and Scouts of Finland try to use all available channels to promote Guiding and Scouting. Publicity helps to secure the finance necessary for the organization of their various activities. The Guides and Scouts of Finland is the single biggest youth organization in Finland.

The magazine for all members is Partio and there is also a magazine especially for leaders, Partiojohtaja. Swedish-speaking members receive a magazine in their own language, Scoutposten.

There is also an audio-taped magazine for special members. The Guides and Scouts of Finland has its own website www.partio.fi.

Training:

Training is held at all levels, arranged by local groups, by the districts or by the national organization. Special training for Patrol Leaders includes various Guide and Scout skills, outdoor life, administration, psychology of leadership, citizenship and cultural education. There are joint gatherings at national level for Guides and Scouts, Patrol Leaders, Rangers and Rovers, and leaders.

Training has been sub-divided into leader training and skill training. Every year around 7,000 leaders (approximately 4000 of them are female) are trained in various tasks. Leader training consists of a number of Basic Leader Courses organized by districts. At the national level the Guides and Scouts of Finland organize extensive training courses for leaders, in which Gilwell training has been combined with Nordic Trefoil training.

The GSF Training Programme has been revised in assistance with the WAGGGS Guidelines for training in 2000. The newest tool for training are ‘learning logs.’ Every leader receives a task-specific learning log which helps her/him while they plan their own training path. This learning log is also used to plan the support needed by the specific leader.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities

Camping, including pioneering, games and cross-country competitions, has always been considered the highlight of Guiding and Scouting activities in Finland. An annual camp under canvas lasting from seven to ten days is usually included in the activities for each company. Camps are held in the woods near a lake or the sea. Members also go for weekend outings during school terms and for overnight hikes during holidays. Guides with special needs take part in national camps. The Association has been hosting international camps since 1979. The fourth international camp in 1996 welcomed 25000 participants. The next camp will be held in 2004.

Projects

• Back to the Basics of Scouting and Guiding
• Finnjamboree 2005