The Victoria Scout Group held its Annual General Meeting at the Azzjoni Kattolika Hall on Saturday, 25th January 2025. Group Council Chairman Michael Grech delivered the opening speech. Group Scout Leader Jesmond Scerri, Secretary Celine Portelli and Treasurer Gino Mizzi then delivered their reports to a hall packed with members, parents and supporters.
The Troop’s item: What does it mean to be a Scout? – A reflection
In the introduction to the AGM, the Scouts explained what really defines a Scout. It’s not the uniform, nor the fact that they can read a map or build a fire or tie knots. These are just skills. More important than these are the values that members obtain through Scouting.
It is the way they follow the Scout Law and live up to the Scout Promise in their daily lives. It is the way they explore not only the world around them in its different facets but also the world within them. It is the way they are a friend to all. It is the way they care for the environment and for others. It is how they face challenges and setbacks and learn and try again when they do not succeed. It is all these and much, much more.
It is how Scouts, as global citizens contribute towards creating a better world through various initiatives and activities.
The Pack’s item: ‘Heal the World’
The Cub Scouts presented the song ‘Heal the World.’
Cub Scout León Azzopardi started the presentation by reading a quote by Lord Baden-Powell. ‘Try to leave the world a little better than you found it.’
Cub Scout Gabrijel Cordina then encouraged everyone to do his part in healing the world and making it a better place for our children and our children’s children. Coincidentally this mirrors the Scouting objective of ‘Creating a Better World.’
It was then the turn of the Cub Scouts to give their rendition of Michael Jackson’s anthem for love and peace – Heal the World – and pass on the message that we can indeed heal the world and make it a better place for us all.
Award Ceremony
The awards for the Cub Scouts, Scout, Venture Scout and Rover Scout of the Year 2024 went to:
Rover Scout of the Year: Richard Caruana
Venture Scout of the Year: Paolo Sultana
Scout of the Year: Gabriele Puglisi
Cub Scout of the Year (Saturday Pack): Jake Said
Cub Scout of the Year (Seeonee Pack): Jake Bugeja
Certificates of Merit
Rover Crew: Jerrod Xerri
Scout Troop: Lucas Joe Portelli, Jordi Spiteri
Saturday Pack: George Mercieca, Francesco Cefai
Other Awards
The Messenger of Peace Award was awarded to Jacob Grech, Aleksander Attard and Jaiden Formosa (in absentia).
Certificates for the Explorer Belt Expedition were distributed to 4 of those Rovers who participated, namely Michael V. Farrugia, Darren P. Cassar, Matthew Grech, and Richard Caruana.
The Black Six (Jake Bugeja, George Camilleri, Francesco Cefai, Gabriel Tabone, Ayden Vella, Gabriel Gatt) and of the Seeonee Pack and the Red Six (Liam Sultana, Michael Zammit, Liam Cini, Jake Mifsud, Thomas John Gatt and Evan Zammit) of the Saturday Pack were the winners of the Mowgli Inter-SixMonthly competition for 2024.
Guest speaker – Mr Jesmond Saliba, Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations
During his speech, Mr Jesmond Saliba, the Commissioner for Non-Voluntary Organisations reflected on the message given by the Scout’s presentation of what it means to be a Scout.
He mentioned some of the important skills such as leadership skills and values which Scouting imparts to its members. These skills equip the children and youths of today to better face and thrive in the world they inhabit. The Scout Law and Promise lead to having better citizens and more responsible persons.
The Commissioner also acknowledged the role that the leaders, who are all volunteers, play in the running of and success of the Victoria Scout Group. He encouraged the members to appreciate the fact that they are part of a Scout group and to always live up to the Scout Law and Promise.
At the end of this speech, Group librarian Mr Carm C. Cachia presented Mr Saliba with a copy of each of the 2 books narrating the history of the Group for the past 60 years, which were published by the Group and authored by Mr Cachia.
Donation to the OASI Foundation
As in previous years, instead of sending Christmas cards, the Group donated a sum of money to a local philanthropic organisation. Donations for this purpose were also received by parents. This year the beneficiary was the OASI Foundation. Treasurer Gino Mizzi presented a donation to the Executive Head of the OASI Foundation, Mr Noel Scerri.
Since 1991, the OASI Foundation has assisted persons (and their families) dealing with addiction problems, while also promoting a healthy lifestyle through educational, cultural and sports events for the community.
Rovers Scouts Matthew Grech, Jerrod Xerri, Richard Caruana, Darren Cassar, Michael Victor Galea and James Mizzi completed an inspiring 159 KM expedition abroad last summer, showcasing their resilience, teamwork, and spirit of adventure. A huge shout out also goes to our 3 Venture Scouts Aleksander Attard, Jacob Grech and Jayden Formosa, who were honored with the Messenger of Peace Award for their remarkable efforts in promoting peace and making a positive impact in their communities. Your hard work and dedication inspire us all. Here’s to many more adventures, milestones, and contributions to the scouting world!
The Victoria Scout Group is proud to announce the successful conclusion of a two-year Erasmus+ project titled “EU Camp 4.0 – Maltese Edition.” This initiative brought together youths from Gozo, Germany, and Hungary with a shared mission to explore and celebrate the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of their communities.
Through this exploration, participants emphasized the powerful connection between nature and culture, recognizing them as vital components of human heritage that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being. The project began with a preparatory meeting in May 2023, where key plans and ideas were set in motion. The highlight of the initiative came in August 2023, when 51 young participants gathered in Gozo for an unforgettable week-long camp.
This immersive program was filled with activities that celebrated the island’s rich cultural and natural treasures. Through a blend of exploration, education, and shared experiences, the youths forged lasting friendships, learned about each other’s traditions, and developed a deeper appreciation for the interface between nature and culture. The impact of this project extended far beyond the camp. After returning home, the participants continued to nurture the bonds they had formed.
Through social media and online meetings, they collaborated, exchanged ideas, and strengthened their connections. This ongoing engagement highlights the long-lasting value of the relationships and lessons cultivated during the project. The Victoria Scout Group extends its heartfelt gratitude to the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA), Erasmus+, and the European Union for their invaluable support in making this project a reality. Without their assistance, this enriching experience would not have been possible.
As the Victoria Scout Group looks to the future, it remains committed to fostering international collaboration and creating opportunities for young people to grow, learn, and build bridges across cultures. We eagerly anticipate future Erasmus+ projects and thank the European Union once again for empowering youths to make a meaningful difference.
Thanks to the Grant received from the Ministry for Gozo and Planning under the NGO Scheme 2023, the Victoria Scout Group invested heavily in camping equipment and had the possibility of repairing several damaged Ridge Tents which are used while camping. These tents can sleep between 8 and 10 scouts. This project allowed our members to work together to inspect the tents and recognise signs of possible damage to the canvas. Other equipment bought include Hike tents, Gazebos, Ropes and camping lights. The Group would like to thank the Ministry for Gozo and Planning for its financial help.
The Rover crew of the Victoria Venture Scout Group have recently completed their Explorer Belt challenge. The Explorer Belt is a 150 km trek spread over 10 days where the rovers are given challenges to complete along the route. The journey started from Toulouse in southern France, after which the crew visited various small towns in the Pyrenees on their way to the microstate of Andorra. The main scope of the journey was to explore and meet with the communities of the Pyrenees that surround the area of Pic Carlit, exposing the crew to a mix of Spanish and French cultures that make up the region of L’Occitane. This project is partially financed by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ under the BeActive Scheme.
Challenges included experiencing local cuisine, exploring nature and meeting interesting people in these regions. The group also explored changes in culture are the area travelled they could see the difference in norms, language and culture
