France: Malagasy Scouting Week at the Overseas Academy of Sciences

Malagasy scouting is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, while the commemoration of the birth of founder Baden Powell was celebrated yesterday. In March, Malagasy scouting will have a week at the Overseas Academy of Sciences.

Malagasy scouting will be honored during “Madagascar Week at the Académie des sciences d’Outre-Mer, France”, from March 18 to 27. This is the second time that the Big Island has found itself at the center of an event of this scale on French soil. The chosen theme is therefore, “Malagasy scouting: 100 years of history, 100 years of education, 100 of commitment (1924-2024)”. According to a press release provided by the organizers, this week is “ Coordinated by Dominique Barjot, professor emeritus at Paris Sorbonne University and vice-president of the Overseas Academy of Sciences (ASOM) and by Bearisoa Rakotoniaina (Fangoro Mirika), assistant trainer within the “Tily eto” scout movement Madagasikara”, teacher at the universities of Madagascar, member of the French Committee of Historical Sciences “. A two-day conference, March 19 and 20, will open the activities with the central theme “ Malagasy scouting in the colonial context (1922-1957) », for the first session. The second will deal with “ Malagasy scouting facing the challenge of the third millennium ». Dès lors, regarder dans le passé pour en apprendre et se diriger vers l’avenir avec toutes les atentes et les péripétés en route. The scouts are well used to overcoming everything. These two days will bring together several speakers, Nasolo Rakotonanahary, Sahondra Sylvie Andriamihamina, Faranirina Rajaonah, Fiederch Behivoka, Lalasoa Jeannot Rasoloarisoa, Franck Ramanarivo, Juliette Razafiarisoa, Tiana Alisoa Ranaivomiarivo, Rostand Tsilanizara, Toky Rahaingo and others. “This conference will be broadcast live at the University of Antananarivo, at the Q1 Amphitheater of the Sciences and Technologies Domain », again according to the organizers. Throughout the week, an exhibition will be installed with the contribution of several archive centers. In particular, the « archives of Défap, the Overseas Archives Center in Aix-en-Provence, The Archives of the Republic of Madagascar in Tsaralalàna » and private collections. Documentary screenings will be held in parallel. As Malagasy scouting is currently celebrating its 100th year of existence, it is an honor that the Academy of Overseas Sciences in France gives to this volunteer movement, but also to the scouts of the Red Island. “ Every year, the Tily Eto Madagasikara scout movement offers fairly comprehensive education and training to young Malagasy people. This contribution from the head of unit to the general commissioner is estimated at around eleven billion ariary per year… This valuation only concerns the male branch of Protestant scouting. In Madagascar, 48% of Malagasy people over 15 cannot read or write. The contribution of scouting is considerable and not negligible in the face of the current situation “, according to Bearisoa Rakotoniaina, associate researcher at the Roland Mousnier center in France. The latter’s intervention during the conference will focus on non-formal education. The first conference around Madagascar organized by the Overseas Academy of Sciences was held in October 2020 with the theme “The birth of the Republic and Madagascar’s access to the French community 1958 ».