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SOM SCOUTER OF THE MONTH – SEPT 2010: AHMED IMAD MOHAMED


SCOUTER OF THE MONTH – SEPTEMBER 2010AHMED IMAD MOHAMED
“First Maldivian to Hold the Wood Badge and the Leader Trainer Beads and the Oldest Scout in Maldives”
“If you don’t have the time for scouting, even if you are the best scout in Maldives, don’t hold responsible posts but rather support scouting and remember that you are not a genius and there are others and this movement and it is not your private property” says Ahmed Imad Mohamed, undoubtedly one of the greatest scouters Maldivian Scouting had ever seen. He is indeed one of the Founding fathers of the Maldivian Scout movement and he is the oldest living scout in Maldives. Brother Imad started his scouting in Colombo, Sri Lanka while pursuing his studies in the Wesley College Colombo in 1961. He has continued scouting ever since. Imad continued scouting as a Rover Scout in Egypt and did PTC Training that is equivalent to BULTC. Returning to Maldives became a Scout Master at Majeediyya School with Scout Abdul Jaleel as Headmaster and Mr. N.D. Hameed as Principle. Imad served as a Scouter to Male’ English School and Aliyaa School and Mauhad Dirasathul Islamiyya.
Imad was the first Maldivian Scout Leader to hold the Wood badge which was awarded to him by the President and Chief Scout His Excellency Uz. Maumoon Abdul Gayyom himself in a special ceremony held in the National Youth Council premises on 16th July 1990. He also happens to be the First Maldivian to achieve the Leader Trainer beads (4 beads) as well. And he was the first Maldivian Scouter to hold a post in the Asia Pacific Region; he served in the APR Training Sub-committee, later worked in the APR Scout Foundation Task force. On 23rd July 1995 he had received the Meritorious Award the “Bronze Coconut”, being the very first Scouter to get this award in Maldives. He is also holds the Asia Pacific Regional Chairman’s Award (the highest scouting award given in the Asia Pacific region) in 1999. Imad’s has made a lot of firsts in Maldivian Scouting History. He is among the few prominent scouters in Maldives who have achieved both national as well as international recognition for the dedicated services he has been rendering to the Scout Movement.
Imads services to Maldivian Scouting are innumerable. He had held several posts in the Scout Association of Maldives. Among the various posts he had filled in the Association include; Commissioner for Seniors, Assistant Chief Commissioner for Training and Program, the National Training Commissioner (NTC) and he was a member of the Policy Organization and Rules Revision Committee. He had helped start scouting in many school throughout the Maldives and provided many scout groups with guidance and leadership. He had worked as a Scout Leader of the First Male’ Scout Group (Majeedhiya School) and was the Service Scout leader of the (then) 15th Male’ Scout Group (Zuvaanunge Marukazu). Among his many services and contributions to scouting in Maldives perhaps his greatest contribution would be his hard work as the Chief Delegate from Maldives at the 32nd World Scout Conference in Paris where with hard work and effort Maldives got the WOSM membership. “In Scouting there are no half brothers and full brothers … we are all brothers … We should not be half members but full members” was Imads message in Paris. He returned home after Paris Conference with WOSM membership to Maldives.
He had represented Maldives in many international events and conferences. He had represented Maldives in world conferences in Bangkok, Thailand and Oslo, Norway. He had been a delegate to the Regional Scout Conferences in Taipei, Jakarta Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. He has also participated in several regional top leaders/professionals summits and has attended and participated in several regional and international Jamborees as head of contingent.
Imad has organized and run many courses and training for Unit Leaders, Patrol Leaders and even for Cub Scouts. He has been a badge examiner for Scouts and Cubs since the formation of Maldives Boy Scout Association.
Imad has also worked in various government departments and offices at various levels. Some include:
  1. Tally clerk in Shipping Department,
  2. Ground Staff in the Maldives National Trading Agency,
  3. Assistant Manger of Crescent Tourist Agency,
  4. Assistant Manager of Vellassaru group of hotels,
  5. Senior Public Relations officer in Male’ International Airport,
  6. Deputy Controller of Immigrations,
  7. Deputy Director Ministry of Education (AP section),
  8. Deputy Director Ministry of Women’s affairs and Social Security,
  9. Deputy Commissioner of Elections in Maldives,
  10. Executive Director Ministry of Higher Education employment and Social Security,
  11. Board member of the BML (Bank of Maldives),
  12. Interpreter to the National Security Services and Police
  13. Private business includes the Imad’s Agency Pvt. Ltd. which is the oldest running agency in Maldives established in 1979.
Nowadays, apart from being a warranted leader he devotes his time, resources and Knowledge to scouting as much as he can. Imad has been preparing and collecting Scouting resources and materials, been distributing scouting resources in CD’s for free to scouters and anyone who comes to him to learn scouting. Truly a model scout who follows the scout law and scout promise. Imad shares with SOM team more of his experiences and opinions in an exclusive interview with the www.scoutsofmaldives.com.

1. SOM: How long have you been involved with the Scouting, when did you join the movement and what made you join it?
Imad: “I joined the movement in 1961 at Wesley College Colombo Sri Lanka, registered at the Sri Lankan Scout Association under Number ET 161. Being in Boarding School and seeing the activities Cubs and Scouts do I felt I should take part in this brotherhood.”
2. SOM: What is so far your greatest achievement in scouting?
Imad: “Service to scouting with 100% international Love and Brotherhood. However less than 50% love and Brotherhood at Home in Maldives lately … Very sad about it and I prey to Allah almighty to show me a different day…”
3. SOM: What were the obstacles and difficulties that you faced in your scouting carrier?
Imad: “In short let’s just say in Maldivian Scouting everyone seems to know everything but don’t know the basics of Scouting … to Allah and the Country and Scouting Brotherhood … “
4. SOM: What is your most extraordinary or remarkable scouting experience?
Imad: Many but to name a few

  • Chief Commissioner Late Shathir – Did not believe in IM- Possible but removed IM and made it possible like BP.
  • Former Chief Commissioner Mr. Abdullah Rasheed - Time if given must be implemented till the last second
  • Jamborees Conferences etc was really building a Family
5. SOM: In your opinion, being one of the oldest scouters in Maldives, what do you think are the immediate works that are necessary to be carried out in Maldives to improve Scouting?
Imad: “Immediate and the unconditional resignation of all the Scout Council Members and President of the Scout Council!!!
In short, we need a democratic election and here is my view/ suggestion:
  1. Appoint an interim Committee to look after the Association Elections with duration, lets say 45 days. Before the committee is appointed all administrative documentations and property of the Association should be packed in appropriate boxes and sealed in the presence of the Present Scout Council and the appointed committee with documentation of what each box contains. The Committee should announce nominations with CV and Scouting history and photo of those who wants to be in the Scout Council – All who have taken a Scout Oath can contest for Presidency but only Wood Badge Scouters for the Council.
  2. The Committee should then send this to all the registered groups by Email, Post, Fax with a voting paper. The Counting of the votes should be done in the presence of the candidates. When the votes are counted and the results are final. It should be sent to Chief Scout with Warrants for signature and date for inauguration and on inauguration the Scout Promise should be renewed.
  3. The newly elected Scout Council should not have to answer to the old matters but the committee should start working to get things running and if anyone is needed to be questioned committee should request that particular person to cooperate after giving him/her three chances and if still not responding then legal action can be taken in court of Law.
  4. “WITH ALL THAT DONE WE ARE NOW BACK TO BLESSED WAYS OF DOING THINGS AND BETTER SCOUTINBG FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE”
  5. Matters Regarding Constitution … UK don’t have a constitution they have a POR, We take UK POR as an example and we can make our own National POR. The interim committee appointed as said earlier should be given additional 45 days to make the Draft of the POR and when it’s ready it should be sent to all scout groups for comments within 2 weeks. If no response then there is no need to wait.
  6. Then it should then be sent to the Scout Council for final comments and let them approve and pass it, keeping in mind that this is not another Youth Organization but World’s oldest and biggest ORGANIZATION.”
  7. When both the Council and POR work is done, the interim committees work is done. The Scout Council should appoint a Chief Commissioner and its his job to take his team, the Executive Committee. Job descriptions should be ready and people are brought for a job with a term rather than making a job description for the people.
  8. After this, AGMs will happen every year and people will come and go as per their term or as per the rules...
6. SOM: Do you think that Scouting in Maldives has developed in the past few years or had it been the same in terms of quality and standard?
Imad: “It has gone down sadly. I don’t want to name anyone but lets say it’s the result of the mistakes some people have done. You shouldn’t pay a volunteer Scouter to run scout events and you shouldn’t accept either. This is where Maldivian Scouting started to go down in my thinking and have many supporting arguments that I have but not now.”
7. SOM: What are your expectations for Maldivian scouting?
Imad: “The best influence and best example to Youth in Asia Pacific and an Example however small to the World.”
8. SOM: Which is the most memorable Scout Camp, Jamboree or Event so far in your Scouting carrier?Imad: “Now that’s a long list let me just highlight some …
(1) When Maldives was made a member of WOSM
(2) Scouts Serving for Pilgrims during Hajj seasons
(3) The services of Maldivian Scouts in Tsunami
(4) Majeediyya Scouts regularly cleaning Central Hospital
(5) EPSS Scouts making their own tents for the First National Jamboree
(6) Ahmadiyya Scouts Contribution in tree planting in Thilafushi [Still stands]
(7) Maldivian Scouts having Water when the whole Jamboree Sub Camp at Besut, Terengganu Malaysia did not Have Water, as Maldives contingent made their own well.”
9. SOM: Is there anyone in particular in Maldives (or elsewhere) whom you admire as Scouters, and if so, who and why?Imad:
  1. Malaysian Scouter (RIP) Secretary of the Terengganu Jamboree who had a sign on his office door that read “DO NOT COME WITH PROBLERMS, COME WITH A SOLUTION”.
  2. Scouter Mr. Mohamed Nazeef when I requested for him to go to Cub O Ree in India, He only asked for my Scout Shirt and went with no other complains. I pray for him and wish him all the best in his life.
  3. Scouter Mr. Ahmed Shiran, The real example of a Scout who became a Scouter. I remember how he served First Male’ Unit in Huraa Jambore “This is Real Scouting” - I pray for him and wish him all the best in his life.
  4. Late Brother Scout Shaan Saeed – we Maldivian Scouts should be proud of the services he gave and the way he did things “I need at least 40 Pages to write about him”
  5. Maldivian Scouting has produced, Doctors, Pilots, Civil Engineers, Politicians, Cabinet Members, Civil Servants, and Private Entrepreneurs name it… all of those who were products of scouting.
  6. Female Cub Leaders, naming them will be very difficult but forgive me if I don’t know the real name but as their brother I know their common names. Mummy, Hanna Miss, Tahu miss, Waseefa Saeed, Bachu Miss, Kaalaafanu Shifa, Saeeedha Abdul Munim (RIP) and Ahulaam Mis are some.”

10. SOM: What is your advice to all the members of the Scout Movement in Maldives?
Imad:“IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME FOR SCOUTING EVEN IF YOU ARE THE BEST SCOUT IN MALDIVES DON’T HOLD RESPONSIBLE POSTS, BUT SUPPORT SCOUTING AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT A GENIUS THEIR ARE OTHERS AND THIS MOVEMENT IS NOT YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY.”

Photos:Scouter Ahmed Imad MohamedArticle, Information and Interviewed by :Maeed M. Zahir and Mohamed Ibrahim (MI)
*NOTE: Scouter of the Month, will be a Series of Interviews we plan to bring YOU our website viewers every month. We will bring to you information about a selected prominent Scouter of Maldives with his/her interview.
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