OUR HERITAGE….. Bridging Mutual Understanding & Building the future

The experience of the gathering for this year is considered a successful one. We heard a lot about the Omani hospitality and uniqueness, but it was a real for us during the different activities of the event, we surprised and impressed with the warm welcome of the Omani people wherever we went.

The named event contributed in promoting the active and positive communication among youth and bridging mutual understanding and respect as well as introducing the participants to the Omani Heritage.

Our friendship relations will keep on, that is because scouting is the field of communication. In this regard, we prove to the whole world that we are able to communicate, understand each other, give and to creating a better future for our world. That was what Mathieu – from United Kingdom said in his speech in the closing ceremony on behalf of the participants in the 16th International Youth Gathering for Cultural Exchange which was held in close cooperation between the Arab Scout Regional Office, Oman Scouts & Guides Association, and Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science during the period 4-14/9/2013, Oman.

The participants in the named event represent some of 35 NSOs from all over the world as follows: Africa Region (Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Mauritius, Tanzania, Madagascar, Nigeria, Cameron, Chad and South Africa), European Region (Malta, Finland, Denmark and United Kingdome), Asia- pacific Region (Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Taiwan), Eurasia Region (Armenia and Moldova), and from the Arab Region (KSA, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Kuwait, Libya, Bahrain, AUE, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Qatar, Sudan and Oman).

The program of the 16th IYG was conducted in number of governorates which are distinguished with biological, environmental, cultural and heritage variety including Muscat– A'Dakhiliyah- A' sharqiyah- Dhofar – Musandam.

The participants enjoyed the warm welcoming and great hospitality of the Omani families who invited them to their own houses to be introduced to their customs and traditions.

Number of key historical sites was visited by the participants as follows: Bahla & Nizwa citadels, the valleys and factory LNG, the Natural Reserve of turtles, the ships factory, Alsnislh fort, Sour market, Nakhl castle, Ein Althiwar, Sheikh Nasser bin Rashid al Kharousi library, the museum of Sultan's Armed Forces, the Amman Center for diving as well as the planetarium, Omani Women's Association and Castle market Khasab. All the participants enjoyed their rest on Hall beach to witness the sunset. The activities of the program included cruises in the Strait of Hormuz and the village as Hur Shamm. In all their visits the participants could touch the warm welcome and hospitality of the Omani people and the persons in charge.

Finally, all the participants gathered in Dhofar where they stayed – for four days- in the Permanent scout camp Plateau of Ashour Mountain. During their stay, the participants reviewed the reports of their visits which they paid a long the event, participated in the organized seminar on biodiversity and diversity in Oman which was held in Salalah College of Applied Sciences. Whereas they gathered as a final gathering for the international evening where each contingent represented their countries through different folkloric shows, traditional dances, songs..etc. A big exhibition for all the participating countries was set up where each country presented samples of its souvenirs, traditional products, tourist brushers, costume..etc.