Gruppenfoto LT 2018 vor Resten der Berliner Mauer in Koblenz

Jürgen Maier-Wolf

Middle East

SG Nahost

Salam, Shalom, and welcome to the Middle East Corner!

We at the Middle East Working Group want to be the DPSG's bridge to a fascinating region full of history, hospitality, and Scouting life. Together with you, we want to create encounters. Whether in Jordan, Israel, Palestine, or here in Germany — we believe that peace begins with a handshake and a shared campfire.

Our mission is to facilitate connections between Scouts. Are you a Scout from the Middle East looking for a German group for an exchange? Or do you simply want to understand how Scouting works in the DPSG? Then you’ve come to the right place.

We advise and support you in planning unforgettable intercultural experiences. Ready for a new adventure? Let's go!

The Middle East – what is it actually??

A quick note to start: The term 'Middle East' is now often seen as outdated and Eurocentric, since it views the region purely from a European standpoint. However, since there is no catchy alternative yet that is widely understood, we continue to use this familiar term in our working group. We do so, however, fully aware of its problematic history.

The term usually refers to the West Asian region where Europe, Asia, and Africa merge geographically and culturally. This area is predominantly Muslim, but is also home to numerous members of Jewish, Christian, and other smaller religious communities. It is particularly noteworthy that the Middle East is considered the cradle of the monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Many stories from the Torah, the Christian Bible, and the Koran have their origins here, which is why the region is often referred to as the Holy Land.

Our friends in the region, with whom we are in close contact and undertake joint activities, are primarily the Catholic Scout associations in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. However, we also maintain contacts with other associations and countries in the region.

Scouting organizations connected by friendship:

SG Nahost

Catholic Scout Association in Israel

The CSAI was founded in 1951 by five scout groups that had existed since 1926. Today, the association consists of 18 scout groups belonging to the Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, and Maronite denominations.

SG Nahost

Catholic Scouts and Guides Jordan

There are around 2,000 Catholic Scouts in six governorates in Jordan.

The catholic Organization has been in existence since 1989. It has been a member of the Jordanian Scouts and Guides Association since 1994.

SG Nahost

Palestinian Catholic Scouts of Saint John the Baptist

The Palestinian Scout Association was founded in 1985 with the aim of uniting Scout groups in the Palestinian territories into one organization.

The association currently consists of 12 groups in Palestine and Jerusalem.

What we do

We are international

As the Middle East Working Group, we maintain friendships with scout associations in the Middle East and represent the DPSG in close cooperation with the international working group in this region of the world.

We are peace scouts

As Scouts, we see ourselves as ambassadors of peace. This is important not only, but especially, in the Middle East.

Personal contacts and dialogue are the basis for our peace work.

We are enablers

As enablers, we serve as a “service center” for all questions relating to the Middle East within the DPSG.

Thus, we are active at events such as Pentecost in Westernohe and provide information about scouting in the Middle East.

In addition, we support the groups of DPSG in their projects relating to the Middle East – whether whether they are planning an exchange or want to build a partnership, we are happy to help!

You can find our advice on travel to the Middle East in our best practices guide (only in german).

You can find more information about our work in the Middle East Working Group on Instagram or on the DPSG-Blog

Current projects:

"Be a host"

Do you want to experience adventure, make new friends, and see beyond the campfire? Do you want to learn about new cultures and share your scouting experiences with scouts from the Middle East? Then we offer you several opportunities to experience an unforgettable summer or a magical Pentecost camp together with Scouts from Jordan, Israel, or Palestine.

We regularly receive requests from our friends in the Middle East for encounters in Germany.

What is it about?

Are you planning a camp with your group/district/diocese at Pentecost or in the summer and can you imagine inviting guests from the Middle East? Great, because this will not only allow you to share your culture and experiences of scouting, but also give you the unique opportunity to build a connection between your scout group and scouts from the Middle East.

We are looking for hospitable and enthusiastic groups who are willing to welcome guests from the Middle East and create unforgettable memories together.

General conditions:

Camp in Germany
Duration: at least 5 days plus arrival and departure (due to subsidy conditions)
Group size: varies, groups from the Middle East usually consist of 10-15 people
Age group: 14+

If you can imagine inviting a group of Scouts from the Middle East to your next camp, please contact us at nahostdpsg-international.de. Don't worry, this does not commit you to anything. However, as we often receive such requests quite spontaneously, we rely on a pool of interested groups.

Pentecost in Westernohe

At Pentecost thousands of scouts from all ages and from scouting groups from all over Germany come together in Westernohe, our campsite. All the different age and working groups of the DPSG offer a wide variety of activities.

As every year, you will find us at Pentecost in Westernohe in the Middle East corner of the international village. With our Middle East wheel of fortune featuring interesting facts about scouting in the Middle East and games, we offer a varied program for all ages.