The
Scout
Scout may refer to:
Youth movement
*Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement
** Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom
** Scouts BSA, sect ...
and
Guide
A guide is a person who leads travelers, sportspeople, or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom.
Travel and recreation
Exp ...
movement in
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
is served by
*
Hayastani Azgayin Skautakan Sharjum Kazmakerputiun, member of the
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...
*
National Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Armenia, member of the
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS ) is a global association that supports Girl Guides, female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Scouting organizations in 153 countries. It was established in the year 1928 in Parád, H ...
*
Armenian General Benevolent Union
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU, Eastern Armenian: Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միություն, ՀԲԸՄ, ''Haykakan Baregortsakan Endhanur Miutyun'', or ,''Hay Parekordzagan Enthanour Miyutyun'' or ...
Because of Armenia's longstanding
diaspora
A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of birth, place of origin. The word is used in reference to people who identify with a specific geographic location, but currently resi ...
, there are several extranational Armenian Scout and Scout-like organizations. Expatriate Armenian Scout associations include the three traditional
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the communities of Armenians outside Armenia and other locations where Armenians are considered an indigenous population. Since antiquity, Armenians have established communities in many regions throughout the world. ...
political groupings the
Dashnaks
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (, abbr. ARF (ՀՅԴ) or ARF-D), also known as Dashnaktsutyun (Armenian: Դաշնակցություն, lit. "Federation"), is an Armenian nationalist and socialist political party founded in 1890 in Tifl ...
,
Hnachags and the
Ramgavar
The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (), the Ramgavar Party, (known before 1921 as the Armenakan party) (), also known by its Armenian initials () or its English initials ADL (meaning Armenian Democratic Liberal) is an Armenian political party ...
:
*
Hai Ari (1929–1998); World Organization of the Scout Movement membership withdrawn in 1997 in favor of Hayastani Azgayin Skautakan Sharjum Kazmakerputiun
* Homenetmen - connected to the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (, abbr. ARF (ՀՅԴ) or ARF-D), also known as Dashnaktsutyun (Armenians, Armenian: Դաշնակցություն, Literal translation, lit. "Federation"), is an Armenian nationalism, Armenian nationalist a ...
(Dashnak Party)
*
Homenmen - connected to the
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) (), is the oldest continuously-operating Armenian political party, founded in 1887 by a group of students in Geneva, Switzerland. It was the first socialist party to operate in the Ottoman Empire and i ...
* ''
Armenian Young Men's Society-
Hoyetchmen'' and ''Armenian Young Men's Society-
Armenagan'' in Jerusalem - both connected to the
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party
The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (), the Ramgavar Party, (known before 1921 as the Armenakan party) (), also known by its Armenian initials () or its English initials ADL (meaning Armenian Democratic Liberal) is an Armenian political party ...
(Ramgavar Party)
* ''
Armenian Young Men's Association
The Armenian Young Men's Association (AYMA) (, ) is a cultural and sporting club of the Armenians of Cyprus, headquartered in Nicosia. A member of the international federation AYMA, it was founded in 1934 in the Armenian quarter of Nicosia, its f ...
'' in Nicosia
Most of the expatriate groups are also integrated in the national Scout or Guide organizations of their host countries.
History
The first Armenian Scouting groups were organized in 1910 in
orphanages
An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or abusiv ...
in
Van
A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. There is some variation in the scope of the word across the different English-speaking countries. The smallest vans, microvans, are used for transporting either goods or ...
, present day
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
. and continued until 1922 when Scouting was officially banned and the
Young Pioneers became the official state youth organization in Armenia. But even after 1922 some Scout troops were left for a short period in Armenia, now part of the
.
Armenian Scouting in Turkey was active also after the
Armenian genocide
The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily t ...
and even new troops were founded, but it caused them much misery.
In 1920 there were 20 Armenian Scout troops in
Constantinople
Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
with 750 Scouts and 50 Girl Scouts.
In
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
the first Armenian Scout troops were founded in 1912 in
Cairo
Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
and
Alexandria
Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
.
In the years after
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
more Scout troops in the diaspora were founded i.e. within Homenetmen in
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
and
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
.
In the
Lebanon
Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
Homenetmen Scout troops were founded in orphanages for survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
In
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
Kourkène Medzadourian
Kourkène (Georges) Medzadourian () (July 10, 1908 - December 27, 1996) was the founder of the Haï Ari association of Armenian Scouts-in-Exile, based in France.
Scouting in Armenia was founded in 1912, then later developed abroad among the refug ...
founded the first Armenian Scout troop in 1924.
More troops were founded in France and a very good relationship with
French Scouting was created.
They formed the Scout association
Haï Ari
The Association of Armenian Scouts (, ''Haï Ari'', alternately ) was the Armenian Scouting in Exile movement recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 1929 the Association of Armenian Scouts, centered in Paris, was given rec ...
and became a recognized member of the
World Brotherhood. Haï Ari had members of Armenian descent in France, Belgium, other European and South American countries. Scouts of this association took part in many international Scouting events such as
Rover Moots and
Jamborees i.e. in the
3rd World Scout Jamboree
The 3rd World Scout Jamboree was held in 1929 at Arrowe Park in Upton, near Birkenhead, Wirral, United Kingdom. As it was commemorating the 21st birthday of ''Scouting for Boys'' and the Scouting movement, it is also known as the Coming of Ag ...
with 40 Scouts.
Further more there were Homenetmen Scouts and other Armenian Scout groups, which belonged to the National Scout Organisations of their country of residence and were in this way also registered at the
International Bureau. This was the case i.e. in Egypt,
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
,
Greece
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
,
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
, Lebanon and
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
.
Homenetmen Scouts were active in Turkey, in various countries in the Middle East, in Greece and other countries of the Balkan peninsula.
An Armenian Scout troop was founded in
Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
in 1928.
During that years Armenian Scout troops were also active in the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
for some years.
In the 1940s the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) formed its first Scout troops in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.
During the following years Scout groups within the AGBU around the world followed.
In 1989 the first Scout groups were founded in Armenia again.
1994 saw the formation of the Armenian National Scout Movement
Hayastani Azgayin Scautakan Sharjum Kazmakerputiun.
In order to permit entry into the World Organization for Scouting in Armenia, Haï Ari withdrew membership in the World Organization, which passed to HASK on April 18, 1997. Haï Ari was disbanded on January 9, 1998.
[Journal officiel 5 (1998), No. 2941]
Today Armenian Scouting is active within Armenia and the diaspora and there are strong links between both.
International Scouting units in Armenia
In addition, there are USA Girl Scouts Overseas in
Yerevan
Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...
, serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
.
See also
*
Scouting in displaced persons camps
Scouting has been active in displaced persons camps (DP camps) and in the lives of refugees since World War I. During and after World War II, until the early 1950s, Scouting and Guiding flourished in these camps. These Scout and Girl Guide groups o ...
Further reading
* World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Bureau (2002), ''Trefoil Round the World''. Eleventh Edition 1997.
References
{{Scout continent, Europe, state=collapsed