bethlehem scout center Phase II

LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM project proposal bethlehem scout center Phase II ga 070/16 General Administration Project Development Office AUGUST 2016

BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II Dear Young People, Do not bury your Talents, the Gift that God has Given You! Do not be Afraid to Dream of Great Things! (H.H. Pope Francis) THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) was restored in 1847, and since then is promoting the best interests of the local communities it serves. Today, the Patriarchal Diocese oversees about 150,000 faithful in four countries, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus, covering a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, religions and traditions. Serving all with special emphasis on the support and care of indigenous Holy Land Christians remains the enduring mission of the Mother Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. BACKGROUND Catholic Scouts in the Holy Land go as early as the start of the 20th century. Evolving around the Church scout groups is an organic outgrowth of its pastoral and social work. Scouting on the other hand is a civic movement that is built on Christian values of mutual respect and affiliation with the other, but is also a very strong spring board for the formation of social leadership. Scout activities that include excursion, camping, volunteering work, exchanges contribute to the making of the local society and especially the mobilization and involvement of children and youth. CHALLENGES Key to the formation of scouts is its ability to allow and ensure sustained exposure to scouting activities not only amongst the members of the same scout group in one certain areas, but amongst different scout groups that come from different areas. This dialogue and familiarization requires opportunities, a manner that requires adequate infrastructure on one side, and programs that are designed to enhance youth leadership, terrains that allow for camping and facilities that encourage exchanges and hosting of common activities. Despite the fact that there are 12 to 14 catholic scout groups in Palestine alone including Gaza, exchanges and joint program are mainly represented in main events such as the Christmas Parades, Epiphany, Palm Sunday and blessed Saturday. Meeting and exchanges amongst groups are only limited to national leaders, thus not allowing a larger and more organic dialogue amongst groups themselves. While the whole Palestinian society is suffering from the ramification of prolonged occupation, the condition become dire when scouts seek support for training, for camping, for conferences and seminars, matters that make scouting the social movement it is. 2 BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II

NEEDS The scout groups, which are approximately 2,500 members from all ages and both genders, do not have a central and comprehensive scout camping site that matches their needs and annual activities. The concept of having a permanent camping site is not the facility by itself, which is essential of course, but rather that the scouts leaders assume the availability of such facility in their planning, a manner that reduces activity cost on one hand and makes essential scouting activities such as reunions, camping, excursions and volunteering initiatives readily executable. Another reason is that certain scout groups do not have essential equipment that allow them for more camping and excursions. Lack of resources deters younger and less active scouts groups in the Palestine to offer and afford equal chances to camping and excursion to their members. Furthermore, not having a permanent center discourages exchanges and makes it sporadic or rather dependent on the availability of funds or resources. Knowing that the spirit of scouting is dependent on continuous knowledge and gained experience; that scouts groups need to meet and exchange experiences beyond the limited number of national leaders, the availability of a permanent camping site is of great added value to the current and future scout activities in the Holy Land. PROJECT DESCRIPTION To address the above needs, the Latin Patriarchate has allocated a piece of land in an ideal location in Bethlehem for the purpose of establishing and operating a permanent scout camp and center. The camp site, as well as center, will be built on an area of around 5,000m² that will provide sample space for indoor and outdoor scouts activities. The project is divided into two main phases: the first phase included designing and licensing, constructing the building, excavation and skeleton works, external works and landscaping, installing a lighting system and building bathrooms. The second phase will include building a protection boundary wall with a fence for safety and security reasons, installing a new electro-mechanical main gate, CCTV cameras, solar led lighting system and some other works. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT To enhance communication and interaction between all the scouts in the Holy Land. To promote modern scouting principals that will reflect on modern leadership. To promote volunteer work and social responsibility amongst local youth through scout activities. To promote dialogue and exchange amongst youth and young leaders nationally and internationally. To increase awareness to the social role and contribution of scouts to the formation of the immediate community and as such the society as a whole. To promote ecumenical and interfaith dialogue through scouts activities. BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II 3

RESULTS A permanent scout area will be established that can host both indoor and outdoor scouts activities throughout the year. Increase scouts activities in Bethlehem area and provide a permanent year around location. Host camping and excursion will reach 2,500 local scouts from different communities. Increase exchange visits amongst scouts from different parts of the Holy Land, including Israel and Jordan. Increase the number and quality of leadership camps on national, regional and international level. Increase the number of community activities that are hosted by scouts especially with regard to school students. SCOPE OF WORK Phase 2 of the project includes installing a safety and security boundary wall with CCTV and supply gate to protect the building and the equipment from any damage or harm like theft or espionage. A solar led lighting system, a mini basketball playground and a shaded area will also be provided for the different sport activities. Moreover, the project includes buying all the equipment and furniture needed for the scouts activities and some landscaping work such as, planting some flowers and trees in the playgrounds, adding an ecological value to the outdoor environment. DURATION The LPJ technical team have prepared all the necessary detail designs and budgets for this project. The completion of work will require 6 months from staring date, aiming to be completed during 2017. The work will be managed and supervised by the Latin Patriarchate Engineering Department, and will comply with all LPJ internal contracting and supervision procedures. More details are available up on request. 4 BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II

DESIGN PLAN BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II 5

PROPOSED BUDGET For further details, please contact the Project Development Office. 6 BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II

PHOTOS BETHLEHEM SCOUT CENTER - PHASE II 7

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LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM Rev. Fr. Imad Twal General Administrator General Administration Office Jaffa Gate, P.O. Box 14152 Jerusalem 9114101 Tel. + 972 2 6282323 E-mail: ceo@lpj.org www.lpj.org