Step Up: Inspire Good and Defy Peer Pressure with Ratu Naiqama
Imagine a world where our youth are burgeoning leaders, motivated to do good and impervious to the pitfalls of peer pressure. It sounds utopian, but Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, President and Chief Scout, believes this vision is within reach. Delivering a poignant address to the Northern Division Scouts and Girl Guides, Ratu Naiqama highlighted the values that can sculpt noble leaders and exemplary citizens.
Cultivating Core Values
Patience, courage, trust, obedience, and comradeship—these are more than mere words. They form the backbone of the Scout and Guide movement, elements Ratu Naiqama asserts are vital in developing young minds and hearts. From the bustling Scouts Hall in Labasa, the message was clear: uphold these values to navigate life’s trials and emerge as torchbearers in your communities.
Embracing Volunteerism
At the heart of the President’s speech was a call to volunteerism—a practice defined not by reward, but by selfless giving. Volunteerism, as fostered through meticulously planned Scout and Guide programs, instills empathy, resilience, and a deeper understanding of societal challenges. As stated in Fijivillage, by committing to these acts of service, young individuals not only uplift others but also experience profound personal growth.
Building Future Leaders
The spirit of service laid down by Ratu Naiqama urges youths to perceive leadership as an act of stewardship. In mentoring Scouts and Guides, leaders play an instrumental role in nurturing selfless, resourceful individuals poised to influence their local and national arenas. It’s a sincere gratitude extended to the leaders who sacrifice their time, shaping these promising individuals for a promising future.
A Thriving Community
With an annual enrollment of about 2,300 members in the north alone, the Scout movement’s reach is significant. It’s an endeavor that not only reinforces communal bonds but also fortifies the nation’s spirit of unity and progress. These burgeoning leaders are poised to become the pillars of their villages, communities, and the entire nation.
Ratu Naiqama’s message isn’t merely a call to action—it’s a roadmap for cultivating a generation that values integrity, compassion, and perseverance. And in this journey, every young Scout and Guide carries the torch forward, lighting the path to a better tomorrow.
