More than a uniform: Emal chasing scouting across the world

Written by: Emal (19 y/o), Afghan and US Scout

Emal in his scouting uniform

When I first joined Scouts in Afghanistan in 2015, I was very young. I was probably in fifth or seventh grade of school, and at that age, I had no idea how important Scouting would become in my life.

Honestly, the first thing that caught my attention was the Scout uniform for the first time I saw.

The main Scout office was close to my school in Kabul, so I would see the Scouts and their activities whenever I passed by that way often. I became curious about what they were doing and what that was; eventually, I figured out what it was and how to join.

Once I became a Scout, I quickly realized that it was much more than a uniform. By the time I learned about teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and serving others. I also discovered that I had a talent for drawing and painting. One of my Scout leaders noticed my ability and introduced me to Troop 3. I stayed with that troop for the rest of my time in Scouting in Afghanistan, and only a few months after joining, I became a troop leader.

Looking back, many of the skills I learned through Scouting are still part of who I am today. Scouting taught me how to build friendships, work with different people, become more confident, take responsibility, and make the most of opportunities.

One of the biggest opportunities Scouting gave me was representing Afghanistan at the World Scout Jamboree in Bangladesh in 2019.

It was my first time traveling internationally without my family. My fellow Scout and I had a long journey with several connections, and we had to figure out the airports and find our gates on our own. At the time, it was stressful, but it also taught me how to be more independent. When we arrived at the Jamboree, I met Scouts from many different countries. I experienced different cultures, participated in activities with people I had never met before, and made friendships with Scouts whose lives were very different from mine.

That experience showed me something I still believe today: people can come from very different backgrounds and still connect through friendship, teamwork, and service.

Returning to Scouting as an Instructor

This summer, I had the opportunity to bring my two interests Scouting and aviation together.

I spent six weeks at Cherokee Scout Reservation voluntry as an Aviation and Drone Instructor. I taught Scouts about aviation, drones, flight safety, and responsible flying. I also helped with the daily work of camp and had the opportunity to meet Scouts, Scoutmasters, and staff members from different parts of the United States.

Emal as an instructor, welcoming young scouts to camp

For me, one of the most special parts of the summer was realizing that I had gone from being the Scout learning from other people to being the person teaching Scouts.

Sometimes I would look at the Scouts sitting in my class and think about myself when I was their age. I used to be the young Scout sitting in a chair, listening to a Scout leader explain something new. Now I was standing in front of young people in another country, teaching them about aviation in a language that was not my first language.

It was a feeling that was difficult to explain.

I really enjoyed seeing the Scouts become interested in aviation and drones. Whenever they were asking questions, trying something new, or simply enjoying the class, it made me happy. It reminded me of how I felt when I was first discovering new things through Scouting.

But I was not only there to teach. I learned a lot from the people around me as well.

I met Scoutmasters, staff members, and families from different parts of the United States. I learned more about Scouting here and saw how much time and effort adult leaders put into creating a safe and positive environment for young people. I shared some of my personal journey with several Scout leaders- a series of turbulent events that led me to flee my home country. Their encouragement meant a lot to me. Some told me that they were proud of me for continuing forward despite the difficult experiences I have faced.Those conversations stayed with me because they reminded me that our experiences can become something we use to encourage other people.