IORA Day 2024
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education have combined to commemorate IORA Day in March this year with a major programme for schoolchildren which will include an art competition that will showcase the importance of the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka took over the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in October 2023 for the period 2023/2025. There are 23 member states and eleven dialogue partners in IORA. IORA Day is celebrated on March 7 every year.
The theme for IORA Day 2024 is a ‘Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generations’ and will focus on educating and engaging future generations on the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable practices to preserve the oceans for the future.
Among the activities planned is a national level art competition for schoolchildren in association with the Ministry of Education and Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.
Entries will be accepted from schoolchildren in three categories: Primary (Grades 1 – 5),
Junior (Grades 6 – 9) and
Senior (Grades 10 – 13).
Details appear in the children’s publications of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., and their online versions.
Several other ocean-related activities will be conducted with the participation of children island-wide, drawing awareness to the importance of ocean sustainability. These activities are also coordinated by the Sri Lanka Navy and other ocean-related agencies. Opportunities are to be provided for children to be taken out to sea on a short excursion.
Ahead of IORA Day, several awareness programmes are planned.
The main event of IORA Day 2024 will be held at Galle Face Green in Colombo on March 10, with stalls displaying various ocean-related activities.
Lady Olave Baden-Powell was the only person to ever hold the title of World Chief Guide. She helped her husband Sir Robert Baden-Powell, to build the Scouting Movement, continued the development of the Guiding Movement, and formed the organisation that became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
Olave visited 111 countries during her life, attending jamborees and other Guide and Scout activities. She was known as the "Mother of Millions" for her active role in the World Organisation of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Family
Olave Soames was born on February 22nd, 1889. Her parents were Harold and Katherine Soames. Olave grew up in Chesterfield, England. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially rowing, riding, cycling, tennis and swimming. She also loved horses, dogs and birds.
When Olave was old enough, she began to accompany her father on his winter holidays. They were on board the RMSP Arcadian on their way to Jamaica when she was introduced to Robert Baden-Powell. He was on his way to New York then Australia in support of Scouting. She was 23 and he was 55 so there was a 32 year age difference. They were engaged in the same year and married in secret in Dorset on October 30, 1912. They had three children:
When Olave's sister Auriol died, Olave raised her three nieces as if they were her own children.
Girl Guides
Olave was interested in her husband's Scouting activities and soon became involved in Girl Guides. She was involved in the early efforts to spread the organisation internationally and helped each country to adopt uniforms, symbolism, badges, and laws that matched the same spirit as the original Girl Guides.
In 1916 she was chosen to be County Commissioner and two years later became Chief Guide for Britain. In 1920 Olave helped form an International Council which grew and developed, and eventually became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). She was elected World Chief Guide in 1930.
In 1932, Olave was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King George V in recognition of her volunteer work.
Pax Hill
The Baden-Powells moved into a home in Hampshire - Pax Hill, a gift from Olave's father. Scouts and Guides visited from all over the world and camped in the front garden. It was a busy place, with Robert directing the Scouts and Olave running Guiding.
After WWII, Olave gave Pax Hill to the Girl Guides Association (Guiding UK).
Hampton Court Palace
After Robert's death in 1941, since Pax Hill had been taken over by the War Department, Olave was granted an apartment in Hampton Court Palace. During her lifetime, Olave was honoured by many countries and organisations for her work.
She died peacfully in her sleep on June 25, 1977, aged 88. Her ashes were taken to Kenya to be buried in the same grave as her husband, Robert Baden-Powell.
World Thinking Day
Scouts and Guides celebrate Thinking Day on February 22nd to remember the work of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide of the World. This date is the birthday of both Robert and Olave Baden-Powell. World Thinking Day has been celebrated since 1926 and is a day of international friendship.