The Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization is a new Organization that started its formal operations at the beginning of this year (2000) in Canada. The broad purpose of  SCERDO is  to promote the educational needs for all Somalis at home and around the world. It is a community-based Organization with a strong core group of professionals and volunteers. They are people who are interested in promoting and improving the quality of life of all Somalis through education and community development. 

BACKGROUND OF THE PROPOSAL   

A. Project Objectives  
To have as many as 50 youth of recent Somali origin plus as many as 10 adults of Somali origin become members of Scouts Canada as part of the 11th Ottawa Scouting Group. 
 
B. Project Goals  
The underlining goal of this project is to encourage integration of people of Somali origin into the main stream of Canadian society. 
 
 

E. Long Term Benefits 
To contribute to the development of the young and new people in 
achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential 
as individual, as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, 
national, and international communities through the application of the 
principals of scouting. 

F. Method to achieve objectives   
Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization 
(SCERDO) will recruit and sponsor the underprivileged youth of the 
area and divide them into three categories: Cubs, Scouts, Ventures or 
Rovers.  Ten more volunteer adults of Somali origin will also be given 
training. 

The administration, the facilities and core training will be delivered by 
the 11th Ottawa scouting group under the head of Dave Huddlestone 
(Head of the Zone) with  the help of SCERDO. 

Mr. Huddlestone will discuss the approval of this proposal with the sponsor of the 11th Ottawa, the South Ottawa Lions Club and Rideau District Commissioner, Nanci Askwith, to determine conditions necessary for project to occur. 
 
G. Involvement of Target Groups 
At least 10 Volunteers of target group will be selected by SCERDO to be available for training and subsequently involve in the development of the project, and working with 11th Ottawa. 

SCERDO members will help co-ordinate the program to assure the success of the project. 

H. Project Duration:  
Scouting Program will start on Sept. 2001, after school vacation, 
and continues until the end of the school year, June 2002. Programs 
and services will be held after school and sometimes during the weekends. The schedule of the program are set by Dave Huddlestone (Tel. 523-7119). 

Registration, purchase of relevant program materials and purchase of support materials (equipment, etc.) will be handled by 11th Ottawa Scouting Group under the leadership of Mr. Huddlestone, with the Co-ordination of SCERDO.