Scouting exists in more countries than the number of countries in the United Nations, and it is currently spreading like wildfire in an unlikely place — among Iraqi children. While the leaders struggle to establish a working government and harmony within their war-torn country, the children of Iraq are learning to live by the law of the scout, and be "trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent."

Redwood City scout leader Keith Blackey, a Vietnam veteran, has been involved in scouting for 58 years, in several different states and countries. He has been working to promote scouting in Iraq since 2004, when American and Allied troops reintroduced scouting to the country. 

Since its inception, the program has grown to approximately 150,000 scouts in all 18 provinces of Iraq.  However, there have been incidents of violence surrounding the scouting program and its rapid spread.

“We’ve had at least two scoutmasters that I’m aware of that were assassinated because of their involvement in the scouting program,” Blackey said. “But of all the emails I get everyday, no one has ever brought up the security concern.”

He added that the troops are very well defended and well guarded, and the subject has never been brought up in thousands of emails.”

Blackey concedes that people are either avoiding the topic, or abuses are not happening.

However, the program is maintained by Iraqis, and Iraqis are now fully in charge of keeping the program going.  American and Allied soldiers simply help.

“One big problem when the program was run by Americans was a lack of consistency,” Blackey said. “It’s amazing how people would go over there and become the head of the scout organization, but relied on me for information.”

But Iraqi management of the program has resulted in a unique difference between Iraqi scouts and the American scouts— Iraq does not separate itself according to gender.

“The kids on their own decided to make their organization multi-denominational, and co-ed,” Blackey said. “The kids have said, ‘It makes no difference to us, we want to be together.’ In scouting, they’re all equal.”

The program has historically suffered many bumps along the road. Scouting started in the area following World War I when England occupied what is now Iraq, after the break up of the Ottoman Empire.  The early soldiers stationed there started the first scouting programs in 1922.

“It grew to be the most successful scouting program in the Middle East,” said Blackey.  However, the program eventually morphed into a paramilitary organization for the Germans, and Iraq was thrown out of the World Organization for Scouting.

It started again after WWII and for the second time grew to be the largest scouting organization in the Middle East, Blackey explained.  However, the program was once again taken over and used as a paramilitary group, this time called Saddam’s Cubs, and the country again was thrown out of the World Organization for Scouting.

This time around, Iraqi scouting has yet to be re-admitted to the world organization, but things seem to be headed in that direction.

2.5 Tons of Promise

Recently, Blackey managed to secure a donation of 2.5 tons of popcorn — a shipment the size of a tractor-trailer — for the scouts in Iraq to sell (boy scouts sell popcorn, girl scouts sell cookies).  Eventually, DHL managed to get the shipment to Baghdad, and the scouts sold $25,000 worth in one day.

“Those kinds of stories really make my day,” said Blackey.  “They’re the pay that I need to keep going.”

As it turns out, scouting in Iraq is not really different from scouting in America.  “They do first aid, games, crafts, camping, sporting events, and service projects,” said Blackey. “It’s very similar, which is probably because right now the program is delivered by American and allied soldiers.”

However, it is undeniable that scouting activities in the small villages of Iraq have helped kids out by teaching them first aid, communication, and bonding games.

“Those are good guideposts for any child,” Blackey said. “If they can learn those things, what better legacy could we as adults leave?  As a scout leader here in America I work with kids to do that.”

Most scouting programs have actually been integrated into the academic programs at local schools, and delivered as part of the physical education curriculum.

Meanwhile, Blackey continues to raise funds for the Iraqi programs in the states.  “I’m out there with tables, doing rotary presentations, at the American Legion, schools, and scout events,” he said. 

To date, Blackey has raised almost $40,000 for scouting in Iraq, much of which he has traded — donations in return for Iraqi scouting memorabilia.

In fact, one of the DHL employees who was involved in getting Blackey’s donated popcorn to Iraq, is also a scout master in Maryland.  His troop subsequently raised about $250 for Iraqi scouting, so Blackey sent them five Iraqi scout uniform patches, which the boys in Maryland then sewed onto their patrol flags.

Some other scout troops in the U.S. have held videoconferences with scout troops in Iraq, and asked each other questions through translators.

“I’ve always enjoyed scouting and what it does for boys and girls,” Blackey said of the connections that have been created between the children of the US and Iraq.  “I’d like to think that scouting has something to do with the peace that’s actually happening now in Iraq.”

Scouts in… Afghanistan?

Meanwhile, in 2008, scouting started in Kabul, Afghanistan, and has grown from just one troop to 30,000 members.  All of the Afghani scout troops are based in orphanages, according to Blackey.  However, the program is still in its infancy, and struggling to get a foothold in such a volatile country.

“I am very willing to go out and collect money for Iraqi scouting, and I can account for every dollar,” Blackey said.  “But I don’t feel the same way about Afghanistan.  I haven’t yet made the step to raise money for scouting in Afghanistan.  I don’t know where it goes, or if it even goes to the kids, so I won’t do it.”

For more information about the scouting program, contact Keith Blackey at Keith@Blackey.net.