Back in 2008 a group of former scouts, together with a handful of teenagers started working to reinstate a scout group that had been dormant in Gozo since the 1970s.

With over 130 members, mostly aged between 5 and 26, Xaghra Scout Group part of The Scout Association of Malta (VO-0311) has grown into the largest and only co-ed group in Gozo, with many of its young, first members now leading it.

The group is now celebrating its 15th anniversary and the adventures and family spirit that characterised it from the very first day.

The celebrations started on Sunday, the 21st of May, with a parade, followed by Mass at Xaghra Parish Church, a ceremony at the Ggantija Archaeological Park to mark the opening of the Rover Section, and lunch.

To mark this occasion, the group also donated to Heritage Malta an antique plaque marking the entrance to the Ggantija Temples, found during renovations to its headquarters.

A commemorative badge, set to the slogan ‘Adventuring Together, Making a Difference,’ was designed by one of the younger members and depicts the values and activities underpinning the group.In the years since its inception, Xaghra Scout Group has become an integral part of the community, with multiple annual events and activities that reach out to all members of society, including visits to the elderly, and environmental actions.

The group also officially opened its own headquarters in 2016, and has carried out multiple European Union and other local projects to equip itself with tools to aid in informal education.

Informed and inspired by its history, Xaghra Scout Group said that it “prioritises the full development of its members, giving them the space to grow, make their voices heard, and to lead. In fact, many of the group’s leaders started from the very first tier of scouting as five year old Beaver Scouts.”

Each scouting stage – from beaver to cub, scout, venture and eventually rover – is dotted with unique experiences and plenty of adventure.This includes hikes and camping for younger members, to international scouting opportunities for older scouts, such as the Jamboree in South Korea or a recent forest cabin trip to Sweden organised by the youths themselves. All activities are set against the Association’s formal scouting programme.

Xaghra Scout Group said that it’s 15th anniversary “marks the exciting growth of the group and that of its members, but also celebrates the power of volunteering and the beauty of contributing to the community.”

One can follow Xaghra Scout Group on Facebook for more updates and news.

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