Iran Scout Organization
Iran is one of 35 countries where Scouting exists (be it embryonic or widespread) but where there is no National Scout Organization which is yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Scouting in Iran was founded in 1928, and Iran became a member of the World Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1955. Scouting grew for many years until the fall of the Shah in 1979.
15th World Jamboree
The 15th World Jamboree was scheduled to be held in Neyshâbûr, Iran in 1979, the birthplace of Omar Khayyám, near the Afghan and Turkmen borders, but the destabilizing events of the Islamic Revolution cancelled that gathering near the end of 1978. Instead, the World Organization announced the "World Jamboree Year" by holding several international World Jamboree Year camps in Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States that took up the impetus.
Iranian Scouting difficulties
Since the 1970s, Iranian Scouting has faced difficulties, and lost WOSM membership. The government placed restraints on Scouting during the 1980s, and the wars that Iran has become involved in have taken into the military many of the Scout-age boys, as well as the leaders.
The 35th World Scout Conference, convened in Durban, South Africa from July 26 to 30, 1999, voted to remove Iran from membership because the national Scout organization had ceased to exist. Scouting is nascent, movement has started in Iranian schools, but little information is yet available.
Ideals and program
The Cub Scout Motto is "Koushesh Kon!", translating as "Try Hard!" in Farsi (equivalent to 'Do Your Best'). Cub Scouts were known as Shirbachcheh, literally Lion's Sons in Farsi but carrying the meaning 'brave children'. The Farsi noun for a single Scout is Pisharang or Pishahang.
Girl Scouting in Iran
The Girl Scout organization was known as Fereshtegane Pishahange Īrān, literally Angel Scouts of Iran.
Girl Guiding may again be making inroads into Iran, as in 1993 a reception was held in Manila, Philippines in conjunction with WAGGGS' Asia Pacific Symposium of NGOs for Women in Development. The aim was to introduce or reintroduce the Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting movement and to explore possibilities of starting/restarting Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting in Iran, as well as Cambodia, Tibet, Russia, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Fifty women leaders from those nations attended the Asia Pacific Symposium, sharing their Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting experiences.