Scouts from Asia Pacific gather in Maldives to formulate crisis communication strategies

Scouting in the Maldives has a rich history, dating back to the early 1960s when the first Scout troop was established on the capital island of Malé. Today, the movement has grown significantly and is now an integral part of the country's youth development.

To help National Scout Organisations (NSO's)  prepare for and respond to crises, the Scout Association of the Maldives recently held a crisis communication and reputation management workshop in collaboration with the World Scout Bureau Asia Pacific Support Centre.

Leading experts from the World Scout Bureau facilitated the workshop. The three-day workshop held in Farukolhufushi from February 23–25 was the first regional workshop held in the country after the Asia Pacific Regional Workshop on Public Relations and Marketing Actions for Growth, which was held in 2009 in Kaafu atoll Aarah.

The workshop was attended by 10 National Scouting Organisations, namely, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Taiwan, and the Maldives. Of these, five NSO's provided valuable insights on crisis management and communication strategies based on their experience.

The workshop was aimed at Scouts working in communication, public relations, and branding in the Asia Pacific Region. It also proved to be a special training programme for Scout leaders involved in areas such as Safe from Harm, Youth Programme, Adults in Scouting, and Governance.

The goal of the workshop was to equip the participants with the skills and knowledge they needed to handle a crisis well and protect their reputation in the face of negative events.

Through a combination of case studies, role-playing exercises, and interactive activities, participants learned about the different types of crises that can affect their organisation, the stages of crisis communications, leadership roles in crisis management, the key elements of an effective crisis communication plan, reputation management, and best practises for managing a crisis in real-time.

“This workshop provided valuable insights to all participants on crisis communication and reputation management during a rapidly changing world, and I am confident that the participants will be able to go back to their NSO’s and come up with policies that can successfully overcome reputational crises that their organisations may face.” --Mohamed Fauzoon, Workshop Director, International Commissioner, The Scout Association of Maldives.

With the increasing frequency and severity of crises affecting organizations globally, the need for effective crisis communication and reputation management has never been greater. Therefore, at the end of the workshop, the participants outlined and submitted their crisis communication action plans to their respective NSO's for further development.

The crisis communication and reputation management workshop provided valuable insights and practical tools to help individuals and organisations prepare for and manage crises effectively. As the world continues to face new challenges, the skills and knowledge gained from such workshops will be essential for ensuring the continued success and resilience of organisations and communities alike.

At the closing ceremony, Dr. Laura Lo, Workshop Director and Chairperson of the APR Communications and External Relations Subcommittee, announced the upcoming APR event, the Partnership Forum, will take place in Kuala Lumpur from May 25 to May 27.