Diversity Awareness Badge

In 2019, Scouts South Africa created a challenge award for Cubs, Scouts, Rovers and Adults to learn more about diversity.

The values and behaviours of any one group of people are only different, not superior, to those of any other group of people. Issues related to pluralism are sensitive in nature and can be emotionally charged. Discussions on this subject can be uncomfortable for both the Scouter, youth and young adults.

Diversity badge

The activities in the requirements for the badge aim to help members:

• Recognise how we place self-imposed limits on the way we think.
• Discover that, in many ways, people from different cultures and backgrounds hold similar values and beliefs.
• Become more aware of our own cultural viewpoints and the stereotypes.
• Accept and respect the differences and the similarities in other people.

The badge works along similar lines to that of the AIDS Awareness badge. The requirements follow three specific themes for each Branch, being Discover, Connect, and Action. While this award is voluntary all Scouters, Rover Scouters and Crew Chair's should encourage their members to achieve and wear the badge.

The badge is the same for all Branches. When a Cub goes up to Scouts and/or a Scout turns 18, the badge is removed and the badge for their new Scouting section can be obtained.

Badge requirements

Cubs

Discover	Connect	Action
Complete number 1 and one of the other tasks:	Complete one of the following:	Complete one of the following:
Explain why respect for others is important. List ten occupations that are typically considered gender specific and give reasons why. Discuss if there are any reasons why the other gender could not have that occupation. List three different culture groups found in South Africa, other than your own. Choose one group and share something interesting about the group and its members with your Pack.	Using any of the following, take part in two activities to increase your awareness of physical challenges: wheelchair; blindfold; crutches; ear plugs; hands (one or two) held behind your back. Interview a member of your family and find out something unique about them. Share your findings with your Pack. Ask a member of your family how different cultures communicate and why it is a challenge. Share your findings with your Pack.	Make a snack or decorative object from a different South African culture. Visit a place where you could learn more about a different culture or disability. Participate in a community service project. List some of the benefits of the project to the local community.

Scouts

Discover	Connect	Action
Research two of the following topics:	Complete one of the following:	Complete one of the following:
LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, intersex) Social pressures on minority groups Racial stereotypes Cultural differences and stereotypes Feminism and gender equality Refugees and foreigners living in South Africa Religious minorities Gender and racial privilege Generational differences Ageism Present your findings to your Patrol in the form of an interactive discussion or presentation.	Lead a discussion with your Patrol about three minority groups, their differences and the impact of social pressures society places on them. Prepare an activity that educates your Patrol in one of the minority groups from the "Discover section". Prepare a visual presentation on the positive value diversity brings to Scouting and your community. Prepare an activity that shows how different cultures communicate, include effective means of communication.	Assist in a minority group awareness programme within your community. Educate your community through a diversity awareness project about one minority group. (The minority group should be different from the above.) In consultation with your Scouter develop and run a themed programme to educate your Troop on one minority group.

Rovers

Discover	Connect	Action
Research three of the following topics:	Complete one of the following:	Complete one of the following:
LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, intersex) Social pressures on minority groups Racial stereotypes Cultural differences and stereotypes Feminism and gender equality Refugees and foreigners living in South Africa Religious minorities Gender and racial privilege Generational differences Ageism P resent one of your chosen topics to your Crew in the form of an interactive discussion/activity or presentation.	Lead a discussion with your Crew on the impact of social pressures on minority groups. Prepare an interactive presentation to your Crew on how Scouting can help meet the needs of diverse communities. Find a study which shows how diversity is helping to solve problems or why diversity is important in our society. Present this study to your Crew in the form of a visual presentation. Prepare an interactive presentation that shows the challenges experienced between cross-culture communication in Rover events and ways to overcome these challenges.	Attend a pride parade or gathering of one minority group in your community. Assist in a minority group awareness programme within your community. Educate your community through a diversity awareness project about one minority group. (The minority group should be different from the above.)

Warranted Scouters / Adult Members

Discover	Connect	Action
Research three of the following topics:	Complete one of the following:	Complete one of the following:
LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, intersex) Social pressures on minority groups Racial stereotypes Cultural differences and stereotypes Feminism and gender equality Refugees and foreigners living in South Africa Religious minorities Gender and racial privilege Generational differences Ageism Prepare an interactive game/activity from one of your chosen topics that can be used to assist in the understanding of the topic in your Pack/Troop.	Develop a themed programme that educates your Pack/Troop on one minority group. Lead a discussion/ activity with your Pack/Troop on the impact of social pressures on minority groups. Discuss with your SGL/DC/RTC/RC or Manco member how Scouting can help meet the needs of diverse communities. Discuss with your SGL/DC/RTC/RC or Manco member how cross-culture communication is a challenge in Scouting and ways to overcome this challenge.	Run 3 x themed programmes that educate your Pack/Troop about one minority group. Attend a pride parade or gathering of other minority groups in your area. Assist in a minority group awareness programme within your community. Educate your community through a diversity awareness project about one minority group. (The minority group should be different from the above.)

Process to apply for the badge

• Cub completes requirements, submits application form to Pack Scouter for approval. Badge certificate issued and badge presented.
• Scout completes requirements, submits application form to Troop Scouter for approval. Badge certificate issued and badge presented.
• Rover completes requirements, submits application form to Crew Council/Rover Scouter for approval. Badge certificate issued and badge presented.
• Warranted Scouter / Adult Member affiliated with a Group, completes requirements and submits application form to SGL / DC for approval. Badge certificate issued and badge presented.
• Adult member not affiliated to a Group, completes requirements and submits the application form to Chair: National Adult Resources for approval. Badge certificate issued and badge presented by RTC: Adult Resources / RC.

The badge should be worn above the right pocket, in same row as badges for Charge Licenses, the AIDS Awareness badge etc.

See also

• Scouts SA Diversity Badge for more details and the application form.