Submitted by: Woodcraft Folk, UK.
Agreed: IFM-SEI Congress 2016 in Reinwarzhofen (Germany).
On 23 June 2016, the British people voted by a narrow majority to leave the European Union. At this stage it is unclear how or if that decision will be implemented in detail. What remains clear is following:
Woodcraft Folk remains committed to international co-operation, as we have been since our foundation in 1925. We are proud to be members of the International Falcon Movement – Socialist Education International and will continue to work with our sister organisations throughout Europe and across the world with the aim of building an environmentally sustainable world built on children’s and human rights, equality, friendship, peace, economic & social justice and co-operation.
Woodcraft Folk has, throughout our history, worked to support refugees and to welcome immigrants to Britain. We condemn any attempt to blame migrants or ethnic minorities for the challenges we face. We stand in solidarity with all who face discrimination, abuse or hate crimes from those who seek to create divisions within our communities.
We re-affirm the Educational Aims and Principles of Woodcraft Folk
1. Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young people, designed to develop self-confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, friendship, peace and co-operation.
2. Education for Social Change
We seek to develop in our members a critical awareness of the world. We will work to develop the knowledge, attitudes, values and skills necessary for them to act to secure their equal participation in the democratic process that will enable them to bring about the changes that they feel are necessary to create a more equal and caring world. As an educational movement, we believe that equal opportunities should extend to all aspects of activity and participation in Woodcraft Folk. We will combat oppression or discrimination in our movement, whether on grounds of age, class, gender, race, sexual orientation, for reasons of disability, contact with mental health services, or a previous criminal conviction that does not create risk to children or young people. We will educate our members so that they may take these issues into the wider community.
3. A Co-operative and Sharing Attitude to Life
We believe that to further our aims it is vital to approach our educational and social work through the principles of co-operation. To achieve this we will provide a programme which ensures that our members practice co-operation through all the activities in which they participate and we will encourage an understanding of co-operation in the wider world.
4. International Understanding
Our motto is ‘Span the world with friendship’. We will therefore encourage and develop international understanding and friendship through our educational work and by our exchanges between adults, children and young people of different lands. We will promote a greater understanding of the world amongst our members so that we are aware of and want to tackle the inequalities which exist in it.
5. The Rights of the Child
In our work with children and young people, we respect and defend their individual rights, and encourage them to participate responsibly and democratically, in all aspects of Woodcraft Folk activity.
6. Religion
Woodcraft Folk welcomes all children, young people and adults, who wish to become members of the movement, and it asserts the right of all its members to practice the faith of their choice providing it does not contravene the aims and principles of the movement.
7. One World
Woodcraft folk will encourage an understanding of the need to work towards a world where we provide for the needs of everyone on the planet now and in the future without destroying the physical environment. We aim to educate our members about issues of environmental and social sustainability and how this relates to their own lifestyles and both their own and other people’s actions.
8. A World at Peace
Because of our international outlook and concern that all shall enjoy the right to freedom from the immorality of war and want, Woodcraft Folk is dedicated to the cause of peace. Accordingly we associate with the movement for world disarmament and for the transfer of those resources directed to the destruction of life into channels which will be used for the fulfilment of humanity’s needs.
9. Affirmation
The task of Woodcraft Folk is the cultivation of a world outlook. Because Woodcraft Folk is concerned with educational activities, it is accordingly precluded from being involved in activities and policy making of political parties. Woodcraft Folk expects its members to abide by its Constitution and to participate actively in a movement that is dedicated to all people for all time.
