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Gapp stands for Global Awareness Partnership Project, and it is just that. Set up over three years ago, the project was a joint venture between the Scout Association and the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. It was funded for three years by the Department for Education and Employment.

The aim of the project is to promote Global awareness and international issues, but to do it through Peer education, which is a key feature of the age groups concerned with Scouting. Through peer education, the hope is that Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures and Leaders, will come to be more aware of the issues going on around the world, as well as in our own country. When provided with accurate information in a FUN way, they will then be free to make their own decisions based on what they have learnt. The idea of GAPP is not to preach about Global issues, but to educate people.

The early days of GAPP were spent writing the first four sections of the GAPP resource pack entitled 'Bridging the GAPP' This was done by the initial management team, and Young People played key roles in this stage of the project, as with every other stage. After all, the chairman of the management team is only 26!!

The aim of the resource pack, nicknamed the 'GAPP Pack', is to provide information on Global issues, and to give program suggestions for troop nights up to International camps. The four initial sections of the resource were; Impact on the Environment; Healthy Living; It's not Fair and Spending your Money.

From there the project has really taken off, in more ways than one! The next stage was to recruit the first GAPPsters, and this was done by running a series of training weekends. During these weekends the participants were trained in presentation skills, effective use of peer education and how to use the GAPP resource to run activities at all levels. During these weekends many of the participants pledged to promote GAPP within their Groups and Districts.

These training weekends took place all over the country during the last two years, and their are now hundreds of young people all over the country who are certified GAPPsters. With their help GAPP is now being promoted locally, and anybody can get involved with their county or area.

In the last year two new sections have been added to the 'Bridging the GAPP' resource, they are 'In-Sight' and 'One Wrong Step'. These two sections discuss topics on river blindness and Landmines. They also provide valuable information, both facts and programme ideas for running activities.

One of the big successes for GAPP was to be the basis for the United Kingdom section of the Global Development Village at the World Scout Jamboree in Chile. Several GAPP activities were run for the participants by a team of trained GAPPsters. The UK stand proved to be one of the most popular at the jamboree and made a real impact on peoples experiences of the event.

Unfortunately the funding for GAPP through the DfEE has now ended. GAPP will still be promoted as it always has been, but it must now be devolved down to County level, where hopefully more and more young people will get the opportunity to learn a bit about the world around them, from their peers, and have FUN at the same time. After all, what is Scouting for if we don't have FUN !!!!!