Savez Izviđača Srbije

National Scouting organization of Serbia

Savez Izviđača Srbije , English: Scout Association of Serbia) is the primary national Scouting organization of Serbia. A referendum on independence was held in Montenegro on May 21, 2006, voting to leave its state union with Serbia by a narrow margin. Montenegro became the world's 193rd recognized sovereign state, which has then split the Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore (Scout Association of Serbia and Montenegro), as happened with Czechoslovakia in 1993, meaning that the membership in the World Organization of the Scout Movement was transferred to Savez Izviđača Srbije.

The first Scout units in what was to become Yugoslavia were founded in 1911 by Dr. Miloš Popović, in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Vranje and Valjevo. As Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Serbia served as one of the 20 original signatories that founded the World Organization of the Scout Movement, from 1922 to 1950. The Russian Scout association Русский Скаут went into exile after World War I, and continued where fleeing White Russian émigrés settled, establishing groups in Serbia. The outbreak of World War II saw the suspension of Scouting in Serbia in 1941, when Yugoslavia was occupied by the Germans. Scouting in Yugoslavia was co opted by the Tito government in 1950, at which time WOSM membership was forfeited, as the new organization did not meet all the criteria for membership, as there were very close connections with the communist government. In 1951, individual Scout associations were founded in all then Yugoslav republics. The Scout Association of Yugoslavia was renewed under the former Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia on November 24, 1951 at a meeting held in Zagreb, now in Croatia. Individual branches were created for each constituent republic, and the Scout movement grew and thrived until the Yugoslav dissolution in 1991.

Yugoslavia, as Serbia and Montenegro, returned as the 137th member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement on September 1, 1995. In the prevailing situation in the Balkans, the association is very active in social work for all segments of the population, and cooperates closely with the Red Cross in providing aid to refugees, opportunities for the disabled, help for orphans and general aid to areas in crisis. The SIS has recently been featured in news stories about the work they are doing for the environment. The SIS is active in a campaign to introduce new methods and materials of packaging, different schemes for garbage collection and recycling programmes. Serbia and Montenegro fielded a contingent EuroJam 2005. The Savez Izviđača Srbije is a voluntary, independent, nonpolitical and social organization of children, youth and adults, for development of their physical, intellectual and spiritual potential. Every citizen of Serbia could become a member of the Savez Izviđača Srbije, if he or she accepts the Program of the Association and acts in accordance with the Scout Laws and regulations of the Constitution of Savez Izviđača Srbije, and is active in his or her unit and in the Association. The President of Savez Izviđača Srbije is Mr. Nikola Petrović from Kraljevo, the former Vice President elected in March 1995. He serves a four year term. The Savez Izviđača Srbije does not presently own its own centers, nor do the individual Scout Organizations of Serbia. A number of Scout Groups have their own centers, including groups in Buljarice, Debelo Brdo, and Brezovica.

Where most countries have a formalized structure of Councils, Districts and Groups, Serbia has a less formal organization. At the heart of Savez Izviđača Srbije are the Groups, typically much bigger than Groups in other countries, containing several Cub packs, Scout troops and Senior Scout units. For example, the France Prešern Group in Belgrade, founded in 1957, has had over 11,000 members, over 200 new members a year.

The Scout Association of Vojvodina (/Савез Извиђача Војводине, Vajdasági Cserkészek, ) has been active since 1911, when the first local Scout units were founded in Novi Sad, Pančevo, Subotica and other places. The Scout Association of Vojvodina, which has around 2000 members, unites the work of 35 Scout units from towns and villages across Vojvodina. The work of the Scout Association of Vojvodina includes camps, various activities, training of leaders, meetings, seminars, and competitions, Scout jamborees of Vojvodina gathering up to 2000 participants, orienteering all around competitions, an international Scout artists' colony, and the Eurostep program, including an Eco camp in Pančevo, the Archeology camp in Sremska Mitrovica, the International Scout Artists' Colony in Kovačica and the Camp for River Scouts in Kanjiža.

If there are a number of Scout Groups in a locality (such as a city or district), local Scout Councils may be formed. There are City Scout Councils in Belgrade and Niš and 12 District Scout Councils around Serbia in Ada, Požarevac, Velika Plana, Bačka Topola, Rakovica, Vranje, Čukarica, Šabac, Zaječar, Kruševac, Subotica and Zvezdara.

The UK Serbia and Montenegro National Scout Fellowship (SAMnet) is the newest of United Kingdom Scout Association's country focused networks, a forum where members of The Scout Association with a specific interest in Serbia and Montenegro regularly visit the country and work to raise awareness within the UKSA of Scouting there and in the Balkans in general. SAMnet was formed in May 2004 after a Scout Association study visit to the country.

Dajem časnu reč da ću čuvati svoju otadžbinu, da prihvatam duhovnu stvarnost i da ću tragati za njenim punijim značenjem, da ću pomagati drugima i da ću živjeti i raditi po Izviđačkim zakonima. ''I commit myself to protect my Fatherland, to accept the spiritual reality and to search for its full meaning, to help others and to live and work in accordance with the Scout Law.

Izviđač je dobar drug, vedar, društven i nesebičan. (A Scout is a good friend, cheerful, sociable and unselfish.) Izviđač je koristan član zajednice u kojoj živi. (A Scout is a useful member of the community he/she lives in.) Izviđač je čestit, učtiv i kloni se štetnih navika. (A Scout is honest, polite and stays away from bad habits)
Izviđač ceni i razvija duhovne, fizičke i intelektualne vrednosti. (A Scout respects and develops spiritual, physical and intellectual values.) Izviđač je iskren, govori istinu i bori se za nju. (A Scout is sincere, tells the truth and fights for it.) Izviđač je poštuje roditelje i starije, a pomaže mlađim i slabijim. (A Scout respects parents and adults and helps youngsters.) Izviđač stalno uči i primenjuje stečena znanja i veštine. (A Scout learns and uses acquired knowledge.) Izviđač je vredan, istrajan i ceni rad. (A Scout is diligent, persistent and appreciates work.) Izviđač voli prirodu, upoznaje je i čuva. (A Scout loves nature, respects it and protects it.) Izviđač odgovorno izvršava zajedničke odluke. (A Scout reliably executes collective decisions.)