The History of 71st Cyprus Scout Troop of Kaimakli       

The first steps

The first scouting steps in Kaimakli are said to have taken place before Cyprus was freed and as early as 1953. Bishop Maximos Koursoumpas gathered some children from the suburb of Kaimakli and formed the very first scout squads based on Lord Baden's book "Scouting for Boys". Most of these kids are said to originate from the church's Sunday school. Maximos used to teach a variety of scout related topics like First Aid, Knots, etc. All squads used to be named after Saints.

Meetings were not however easy. As the scouts of Kaimakli refused to join the British Scout Association, the British Colonialists gave no permission for meetings to be held. Maximos therefore used to gather the scouts in secret in church rooms usually at Agia Varvara church. These "illegal" meetings were held until 1957 when bishop Maximos was arrested by the British and the Scout squads were dismantled.

Amongst those very first scouts of Kaimakli were N. Varnavas, T.Trandas, A. Fotiou, G. Ioannides, A. Protopapas, K. Kleanthous, A. Neofytou, A. Savva, M. Pattashis, L. Vasiliou, M. Paschalides, and Nikos Th. Ioannou, an EOKA fighter, killed in 1958 in England while on special assignment.

The foundation

The first recorded evidence of scouting activity in Kaimakli date to 1959. Soon after the end of Cyprus' liberation struggle and as Cyprus was getting ready to become an independent state, the Cyprus Scout Body stopped being a member of the British Scout Federation and became independent. Bishop Maximos and Nikos Varnava as they exit their detainment, for their participation in the struggle, wished to form a youth organization. Their belief was that the youth of Cyprus should now give up their arms and channel their energy to something else and gain new, peaceful, interests. Bishop Maximos and Nicos Varnava then decided to build on the existing Scouting nucleus and form the Kaimakli Scout Troop and started their efforts on February 1959.

With the establishment of the Cyprus Scout Association (CSA) the Scout troop of Kaimakli makes an immediate application and joins (22 August 1959) as its first member. The Troops in official existence with the British Association were however considered older and were given the numbers 1 to 70. The very same day the 71st joined the CSA the first Cyprus Scout Oath ceremony was held in Kaimakli.

The ceremony with all its magnificence and importance attracted a lot of people. Scout Commissioners, priests, local authorities all joined the first scouts of Cyprus. It also said that scouts from all over Cyprus joined. From Larnaka the Sea-Scout contingent was headed by Commissioner Alkidas. A big Camp-fire was then held. It i s believed that about 90 new scouts gave their oath that day.

Nicos Varnava became the first troop leader aided by Giannis Koursoumpas as the Cub Scout Leader and Takis Trandas as the Scout Leader. The first officers had of course some initial problems that were caused by the lack of specific scouting knowledge and experience. With the aid of their troop leader, a former Sea-Scout, and some books from Greece they started building the foundation of the legendary 71st. All initial meetings were held both on Saturdays and Sundays. The first home for the 71st was soon later built. It was nothing more tin shack. In 1960 the blue-yellow neck-scarf replaced the blue that was in place at the time.