The Foundation Open Society Macedonia Did Not Fund the Scout Camp “Sex, Scouts and Rock’n’Roll”
The project, funded by the Foundation Open Society Macedonia (FOSM), is environmental and has nothing to do with the scout camp “Sex Scouts and Rock’n’Roll”, or with sex education topics. The handbook that has emerged as a result of this project, in addition to FOSM at the local level, has been assisted internationally by a number of reputable international environmental organizations such as the Alcoa Foundation, WWF (World Wildlife Fund), and even from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
After the testimonies of the parents of high school students were made public, accusing that at a scout camp, which took place this weekend near Skopje, inappropriate activities with sexual connotations occurred, i.e. that minors participated in activities that included undressing, kissing, and were interrogated about the number of sexual partners they have had, etc., manipulative articles were published and shared on social networks, in which, among other things, it is said that “this year, the scandalous camp was financed by the Soros Foundation “, as is incorrectly and tendentiously named the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia (FOSM), while avoiding mentioning its real and registered name.
Articles with this content have been published on several portals, and only one of these was deleted, while the others are still available for reading. The whole cluster of such news can be viewed here.
FOSM’s denial refers to information implying that the foundation funded the “Sex Scouts and Rock’n’Roll” scout event. According to them, the presented information is completely untrue and represents disinformation of the public.
We would like to inform the public that the Board of Directors of the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia within the concept of Green Leap – Partnerships for Climate Action, at a public call to support the activities of civil society organizations and informal groups, among others, decided to support the project “The Fifth Element” submitted by the First Skopje Scout Squad with grant no. 10,664 in denar counter value at 12,229 dollars, they say.
According to the project documentation, the specific objectives of the project include creating a positive learning environment and protecting the environment through informal education for children and youth in nature and raising public awareness about environmental protection, as well as creating sustainable programs through peer education.
According to the implementation plan, so far a sustainable program for promotion and education on the topic of environment with a symbolic frame (Fifth Element) has been adapted and created and the manual is available at www.psio.org.mk. Additionally, at a summer camp held in July on the Ohrid coast, 20 peer educators were trained to implement a program for a clean and healthy environment. Preparations are underway for the realization of the other sessions for peer education, as well as a video campaign on the topic of environmental protection, FOSM explain.
The project, which is supported by FOSM, is environmental in nature and has nothing to do with a scout camp called Sex Scouts and Rock’n’Roll, or with any sex education topics.
The names of the organizations that received support within the environmental project are published on the FOSM website, together with the amounts received, and the title of the website where this information is published is “Grants awarded for creative actions and campaigns in the field of climate change.” However, in the reviewed articles, only the table with the names of the organizations and the allocated amounts is given, which removes the context, i.e. obscures the purpose of the allocated funds. This is done with the intention to manipulate the readers and leads them to think that the allocated amount is related to the incriminating event.
The handbook that has emerged as a result of this project, in addition to FOSM at the local level, is assisted internationally by a number of reputable international environmental organizations such as the Alcoa Foundation, WWF (World Wildlife Fund), and even from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
FOSM reacts sharply to non-compliance with Article 1 of the Code of Journalists.
Journalists should publish accurate, verified information, and always check the accuracy of the information they have. Journalists are obliged to respect the truth and the right of the public to be properly and accurately informed. FOSM received a request for verifying the accuracy of the information from one media outlet, but unfortunately, after they have published the article, FOSM states.
Additionally, they inform that the information related to the awarded grant, which is transparently published on the FOSM website, is partially published by the indicated media and placed in a different context, which is direct misinformation of the public.
FOSM appeals for a strong focus on urgent action of the institutions and a full clarification of the case related to the scouting event Sex Scouts and Rock’n’Roll and is available for any additional information that journalists need for complete and truthful information related to this case.
Considering that the funds allocated by FOSM for the scout organization First Skopje Scout Squad were not intended for the event “Sex, Scouts and Rock & Roll”, but for a completely different purpose, related to environmental protection, we consider that the claim in these articles which reads “this year, the scandalous camp was financed by the Soros Foundation” is untrue and misinforms the public.
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