Scouts of Greece

Scouts of Greece
Σώμα Ελληνων Προσκόπων (Soma Hellinon Proskopon)
Country	Greece
Founded	1910
Founder	Athanasios Lefkaditis
Membership	18,482
Affiliation	World Organization of the Scout Movement
Website Scouts of Greece

Scouts of Greece or Soma Hellinon Proskopon (Σώμα Ελληνων Προσκόπων, ΣΕΠ) is the national Scouting association of Greece. Scouting in Greece started in 1910 and was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. The association has 18,482 members (as of 2011). The majority of members belong to the Christian Orthodox Church. However, boys and girls of all religions and ethnic groups, residents of Greece, are welcome to become members.

During the 1908 Summer Olympics, in London, Athanasios Lefkaditis, a young physical education teacher, observed with interest the British Scouts' service and activities at the Games. He met with Robert Baden-Powell and shortly after, introduced Scouting in Greece in 1910. Ever since, Scouts of Greece has been active in social welfare and relief activities during natural disasters such as great fires and earthquakes.

The Scouts of Greece program is based on the Scout method principles that children can more easily acquire skills through experience than through structured training. The young people plan their own progressive development by choosing from a great variety of programs and activities according to their needs and interests.

The Scout Motto (Προσκοπικό Ρητό) is Έσo Έτοιμος (Éso Étimos), Be Prepared in Greek.

The ancient Greek moto Αιέν Αριστεύειν (Modern Greek: Eén Aristévin, Ancient Greek: Aièn Aristeúein), Forever Excelling in Greek, found in Homer's Iliad, is also used as a National Scout Motto.

Υπόσχομαι στην τιμή μου
να εκτελώ το καθήκον μου στο Θεό και την Πατρίδα
να βοηθώ κάθε άνθρωπο σε κάθε περίσταση και
να τηρώ το Νόμο του Προσκόπου.