The Stories of Integrity
The Stories of Integrity
My work has purpose
I enjoy building bridges that connect the experience of the Scout movement with the needs of contemporary society, says Miloš Říha
iloš fulfilled his life’s dream seven years ago. At the time, he was busy establishing the Scout Institute (Skautský institut), which he still leads as director. “We started from scratch, and in recent years, we’ve organised hundreds of educational events a month throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The team from the Scout Institute helps young people to find their way in an ever-changing world. We base our work on the values of the Scout movement, which are still relevant even after 100 years of existence – maybe even more so than before”, says Miloš. This abstract idea led to a large and stable institution with a wide reach. Several hundred thousand people in the Czech Republic who went through the scout experience are still alive today, which is why this organisation still has immense human strength.
I see a lot of clever people around me. I respect them precisely for their personal integrity and the attitudes they stand for.
While Miloš’s work currently involves more duties in the office than in nature with the sections, it certainly isn’t lacking for meaning. “For me, leading means having a huge commitment to the people I work with. And what am I actually doing? I try not to interfere and always be in the right place if it’s necessary to solve a problem and make a decision.” The key to his work is the fact that the scout leads his members with a strong will, determination and responsibility in the spirit of the motto: be prepared. “A scout should have the courage to be active, even in situations where others fall short, and scouting teaches you that. The best training is to start setting clear goals and not to dodge them. The joy of being able to meet your responsibility to yourself is huge”, says Miloš.
He is optimistic about integrity in society. He has many clever people around him whom he respects precisely for their personal integrity and attitudes. “We’ve lived in a free society for the past 30 years after the fall of totalitarianism. It’s up to us to decide whether democracy survives and develops further. History is made up of individuals, and I believe that there are enough capable people in the Czech Republic that we don’t have to worry about the future”, he adds. ED