Figure 1.--The photo shows a stamp issued by Tuvalu in 1982, for the 75th anniversary of Scouting. We can see that the boys are wearing a white uniform of short pants and short sleeves shirts, with scout-scarfs and bare feet. We are not sure when the photograph the stamp is based on was taken. One sources suggests that the Scouting movement ob the islands at the time was dormant.

Tuvalu is one of the smallest independent countries. It is a Polynesian island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are island nations of Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. The islands are atols with very limited populations and land areas. The Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate (1892-1916) and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (1916-74). The Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu (1974). The Gilbert Islands became the independent country of Kiribati. Tuvalu became fully independent within the Commonwealth (1978). As a result of the association with Britain, there was a Scouting movement. Scouting was introduced soon after it was founded in Britain (1914). Scouting on the islands as in many other British Empire locations, began as a the British Scout Association. The separatecGilbert and Ellice Scout Association was founded (1927). They joined the World Organization of the Scout Movement (1933). The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Scouting movements took different paths after independence. The independent Scout Association of Tuvalu was founded (1975) again as a branch of the British Scout association. The movement fell dormant because of lack of interest (1979). Scouting was revived on the islands (2004). The Association reported about 450 members. The Girl Guides Association of Tuvalu is a former member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, but membership was withdrawn when the movement became inactive (2005).