Figure 1.--

HBU has only limited information on nationality at this time. Chiro appears to be primarily a Flemish youth group. Chiro was founded in Flanders. The members are drawn mostly from the Flemish Dutch speaking population of Belgium which is centered in the north of Belgium. Belgian readers point out that Chiro is not limited only to Flanders. One Chiro-group in the German-speaking region in the East of Belgium. There is also ‘les patros’ in French-speaking Wallonia who have the same origin and spirituality as CHIRO in Flanders.

Language

Our Belgian reader advises that "I wish you would not call the language spoken in Flanders "Flemish" since this only designates a number of dialects. It sounds like saying that scouting in London operates entirely in Cockney. For all practical purposes the language of Flanders is Dutch. The accent differs, but no more so than American and British English."

Dutch-speaking Groups in Flanders

Chiro appears to be primarily a Flemish youth group. CHIRO was founded in Flanders. The members are drawn mostly from the Flemish Dutch speaking population of Belgium which is centered in the north of Belgium. Belgian readers point out that Chiro is not limited only to Flanders. While this may be true, the vast majority of CHIRO units known to HBU are Flemish units.

Dutch Groups

HBU know of no CHIRO groups in the Netherlands itself. This is probably due to the largely Protestant composition of the country. As CHIRO is a Catholic group it would have little appeal to most Dutch parents and boys.

German-speaking Group

One CHIRO-group has been organized in the German-speaking region of eastern Belgium. HBU knows of only one such group. They initially had a destinctive uniform, but in 2001 adopted the new blue shirt CHIRO uniform.

French-speaking Group

HBU at this time does not know of any French-speakibng CHIRO groups. As French-speaking Behgians are also Catholic one might think that CHIRO units might be organized in Walonia. It may be, however, that CHIRO is primarily associated with the Flemish and thus has not spread to extensively to French speaking Walonia. A Belgian observer reports, however, that a group called "les Patronats" exists in Walonia. It iis similar to CHIRO as to its roots, its links to the Church and the social background of its members.

Other

CHIRO groups exist in other areas such as in Africa and South America but apparently not in Germany, Luxemburg or France.