Left Hand Shake

                             LEFT HAND SHAKE

                  

    As we know Scouts and Guides across the world all greet each other with a left-handed handshake and that it is a sign of trust and friendship but why did and how did Baden Powell come to decide to use it when he formed the Scout and Guide Movement

There is a story that when Baden Powell entered Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti he was met by one of the Great Chiefs of the Ashanti, he saluted them and then offered his right hand out as a sign of friendship, but the Chief transferred his shield which he held in his left hand to his right which contained his spear and offered his left hand as a sign of friendship. When asked why Baden Powell was told that by offering his left hand which traditionally was used to hold a shield for protection he was showing his trust to his enemy or friend for with out the shield for protection he was open to attack.

Baden Powell wanted his Scouts and Guides to leave aside all defensive postures and be open to welcome others,specially brother scouts and sister guides.So, subsequently he introduced left handshake in Scout and Guide movement.