Fr. Francis has had almost three decades of experience with the world wide Scouting Movement founded by Baden Powell in 1907. He has been a Scout Master since 1978 immediately after completing his post-novitiate formation. He underwent the basic Scout Master`s training course in 1978 in Azimganj, West Bengal, and later followed it up with an advanced course in 1981, and then completed the full Scout Master`s Training Programme by obtaining the Himalayan Wood Badge (HWB) in 1992. Thereafter in order to become a qualified and certified trainer of Scout Masters, he underwent the second level of training, by completing the Assistant Leader Trainer (ALT) Course in 1995. Then in 2004 he gained the highest level of certification for trainers in India by obtaining the Leader Trainer (LT) Course certificate. Currently Fr Francis is the only Leader Trainer in the State of Manipur. Fr. Francis` achievements in scouting covers several States in the North East. He has started and led Scout troops in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur. He has also facilitated the training of Scouts, Guides, Scout Masters and Guide Captains in all parts of North East India. As a Youth Director in the diocese of Kohima and in the Salesian province of Dimapur from 1995 to 2004, he used Scouting as an efficient tool in youth ministry at various levels. For the last four years Fr. Francis was the Vice president of Bharat Scouts and Guides for the State of Manipur. Fr. Francis` contribution to the Salesian Scout movement, especially by being involved in the Salesian style of ``Jamboree`` in India known as ``Boscoree``, is also of the highest calibre. He has had the distinction of being the Camp Chief at the national Boscoree in Shillong in 2000 and the Chief of the national Boscoree held in Dimapur, Nagaland in 2010. He is also a consultant for the organization of the next Boscoree which will take place in Tanjore, T.N., towards the end of this year. Fr. Francis has trained over 20 batches of Scout Masters for the Basic, Advanced and Wood Badge Courses. With the Award of the ``four beads`` as Leader Trainer, he comes into the category of Scout commissioners and is in the pool of National Scout Trainers. The National commissioner has now appointed Fr. Francis member of the National Council - North Eastern Regional Sub Committee, so as to use his expertise to strengthen Scouting at the national and regional Levels. Commenting on this appoint Fr. Francis said, ``The authorities have seen that Salesian scouting is scouting with a difference. This is an acknowledgment and appreciation of the Scouting fraternity at the State and national level of the Salesians and our work for youth.`` Fr. Francis with his Salesian identity sees great possibilities in working as a member of the national Council. ``With our experience it will be possible for us to help develop Scouting for the purpose of education of youth to citizenship and self reliance,`` he elaborated. ``We will be able to propose plans and put forward suggestions which could help the young people of the country to be service minded especially through the good turn.``