Pictures and Stories 2010

Namibia

On 22 February, members of The Girl Guides Association of Namibia donated old clothes to the Orphans and Vulnerable children at Sam Nuujoma Multipurpose Centre Ongwediva.

Park Rapids, MN, USA

On Saturday 27 February Girl Scouts from Troops #330, #361, #402 and #407 packaged meals for the local chapter of Kids Against Hunger, a nonprofit, humanitarian relief programme that distributes food to starving children in the USA and throughout the world. In two hours, the Scouts packed 5,832 meals!

Each package contains a specially formulated, nutritious meal made from four, readily available, dry ingredients: rice, soy beans, a blend of dehydrated vegetables, and a vitamin-mineral mixture. One package provides six complete servings and is very simple to prepare -- it only requires boiling water.

The Scouts sampled the chicken casserole-style meal and watched a video about the starving children in Haiti who have been receiving the food shipments. The troops also donated money to help purchase ingredients and to cover shipping costs.

Kids Against Hunger combats hunger in 60 countries, but also gives meals to the local food shelf. The organization was founded in Minnesota in 2003, but has since launched more than 30 satellites in the United States and Canada.

Ghana

This year’s thinking day was celebrated at Attah ne Attah on 20 February, under the theme, girls worldwide say, “together we can end extreme poverty and hunger’’.

Ghana Girl Guides Association donated educational materials, provisions, old clothes, shoes, bags, and any other items to make life a little bit more comfortable for members of the community and also eat, drink and have fun with them. They were welcomed by the brass band playing and all danced and matched to the grounds.

The presentation of items such as food stuff, detergents, old clothing and shoes, text books, and story books was done by Mrs. Rose Mortabge, a Past Chief Commissioner and some members of the Executive of the Association. The items were gladly received by the chief of the village. A piece of cloth was also presented by the Association to be given to the eldest of the women in the village.

The occasion was also use to re-lunch Guiding in the Region as well as Patrons and the Regional Council. Members of the Executive pined badges on them as a sign of their commitment.

Australia

After joining in a South Australian State event to celebrate World Thinking Day with the theme "together we can end extreme poverty and hunger", girls and leaders from Knightsbridge Guides, South Australia, enjoyed celebrations with both an international and a historical theme at their unit meeting on 22 February 2010.

The older girls (10-14 years) performed a play called "What is Thinking Day", to teach the younger girls (7-10 years) how Thinking Day came about, why the Thinking Day Fund was created, and what sorts of things the money is used for. The younger girls then treated the older girls to an international supper featuring food from Switzerland, Mexico, India and England, the homes of our four World Centres. The chocolate fondue was especially popular!

To conclude the evening, the girls laid coins in a long line in the shape of a Trefoil. The coins were then collected and donated to the World Thinking Day Fund.

North Bend, WA, USA

On 6 February, North Bend, WA Troop 42385 hosted a global action fair for 150 girl scouts in the Snoqualmie Valley. The theme of the fair was based upon the WAGGGS Global Action Theme girls worldwide say “together we can change our world”. Different booths were sponsored by attending troops and featured crafts, food and activities, to make the fair a fun, carnival-type event. Booths covered a wide variety of topics including poverty, hunger, endangered species, and the education of girls in the Middle East. One troop created an entire coral reef, complete with 3D plants and animals, to illustrate the loss of habitat in Jamaica. Another troop allowed attending girls to write take action letters to address the destruction of the Amazon rain forest.

The Troop 42385 Cadettes were instrumental in organizing the event from start to finish. This was the first time a global action event had ever been organized in the service unit. As pioneers, they learned about WAGGGS and the Millenium Development Goals. And most importantly, they learned that girls like them can make a difference if they work hard.

Cook Islands

For World Thinking Day, Girl Guides Association of the Cook Islands had a string band competition to remember their sisters around the world. Members also contributed with food to the local Catholic parish.

World Thinking Day poem, by Emily Maw

Today it is World Thinking Day,
‘And what is that?’ I hear you say,
Well it’s the birthday that the Baden-Powells share, That’s Lord and Lady - an important pair!
Lord Baden Powell set up boy scouts,
But soon the girls were wearing pouts,
For they too wanted to join in,
To camp and climb – it’s not a sin!
So in 1910 Baden-Powell and his sis’,
Set up a movement so girls wouldn’t miss Out on the fun that scouts had had, They called it guides – now that’s not bad!
In 1912 Baden-Powell did marry,
And the couple devoted their lives to carry Scouting and guiding across the seas, For children round the world to please!
Lady Baden-Powell took it in her stride, When in 1930 was made World Chief Guide.
To 144 countries guiding has spread,
And today 10 million people are led,
By the guide promise, handshake, badge and laws, Which link us all in this worthy cause.
So on the 22nd of February,
All the guides – that’s you and me,
Around the world think of each other,
Each friend and sister, daughter and mother, And celebrate this marvellous thing, That we all know as Girlguiding!

South Dakota, USA

Nearly 200 girls participated a World Thinking Day event held at the Rushmore Mall in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA. Troops were asked research a WAGGGS country and teach others what they learned with a display of the country, activities, games, foods, clothing, etc. The event opened with a flag ceremony with each country's flag represented and closed with a coin march for the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund.

Other activities included Norwegian Dancing, World Center booths, a cultural awareness game, WAGGGS bingo, SWAPS, a display of the "Destinations" programme, a world hunger display, and a passport which when completed could be turned in for a 2010 World Thinking Day patch. The participants had a great time learning about other countries and gaining knowledge of Girl Scouts and Girl Guiding.

Cambodia

The Girl Guides Association of Cambodia (GGAC) celebrated the Thinking Day on 21 February 2010 under the topic “together we can end extreme poverty and hunger” and organized promise for 210 new members (116 Dragonfly members, 87 Guide members and 7 Ranger members) at Takeo province.

Amongst the 350 participants there were members of GGAC including school director, teachers, chief of communes and villages of Tramkok district of Takeo province, and members’ parents.

The participants have donated 70 USD for Thinking Day.

Mexico

Four Guiding groups, two in Mexico City and another two in San José, California, learned participated in a teleconference last 20 February. They got to know each other and talked about how to prevent extreme poverty and hunger in the world. They even planed to share a service project with a native community in Mexico.

Guías de México, Distrito Cuernavaca, Veracruz y Sur, celebrated World Thinking Day at Our Cabaña World Centre. They did activities around this years' theme "Together we can erradicate poverty and hunger".  

Guías de México celebrated World Thinking Day by planting 100 good actions to do for others during 2010.

Pakistan

The Girl Guides of  Pakistan have taken some steps towars this years' World Thinking Day theme.They have collected funds by setting up a food stall. They have also provided small packet filled with candy and a note to aware people to act against poverty. "It is not easy for men to rise, whose qualities are thwarted by poverty".  (Juvenal)                      

Sania Shezad, Darkhana Girl Guides Company, Pakistan