Experience: Conference

Does anyone know what day it is? Forgive the radio silence on my part on the blog. Hopefully you’ve been following our tweets and the #35WoCo tweets? Thanks for all the engagement, the retweets, the encouragement – it has meant a lot to us. 

The conference experience is unlike anything I have attended before, in its content, intensity and the situations it provides for networking, working with others, sharing ideas, comparing issues, making connections, and plenty more.  

I know I have mentioned this before, but there are delegations here from 108 countries across the Five Regions on WAGGGS, therefore there are hundreds of different languages being spoken, every conceivable faith background and standpoint represented; conversations are occurring here which do not usually occur face-to-face, in such a vibrant, multi-national, multi-cultural context.  To be part of this is difficult to articulate, but it is wonderful and a great celebration.  I have re-connected with people I haven't seen for years, connected with many hundreds of new people, learnt so much about the structures of WAGGGS, the impact of Guiding around the world and been inspired by my own delegation and other delegations who do such great things to improve the lives of girls and young women worldwide, as there is so much work to be done.  

I think I need to write a book about everything which has happened here, as it won’t fit into a blog.  In the meantime though, let me attempt a summary…

The day began in the morning, as they often do.  It was another intense day, which involved hearing inspirational speakers, including our very own Baroness Amos, Labour peer and UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator.  The most important woman in Hong Kong, the General Secretary, Carrie Lam, spoke about leadership and how critical it is to have strong leaders in any organisation.

I think some reflection time is in order, to work through all the learning and discussions, to piece together the million tweets generated throughout the day, to read through all the papers, again, to fully appreciate the enormity of what we are part of.  We are one of the largest organisations within WAGGGS, yet organisations face similar challenges worldwide, regardless of their size.  One thing which troubles me on a regular basis, is when girls leave Guiding, because 'they just do so many activities'.  Some children spend every spare moment doing something, be it sport, dance, music etc.  This is fine, and I wish them well.  But consider this; Girlguiding is unlike any other activity.  In Girlguiding, every girl is valued.  The Guiding method is called the Five Essentials, which include 'care for the Individual'; commitment to a common standard'; 'opportunity to work together in small groups'; 'varied and balanced programme'; 'encouraging self-government and decision making'.  No other activity will provide this quality experience for every member.  We are for all girls, regardless of background, ability, strengths, weaknesses, regardless of everything.  So come and join us.  Tell others about us.  If there are units which are struggling for Leaders, why not offer to help them? Why not help to create life-changing opportunities for girls and young women? We have hundreds of inspirational young people who need Leaders to facilitate activities, to encourage, to help enable growth.  One of my Guides attended the launch of Go For It! Be The Change in Oct 2013.  She then set up a  petition about something she feels strongly about.  She has received national press coverage, engagement with her MP and was shortlisted for a Jubilee Youth Award.  This all happened because of Guiding.  Read more here.  Other Guides are actively working on their Baden-Powell Award, organising their own challenges, writing Go For Its, being inspired.  They are busily fundraising for a trip to Iceland in October; we have £4k left to raise, but their confidence and commitment will fundraise what we need.

Being a volunteer with Girlguiding doesn't need to mean a weekly commitment - we always need people with other skills - finance, admin, marketing, website expertise, and anything else you can think of really.  I know you're busy; you probably have a job, maybe a partner; maybe small people to look after; I even know of some people who have friends outside of Guiding; but if you want to do something useful, we can find an opportunity for you, regardless of how much time you want to give.  

You don't give up your time, you give your time.  In doing so, you can help girls and young women to become engaged citizens who can bring about change.  In doing this, you become part of a giant, international movement which has immense strength.  Go on - look here.

In 2003, I went on the Girlguiding UK Cultural Exchange to Japan, as part of an environmental programme.  Amongst other things, we did a litter-pick on the beach, removing rubbish from the beach to make it look better and to prevent little turtles from being strangled.  We worked with a group of tiny Brownies.  Today, a young member of the Japanese delegation came up to me.  Guess what - she was one of the tiny Brownies! 11 years on, she is here representing the youth voice of Girl Guides of Japan.  Imagine that!

I was also interested to learn today that there are more Brownies and Guides in my unit than in the whole of Uruguay.

More tomorrow - bonne nuit.