International
GOING FOR GOLD!
Guiding Overseas Linked with Development. GOLD gives you the chance to go abroad for a few weeks, to use your skills to work
alongside others on GOLD projects which could be anything from primary health care to teaching English
or even clearing scrubland for campsites. The projects take place all around the world from Bangladesh to
Russia.
If you are interested, you need to be 16-30 years old, be a senior section member or adult leader of the Girl Guiding UK be prepared to fundraise, show initiative, stamina and be able to have FUN.
GUIDING SCOTLAND GHANA PROJECT
This is a service project which takes place every 3 years.
There is a selection process for this project and last year a group of Scottish senior section/young guiders went out to a small village called Shia to build a bakery.
Another group of experienced guiders also went out to train the Ghanaian guiders.
Find A Pen Pal
You can do this by contacting the Scottish Post Box Secretary and your guiders will be able to get the address for you.
The aim of this scheme is to promote International friendship between Guides. It was started before the Second World War and continues today.
Not all countries take part because it can be very expensive for postage but the secretary will be able to let you know which countries have members who are looking for a pen pal and also the age of that pen pal.
WAGGGS
WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) co-ordinates all of the guide associations throughout the world. Visit their website and you can learn more about the projects they promote, you can also find links to other associations (useful for info for Thinking Day projects!). Senior section people may also find it useful as WAGGGS sometimes has summer jobs in their London headquarters and also may offer placements or secondments at various sites in Europe for members.
Please also Visit Girlguiding UK and The WAGGGS Website
Commonwealth Youth Exchange Coucil
The Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council (CYEC) promotes educational visits between groups of young people in the UK and their contemporaries in commonwealth countries.
Through the provision of information, advice, training and financial support CYEC aims to enable young people from all sections of the community to participate in high quality youth exchange programmes in order to promote international awareness and contribute to both personal and community development.
Youth participation is intrinsic to the exchange model and the youngsters learn such things as personal confidence, leadership qualities, responsibility, social awareness and knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
CYEC can help with grants, advice, information and training amongst other things. If you are considering taking a group abroad to another country and setting up an exchange and that is a commonwealth country then give the CYEC some thought.
International in the Programme
International is not just a once a year idea to be rolled out at Thinking Day.
Remember leaders your Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers will benefit from learning about other cultures, religions, food etc all year round.
It is not just about going to International camps or service projects there really is something for everyone and it can be what you make it. There are number of useful links International pages of the Girlguiding UK website.
Try Guiding UK another useful website. Amongst the publications that are very useful are “A World Of Ideas” and “Small World” which is available from all guide shops.
For Rangers and Young Leaders there are exciting new programmes coming forward such as Passport for Europe.
There are also ideas for your gap year. Why not consider volunteering at Our Chalet or Our Cabana? Just like the WAGGGS volunteer jobs these are short-term volunteer jobs usually for 3 to 5 months.