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1,800 Girl Guides from 12 different countries are taking part in IGGNITE2017
Ireland, 30/07/2017 – 1,800 Girl Guides from 12 different countries are setting up camp today [30 July 2017] for the biggest ever international Girl Guide camp to take place in Ireland.
Girl Guides aged 10-16 from all over Ireland and 250 Girl Guides from overseas will be camping under canvas (no matter the weather!) for the next week in the grounds of Rockwell College, Cashel, Co Tipperary.
Joining Irish Girl Guides members are Girl Guides from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Georgia, Zimbabwe, the Philippines and St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as England, Scotland and Finland.
“After two years of planning, we’re excited to be meeting the girls and finally setting up camp,” says IGGNITE2017 Camp Chief Jenny Gannon. “The girls will have a fantastic experience, trying out all sorts of team-building activities as well as enjoying fun and friendship with girls from around the globe.”
Activities will include water obstacle courses, kayaking, horse-riding, building rafts and rockets and playing quidditch as well as drama, music, body confidence, yoga, meditation and coding workshops.
“There is a serious side to camp too,” says Ms Gannon. “We are partnering with Trócaire, Concern, UNICEF and Irish Aid to help the girls learn about the Sustainable Development Goals and how to stand up for refugees and to advocate for gender equality.
“It is hoped that their experience at IGGNITE2017 will ignite their imaginations and a passion to contribute to their local communities. The girls will be encouraged to ‘BE’ active, adventurous, unique, inventive, limitless and to be survivors and advocates. In other words, they will explore their potential to make a difference to the world around them at home and overseas by speaking out on issues that concern them and inspiring others to take action too.”
Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and adult volunteer leaders from age 18+. See www.irishgirlguides.ie for further information or tel: 01 6683898.
ENDS
Contact:
Fiona Murdoch, Communications Officer, Irish Girl Guides 085 8570565 or 086 1706923
Notes for editors:
Irish Girl Guides has approximately 12,000 members. Guiding started in Ireland in 1911 and operates throughout the 26 counties with 1,800 volunteer leaders providing an informal educational programme of fun and challenging activities that foster confidence and leadership skills in girls and young women, enabling them to develop to their full potential and to become responsible citizens. Girls from age 5+ can choose to earn a wide range of badges, including Community Action, Cultural Diversity, Disability Awareness, Drug Awareness, Online Surfer, Science Investigator and Global Traveller.