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Irish Girl Guides empowers girls and young women to become champions of the environment
-‘It is of the utmost importance to enable girls and women to think about their place in the world.’-
Members of Irish Girl Guides (IGG), numbering in the thousands, are exploring their personal connections to the environment, reflecting on the inner peace that comes from time spent outdoors, and thinking of their place in the world and of a sustainable future. Through these activities, they are empowered to become leaders for peaceful change in their communities as well as society at large.
Together with the 10 million members of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting organisations across the globe and as members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), they are preparing for World Thinking Day this Wednesday, 22 February.
Celebrated by Guides and Scouts since 1926, World Thinking Day provides an opportunity for girls and women everywhere to act on global issues and to celebrate the bonds of friendship they share as members of the Guiding Movement, and to become a positive force for good around the world.
The theme of World Thinking Day 2023 is ‘Our World, Our Peaceful Future: The Environment and Peace.’ Girls are asked to think of world peace not only from the perspective of global conflict, but also with respect to coexisting peacefully with the planet, their local environment, and their use of natural resources. “In this time of uncertainty and changes to our environment, and with highly visible and destructive natural disasters becoming more frequent, it is of the utmost importance to enable girls and women to think about their place in the world,” said Amanda O’Sullivan, Chief Commissioner of IGG.
“We must empower our members to make informed choices and shape the world they want to live in. Together we give girls and women the skills needed and the empathy required to understand not only the wider world but also their local environments. We use this day to dream of a more sustainable and equal future for all.”
Changing the world requires both individual and collective action. As part of World Thinking Day, girls participate in a set of activities and challenges, which includes following the story of Miku, a character based on an Estonian folktale, as she encounters different peoples and parts of nature in different regions around the world. These activities are designed to encourage girls not only to change themselves but also to create positive influences in their families, their schools, and their communities.
“At Irish Girl Guides, our primary mission is to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world,” Ms O’Sullivan continued. “We hope that change begins from within. And as our girls become full members of society, they will have gained the tools and the empathy needed to change the globe.”
World Thinking Day coincides with A-WEAR-Ness Day, a day for all of our members including Ladybirds, Brownies, Senior Branch and leaders to show their pride in guiding as well as wearing their uniforms in schools, workplaces, and out in public. Through this, we enable our members to help spread the word of the movement and the story of guiding to all.
IGG actively promotes diversity and inclusion and welcomes girls and young women from all walks of life ages 5-18. We also seek volunteer leaders ages 18+ in a variety of roles. To find out more, visit www.irishgirlguides.ie or telephone 01-6683898.