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– ‘Peacebuilding is key to a sustainable and equal future for all’ –
Dublin, 21/02/2021 – Thousands of members of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) are engaging in peace-building activities, which are empowering them to become leaders for peaceful change in their communities and wider society.
Together with the 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across the world, they have been focussing on peace ahead of tomorrow’s World Thinking Day (WTD), a day celebrated by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide since 1926.
WTD provides an opportunity for girls and women to appreciate the international friendships they enjoy by being Girl Guides – the largest girl-only movement in the world – and to join together to take action on global issues.
This year’s World Thinking Day theme is peacebuilding and, since Girl Guides in many countries can’t meet in person at present, activities have been adapted so that they can be completed at home either by themselves or during online meetings with their fellow Guides and volunteer leaders.
Speaking ahead of WTD, IGG Chief Commissioner Amanda O’Sullivan, said: “Millions of people today are suffering due to active conflicts but we believe everyone has a right to live in peace. Our members have been exploring the meaning of peace and discovering actions they can take that lead to a more welcoming, inclusive and peaceful society,” she said.
“Peacebuilding is key to a sustainable and equal future for all and we believe there is strength in acting together for peace. By adapting our behaviour and working together, we can help to resolve conflict and build peace.
“Girl Guiding impacts individually and collectively,” continued Ms O’Sullivan. “Through a variety of activities and challenges, our members from age five-plus experience positive change within themselves and are empowered to go on and influence positive change in their families, their schools and their communities and, as they grow older, in the wider world as well.”
Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and volunteer leaders from age 18+. No previous experience of Girl Guides is necessary. To find out more, see www.irishgirlguides.ie or telephone 01-6683898.
ENDS
Contact:
Fiona Murdoch, Communications Officer, Irish Girl Guides
Tel: 085 8570565
Email: communications@irishgirlguides.ie
Notes for editors:
Irish Girl Guides has approximately 11,000 members. Guiding started in Ireland in 1911 and operates throughout the 26 counties with 1,600 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, Climate Action, Cultural Diversity, Disability Awareness, Drug Awareness, Engineering, Europe, Science Investigator, STEM and Global Traveller.
World Thinking Day has been celebrated by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide since 1926. It is an opportunity for girls to appreciate the international friendship they find in Guiding, to raise money to help grow and share Guiding with more girls and young women around the world and join together to take action on global issues.