Cart is empty 
Irish Girl Guides launch their Strategic Plan 2016-2020
Ireland, 07/02/2016 – Irish Girl Guides (IGG) launched its strategic plan today emphasising its focus over the next four years on supporting girls and young women to develop life skills that will see them become “torch bearers for a better future”.
IGG’s blueprint for action, which is underpinned by the organisation’s tagline ‘giving girls confidence’, is to empower girls and women to develop to their full potential and become active and responsible citizens, IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon said at the launch in the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport.
“We are focused on helping girls and young women develop teamwork and leadership skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment where they are encouraged to learn by doing and to be the best that they can. This is achieved through a range of indoor and outdoor activities and challenges, which see girls grow in confidence while having lots of fun,” said Helen.
“We believe young people should be recognized for what they are – agents of change who are the torch bearers of a better future. Our progressive new Journey Programme, which caters for girls from age five to 30, will equip our 10,000 youth members to be positive change-makers in their local communities and beyond. When we set ourselves a challenge and work together, we can achieve great things.”
IGG Assistant Chief Commissioner Jenna Goodwin, a 25-year-old Guide leader from Lucan who headed up the team that devised the IGG 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, said: “This long-term vision we set out here today is aimed at giving girls and young women the opportunity to develop and enhance a range of essential life skills that encourage personal growth and independence and, as they mature, to be agents of change and to inspire change in others too.
“Our Strategic Plan focuses on four key areas: Belong, Support, Impact and Journey. By focusing on these key areas, we hope to build on our strengths while also setting ourselves targets for the future, allowing us to continue growing and evolving as a relevant organisation for the girls and young women of today. For our members, it’s about real engagement and the opening of hearts and minds and discovering that our actions can have a real impact on the lives of others,” said Jenna.
“Being involved in Guiding helps girls and young women to develop not only confidence, self-motivation and emotional well-being – all essential tools for life in the 21st century – but it also helps them develop a social conscience through active engagement in real communities. It is essential to give young people opportunities to contribute to society in ways that will fire them up to change the world for the better.”
To find out more about Irish Girl Guides see www.irishgirlguides.ie or telephone 01-6683898.
ENDS
Note to 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.
Contact:
Fiona Murdoch
Communications Officer
Irish Girl Guides, 27 Pembroke Park, Dublin 4
Tel: 01 6683898/085 8570565
www.irishgirlguides.ie