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A-wear-ness Day gives girls an opportunity to talk about what they love about Guiding
Ireland, 22/02/2016 – Thousands of school pupils across the country turned up for class this morning [22 February 2016] wearing their Irish Girl Guide uniforms.
School principals gave permission for the girls to wear their Irish Girl Guides’ (IGG) uniforms to mark A-wear-ness Day – an annual event that gives girls the opportunity to tell their friends about their involvement in Guiding. This is a wonderful example of the partnerships between the formal education settings of schools with the non-formal educational programme of Girl Guides, all which benefit the development of girls as confident citizens of Ireland.
Membership of IGG gives girls from age 5-30 the chance to take part in a wide range of activities and challenges while making new friends, growing in confidence and gaining teamwork, leadership and other essential life-skills, said IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon.
“Our members are encouraged – and empowered – to fulfil their potential and to be the best that they can,” said Helen. “They can earn a wide range of badges – everything from online surfer, science investigator and cultural diversity to drugs awareness, healthy mind, community action and global traveller.”
Muireann Brady, a pupil of Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Kells, Co Meath, was pleased to wear her Brownie uniform to school (Brownies is the section of IGG for girls age 7-10). “My friends asked me why I was wearing my Brownie uniform, so I told them about A-wear-ness Day and all the things I love about Brownies,” she said. “We play games, do arts and crafts, go on outings and get enrolled.”
A-wear-ness Day takes place on the same day as World Thinking Day (WTD) each year when the 12,000 members of IGG join over 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world in celebrating the international friendships provided by the Guiding movement while raising money for underprivileged communities in developing countries. Last year IGG raised over €7,500.
This year’s WTD theme is ‘Connect’ and the girls have been taking part in games, activities and ceremonies that have helped them celebrate the meaningful connections that make for better lives.
“By reflecting on how they connect with themselves (what makes them happy and confident), with friends and with Girl Guides throughout the world, it is hoped that the girls will see how they can make a difference in their local communities and in the wider world,” said Helen.
“We believe girls and young women can be powerful agents of change and that, connected together, we can make the world a better place.”
Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and volunteer Leaders from age 18+. 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 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.