100 years of changing lives
The centenary theme girls worldwide say “100 years of changing lives" (pictured right) was announced at the 33rd World Conference in South Africa.
The centenary message incorporates the colours of WAGGGS’ five regions. There will be guidelines for Member Organizations on how to use the centenary message.
Centenary Celebration Day
To add to the fun and activities a Celebration Day will take place on 8 April from 2010 to 2012. It’s the 100th day of the year and members are encouraged to address the Celebration Day elements (party, good deed, 100 and international) in their celebrations.
The Centenary Celebration Days have also the following themes for each year of celebration:
- In 2010: plant, introduce – this can be trees, food plants or flowers or a symbolic ‘seed of change’.
- In 2011: expand, grow – let the seeds of change grow, expand existing plantations to bring about change or bring symbolic “growth”.
- In 2012: dedicate, pass on, share – dedicate the plants, your achievements and share them with your community. Pass on your “harvest” literally or symbolically.
Why three years?
Many countries founded Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting between 1910 and 1912:
Founded in 1910: Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom
Founded in 1911: Australia, Bangladesh (then part of India), India, Ireland, Netherlands, Pakistan (then part of India)
Founded in 1912: Cyprus, Italy, Norway, United States of America, Zimbabwe
Other occasions to celebrate the Centenary
Young Women’s World Forum (YWWF)
In October 2010, Girlguiding UK will be hosting the first Young Women’s World Forum (YWWF) in cooperation with WAGGGS. The forum will be discussing issues that are relevant to young women from across the globe and will focus on the Millennium Development Goals. We also hope that the YWWF will help create a shared global vision for Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting.
Young Women World Forums in 2011 and 2012
In 2011 the World Centres will continue with their version of the YWWF and in 2012 Girl Scouts of the USA aim to bring the series of YWWFs to a conclusion.
In 2010 WAGGGS five regions will celebrate their Regional Conferences and in 2011, Edinburgh will host the 34th World Conference. Further events will be announced.
Centenary badges
The Centenary badge deluxe will be available in the online shop for all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who want to join the celebrations. Every year an additional badge will be issued to be earned, for example when attending and contributing to the yearly Centenary Celebration Day.The badges can be worn individually or together.
Centenary merchandise available
The new merchandise with the centenary message introduced at the World Conference is now available from our online shop.Become a Centenary Ambassador
Represent your Member Organization and promote the Centenary Celebrations! This is your chance to have your say and promote the birth of International Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting in your country.Each Member Organization nominates two Centenary Ambassadors. At least one must to be under 25 years old and at least one must be a member of the national board. Both must be members of WAGGGS.
You can download the Centenary Ambassador form from this page. Please send it by email to wagggs@wagggsworld.org
Tell us
What one word describes Guiding?
Have you got other ideas about words which sum up the centenary of Girl Guiding? Tell us your favourite words by leaving a comment below. You can have a look at those pictures sent in by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from around the world for inspiration.
How will you celebrate?
We would like you to share with us how you would like to celebrate the centenary of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting in your country.
Tell us what you’re doing by adding a comment below.
Your comments
Pariza Mahbub 9 October 2008 - 3.12PM (GMT)
I wasnt a brownie and when i first joined Girl Guides Singapore i was very reluctant but now that i have been guiding for more than 2 years I never regretted my decision about being a Girl Guide. I hope more people would join Girl Guides and Girl Guide Singapore would keep buiding up strong girls.
Marilyn A. Factor 27 August 2008 - 1.32AM (GMT)
I'm a full time staff at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, National Headquarters and worked with this organization for the last 31 years. It give joy and and self-fullfillment working with girls/girl guides around the world as an International Affairs Officer.
Sumaiyah Najib 14 July 2008 - 10.18AM (GMT)
With the hrlp of girls guide we can build up the whole world. And those who haven't join will also be really interested in it and will join it finally. The celebration 100 years of girls guide & girls scout will bring more rapid changes i think!
so keep going WAGGGS!
Lillian Viko Byamugisha 9 July 2008 - 3.03PM (GMT)
Having been a Girl Guide for over 20 years now, I believe that guiding has been my source of lifeskills, high self esteem and confidence. Now that I have children of my own I will want them to have the opportunity to learn practical lifeskills in the most natural and fun way - the Girl Guides way and adopting to using new appropriate technologies and trends in 2012
Lillian Viko Byamugisha 9 July 2008 - 2.54PM (GMT)
I have been a girl guide for over 20 years now. My most memorable moment was being a young leader and participating in the 2001 Juliette Law Seminar at Our Chalet as a facilitator from Africa region! The enthusiasm I witnessed among the girls was incredibly energizing. My pride in young up-coming girls like Caroline Nderitu who showered us with lovely poems from Kenya was a reminder of how girl guiding blends the past years with contemporary time...guiding is fun and timeless!
Barbara 16 June 2008 - 4.51AM (GMT)
Girl guiding is a lifestyle, is enjoying life, is admiring nature, is helping when its needed, is smiling, is being friend, being an example, being gracefull, is loving life...Im so happy and lucky to be one more like you.
Barbara - Mexico
Ann 4 June 2008 - 3.13AM (GMT)
Scouting is a way of life! Being a Brownie, Girl Scout and Explorer has made me who I am today: confident, curious and caring. My mom was a Girl Scout, and now I am a leader for my daughter's Brownie troop. I can't wait to celebrate the centenary of the founding of Girl Scouts! May Girl Scouting continue on and on!
Elisabeth N. 4 June 2008 - 1.33AM (GMT)
My grandmother and mother were girl scouts. I have been in my troop for seven years (starting in first grade). My mom is my leader and all my best friends are in my troop. I have learned so much and gained alot of confidence, not to mention really close friends, throughout it all. It gives you a strong sense of self-achievment.
Michele 2 June 2008 - 9.40PM (GMT)
I have grown up with Scouting as a way of life, my family has had 5 generations involved in Girl Scouting. My Greatgrandmother helped start a Council back in the 1020s in the Rhinelander Wisc area each generation has been involved from Brownies to Adult ever since. Now its my turn to be a leader. My daughter started off in Brownies & just bridged to Juniors. We love it. I cannot be any prouder of my family and our involvment in Girl Scouting.
Jacqueline Morgan 28 May 2008 - 2.04PM (GMT)
I was a Brownie back in the dark ages of 1957 and followed through guiding becoming a Guide in the 1960's, then I went into a mixed Scout and Guide venture unit.(The first one to start up in England). After that I became a Brownie Guider. This background has stood me well in my career and all other things that I have undertaken in life.
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