Delegates profile

I Ling Li, Taiwan

Girl Scouts of Taiwan

Profile: I am a young Leader of the Chung Hua County Troop 2. I come from a scout family where both of my parents joined scouts troop since their teenage years and continued to be troop leaders and board members of the Girl Scouts Association and Boy Scouts Association of Taiwan until today.

Why do you want to become part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women?

I would like to bring back other INGO’s HIV/AIDS Know-how and develop a more comprehensive HIV/AIDS campaign for Girl Scouts. As a Public Relations professional, I would like to help Girl Scouts of Taiwan develop a branding campaign to raise awareness on how Girl Scouts activity empowers girls and young women and promoting gender equality.

Nefeli Themeli, Greece

Greek Guiding Association

Profile: I joined the Greek Guiding Association from Brownies. I am currently the Assistant Programme Manager at Pax Lodge, UK. One of my main responsibilities is to assist the Programme Manager to organize and deliver events and seminars in line with WAGGGS’ mission and goals. I also assist in the selection, training and supervision of the volunteer programme.

Why do you want to become part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women?

As the Assistant Programme Manager, I have been working a lot with the Global Action Themes and exchange ideas and concerns on these topics. Training the volunteers and educating our participants on Millennium Development Goals, I have become more and more involved which has motivated me to have a more active role and explore ways to succeed that.

In the near future I would like to study a master degree in Gender and Development. I believe by becoming part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women it would be a big responsibility but a dream come true. Taking part on discussions and advocating for women’s rights will definitely motivation me and provide me with tools and ideas for my position at Pax Lodge.

Elizabeth Ann Fricker, UK

Girlguiding UK

Profile: I am a trained peer educator within Girlguiding UK and have delivered sessions to well over 1,000 people in subjects such as poverty and third world development, sexual health, addictions, and other important topics relevant to young people.

In the past three years, I have worked for two NGO’s. The first was CARE, a small anti-trafficking charity, and I now work for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. I believe that my work with both these organisations has given me knowledge that will contribute towards my understanding and participation in the CSW, particularly in the areas of health and rights.

Why do you want to become part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women?

I have a great interest in the status of women across the world, born partially through my long experience of Girlguiding UK, and partially through working for an anti-trafficking charity.

I would like to be part of the WAGGGS delegation to learn from inspirational people across the world, and to hear more of how they work in the field of women’s status. I feel this will inspire my own work within Girlguiding UK, as I am currently involved in writing a pack for their peer education scheme on the topic of equality, and also my own life and passions. I believe that inspired young women are the answer to address the low status of women, and I would like to be part of that answer.

Susanna Matters, Australia

Girl Guides Association of Australia

Profile: I currently hold several Guiding positions which allow me to influence girls’ empowerment on both a grassroot and administrative level. Outside my Guiding roles, I am an active member of two national women’s advocacy organisations: UNIFEM Australia and the One Million Women Australian Climate Change Campaign.

In January 2009, I was named the Kuringgai Council Young Citizen of the Year and I use this position to facilitate discussion between the Mayor of Kuringgai and young people regarding advocacy issues.

Why do you want to become part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women?

As a young leader in CSW, I believe I would represent the interests and concerns of my fellow leaders and Olave Programme participants at this conference. I believe I am particularly aware of young people’s attitudes to gender inequality, international development and volunteerism. I have been most interested in WAGGGS advocacy ideals since my trip to Sangam in 2007 and have since sought a potential career in Global Development (Education).

By attending the 54th UN CSW I would be able to appropriate and adapt declarations within the Beijing Platform for Action to proposals and projects for girls and women alike on a local and broader scale.

Maria José Proaño, Ecuador

Asociación Nacional de Guías Scouts del Ecuador

Profile: I am the International Commissioner of the Asociación Nacional de Guías Scouts del Ecuador. I have had the opportunity to learn about WAGGGS educational programmes and I have implemented many of them with my Guides. At national level one of our higher achievements is to have included 40 per cent of young women in the Executive Committee.

Why do you want to become part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women?

I want to participate as a delegate of the WAGGGS to the 54th UN Commission in the status of women because this specific matter is strongly tightened to our work and mission. I believe the CSW is a great space to learn and share other people's strategies.

In Ecuador we still have high levels of violence and discrimination against women. My objective is to provide spaces for women, development of leadership abilities and decision-making so in the future we are able to maintain the work projects and to increase range of action to national level.

Rachel Elizabeth Harris, New Zealand

Girl Guiding New Zealand

Profile: I am a Range Leader, member of Learning and Development team and young leader representative on the Regional management team of Girl Guiding New Zealand. As a sportswomen, accountant, active team member in Girl Guiding and volunteer in other organizations, I have a great understanding of women in society and the important role they have.

Why do you want to become part of the WAGGGS delegation to the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women?

By attending the CSW I will learn some great skills and also hear what other organizations around the world are doing. As I am attending the young leader forum in October to discuss the MDGs, I am really looking forward to setting up some projects within wider than Girl Guiding. My overall goal would be to get the local and national governments involved.