Centenary of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting

10 April 2010 has arrived, and with it our very first Centenary Celebration Day! Happy centenary celebration day to all of our 10 million members around the world, and to their friends and their families!

10 April marks the 100th day of the 100th year of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. Today thousands of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are celebrating 100 years of changing lives. Read more…

You can sign up to a number of 10 April activities or even add your own on our centenary celebration activities page.

Leave your centenary messages on our very own centenary message board and tell us how you think Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting has changed lives…

2010 Centenary messages for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Chairman, Margaret Treloar, is joined by members of the World Board and volunteers at Pax Lodge, to give her own centenary message for 2010.

The Hon. Kay Patterson, Australian politician who has held many positions in the Federal Government and keen supporter of Girl Guiding has produced a special filmed centenary message for our members.

Where we've come from

It was a group of girls who first planted the idea of Girl Guiding in the mind of founder, Robert Baden-Powell, more than 100 years ago, in 1909, when they demanded a place for girls at the Crystal Palace Boy Scout Rally.

 These girls were, in fact, the very first advocates for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts - speaking out and challenging the norms and gender conventions of the time.

The Guide Movement formally began in the UK in 1910. Since then Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting has been planted in the lives of millions of girls and young women.

Young Women’s World Forum 2010

With a focus on the WAGGGS Global Action Theme: girls worldwide say “together we can change our world” the Young Women’s World Forum is the beginning of a series of international events which aim to empower young women to make a difference to their world and influence the future of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting as we enter our second century. Representing their country at this historical event looks set to be a once in a life time experience for every young woman who attends. Read more...

For those of you who have applied to attend the Young Women’s World Forum 2010 you will shortly be hearing from Girlguiding UK.

Young Women's World Forum 2011

Young women aged 20-30 are invited to attend the Young Women’s World Forum 2011 (YWWF 2011), which takes place between 19 and 26 March 2011 at the four World Centres simultaneously. The focus for the event will be the WAGGGS’ Global Action Theme, girls worldwide say “together we can change our world”, which addresses the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015.

Please apply through your International Commissioner. Read more...

Centenary merchandise

Why not mark 10 April 2010 by visiting our online shop. and purchasing some of our new centenary merchandise? 

Centenary Ambassadors

Our centenary ambassadors have special centenary messages for all our members which you can read alongside all their news and exciting plans for the centenary. 

Read more about what other Centenary Ambassadors are doing!

Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you in your celebrations, including the Centenary Celebration Day pack.

What else is going on?

The Global Action Theme (GAT) girls worldwide say “together we can chance our world” looks at the Millennium Development Goals and runs throughout the centenary celebrations.

Don’t forget that throughout the centenary, World Thinking Day will look at a Millennium Development Goal each year starting in 2010 with girls worldwide say “together we can end extreme poverty and hunger."