10 April 2010 celebrations

Centenary Celebration Day activities reflect the diversity and variety of our membership. Different activities took place across the world on 10 April 2010, with the common theme of celebrating “100 years of changing lives” weaving them together.

The World Centres celebrate…

On 10 April  Pax Lodge celebrated the birth of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting with nearly 100 guides and Scouts from all over the world. They kicked off the day by planting the seeds of change through two service projects, including building a vegetable garden for the elderly community at Waterhouse Close and crafting get well cards and flowers for the children's ward at Royal Free Hospital. The rest of the day was spent celebrating through activities planned by their volunteers that were centred around the four elements of the centenary: good deed, international, fun, and 100. The sun was shining as all enjoyed packed lunches in Hampstead Heath and discussed how Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting has put happiness into the lives of millions of girls and women.

Meanwhile over in Our Cabaña in Mexico, guests enjoyed a double celebration over the Easter break.

Our Chalet celebrated the centenary just a couple of months ago by hosting over 600 Guides from the UK for a special World Thinking Day and Centenary Celebration Event, “The Great Guide Getaway.” Read more…

Sangam will celebrate at its Celebrate our Centenary II event in October this year. Read more… One way that you can celebrate the centenary is by visiting the World Centre websites and why not visit a World Centre itself in the next year or so?

Celebrations in Europe

Greece

On 10 April, participants in the annual “International Passport” training event in Greece celebrated the centenary by dividing into the five different regions of WAGGGS. One group which represented Lebanon woke up in time to make their Promise with Girl Guides from Lebanon at sunrise. Celebrations took place all day, finishing with an international party. Participants are looking forward to planting the seeds of change in the coming year.

 

Romania

Romanian leaders made "flowers" in pots for the WAGGGS theme of "Plant" to grow their relationships with their sponsor. These are units are sponsored through RGS (Romanian Guiding Support) by UK units.

 

 

 

 

The Rainbows (5-7 years old) unit "Merry Dwarves" from Local Centre of Buzau, Romania made a huge poster with the flags of 100 countries all over the world where there are WAGGGS Member Organizations. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree planting ceremony at the FAO garden in Rome

A pomegranate tree was planted at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) garden on 9 April 2010 to celebrate the centenary of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and the successful collaboration between WAGGGS and the FAO. The tree was planted by Mr. Alexander Müller, Assistant Director-General of the FAO and Ms. Fabiola Canavesi, Chairman of the European Committee of WAGGGS. The ceremony was attended by FAO staff, members of the Ad-Hoc Group of INGOs in formal status with FAO, WAGGGS UN representatives, Italian Scouts and other guests.

Spain

The Spanish Guide Federation (FEG) celebrated the centenary with different activities across the country. The regional association of Aragon, planted 100 trees and the local group also created a centenary song. The national level meeting of the federation, which took place in El Escorial, Madrid, also included the celebration of the centenary in their programme. You can watch the video they produced.

Greeting cards in Italy

Members of the group Bergamo 1 from the Corpo Nazionale Giovani Esploratori Ed Esploratrici Italiani (CNGEI) designed greeting cards to celebrate the centenary.

 

 

 

 

 

Ireland

The Irish Girl Guides (IGG) celebrated a new century by launching a new uniform for Guides and adult leaders and a new logo for IGG. The national media took great interest in the new launch. At the local level, each unit adapted a WAGGGS centenary celebration day activity. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of Guiding in Ireland and so more celebrations are planned.

 

The Catholic Girl Guides of Ireland set challenges for each of their age groups to complete in order to achieve the Blue Centenary Badge for this year. Along with learning about the countries that started up in 1910, the girls had to do various tasks, such as taking part in the message exchange, completing 100 good deeds (as a company), completing a project on the changes in Guiding over the past 100 years and taking a photo of their patrol or company in the shape of 100.

 

As part of the challenge for the badge, companies were to take part in a Centenary Day celebration event. Some companies carried out their own events, while other's took part in Diocesan/Regional events. They varied from sunrise hikes, camps, tree plantings to birthday parties.

 

 

 

Gathering of news and recipes in Turkey

In Turkey, Girl Guides are gathering recipes from around the world, and already they have 150. Girl Guides are also collecting postcards from 100 countries and planting 100 trees.

Sending messages from Romania

The National Committee sent 100 centenary messages by e-mail or by post to its partners and supporters in different countries. In May, the UK Project Team plans to visit Romania to celebrate the centenary and the success of 100 twinning partnerships between Romanian and UK units.

Double celebration in Cyprus

Girl Guides in Cyprus are also celebrating 50 years since the beginning of the Cyprus Girl Guides Association as well as the centenary of international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. Celebrations in Cyprus include a Road Party where all the main roads in the major cities on the island will be taken over by parades with mascots representing all the programmes which have been run by the Association. IN addition the Association is producing a 50th anniversary book recording its achievements. Finally there will be a Gala dinner attended by Cyprus’ leaders and decision makers, at which the work of WAGGGS and the Cyprus Girl Guides Association will be presented.

Planting in Portugal

The Portuguese Girl Guides celebrated the 10th of April at a local level with a tree planting near each headquarter. Those trees were planted by the Girl Guides, and the commitment is to feed and take care during the centenary celebration and the following years. Also, a Centenary Diary was released and will pass through every Girl Guides unit, so each can leave a testimonial - this centenary roadshow will end in December 2012.

Next year more centenary celebrations are planned: in 2011 at a district level and in 2012 at a national level with a national camp.

 

Celebrations in the Arab region

Oman

The Omani Girl Guides celebrated the centenary in many ways: they planted 100 trees in the camp site with their parents and they also communicated with 100 persons from different countries through the Team Speak programme.

Egypt

In Egypt, Girl Guides celebrated 10 April by promoting the MDGs and the Global Initiative for Breast Cancer (picture right).

 

 

 

 

Celebrations in Syria

On 10 April more than 350 Girl Scouts in Lattakia celebrated 100 years of changing lives around the world. Members took a photograph in the shape of 100, they then planted 100 plants in a main street in the city and visited older people living in local homes and hospitals.

Girl Scouts also had the chance to met older leaders and took part in handcraft stations. 

 

 

Lebanon

The Lebanese Federation of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides and the Centenary ambassadors decided to hold the first year centenary celebrations on 10 of April 2010. 

The members wore scarves all day and at 5.30pm, 100 Commissioners, Guiders, Rangers, Guides and Brownies from different age groups and different asociations gathered on a beautiful beach in Beirut and renewed their promise on sunset.

On the other hand, Lebanon is welcoming the Arab Regional Conference on July 2010 and have asked each participant to bring with them 1kg of rice, which will be donated to a welfare association.

Celebrations in Asia Pacific

National Camp in Nepal

Nepal Scouts organized a four day National Camp from 9 to 12 July to celebrate the centenary of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. The theme for the camp was “Peace and Unity” and it was held in one of the camping sites of Nepal Scouts, St’ Xavier School, Godawari.

There were over 500 participants from all over the country that enjoyed activities such as art competition, adventure hunt and a friendship game.

 

Centenary friendship trail in Malaysia

Girl Guides in Malaysia organized the Centenary Friendship Trail. All states in Peninsular Malaysia sent one bus each and travelled from their state to gather at a few pit stops along the way. They reached the final destination in the northern part of Malaysia on 14 June. On their journey, they planted 10 trees at each State, bringing a total of 100 trees. 

 

100 plants and 100 good deeds in Singapore

Girl Guides Singapore celebrated the Centenary Day on 10 April 2010 at their own campsite, Camp Christine. Brownies planted 100 plants at the Camp and the Guides, with subsidies from the Ministry of Education, have been working with the Lions Befrienders Singapore to do 100 good deeds by providing staples for needy families.

They will also be contributing these 100 Good Deeds to support the Singapore 2010: First Youth Olympic Games (Million Deeds Challenge). The Association also had 100 food items from their five regions on the party they celebrated on 10 April.

Cover magazine in Korea

This image is the cover of Girl Scouts of Korea's bimonthly magazine (May-June 2010).One troop took the photo when they did centenary activities.

 

 

 

 

 

A 100 in Hong Kong

The 252nd NT Pack from Hong Kong used our 100 photo to make a poster to celebrate this BIG day.

 

 

 

 

Taiwan

In Taiwan, Girl Guides at a local school celebrated with talent shows, cooking and of course creating 100 in a photo…

 

 

 

Guiding questionnaire in Thailand

Amidst the political instability, Girl Guides Association of Thailand (GGAT) President, Associate Professor Wadee Kheourai, Ph.D., decided to go ahead with the centenary celebrations on 10 April as planned. The occasion also coincided with Songkran, the Thai New Year.

More than 50 people attended the event. The centenary message from Margaret Treloar, Chairman World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, was read out to the audience, followed by a Thai translation.

The traditional Songkran practice of pouring Thai perfume on the elderly hands to ask for their blessings was observed in celebration of this Thai festive season. In relation to the centenary, 100 questions on Guiding and significant Thai events were asked with the correct respondents receiving token gifts to add to the fun.

Photoproject in Japan

Japanese Girl Guides celebrated the centenary and took many photos with '100' as a theme. Have a look at their creative photos: http://www.girlscout.or.jp/knowledge/photoproject.html

Rally in India

More than 800 staff members and unit leaders from 29 states in India took part in a rally at Dehradun, Uttarakhand State, to celebrate the centenary. The celebration lasted for five days, from 7 to 11 April, and each day had cultural topics from different states of India.

The programme started with lighting of the lamp followed by the formation of 100 by the Guides in the arena and then release of the message of the centenary celebration with 100 colourful balloons in the air by the Chief Guest. All participants renewed the promise read by the National Commissioner, while the last message of Lady Baden-Powell was read out by Chief Commissioner.

On 9 April 100 sketches of Lord Baden-Powell and his activities were displayed and all the states exhibited their handicrafts.

Campaigning about HIV and AIDS in Cambodia

More than 1,500 people celebrated the Centenary Day in Cambodia on 6 April 2010, with participants from local institutions, public and guests. Following the initiative of the Girl Guides Association of Cambodia´s Centenary Ambassador, they conducted campaigns at villages and handed out leaflets on different topics.

For example, the Cambodian Youth Association of Kandal Province talked on Duty of Youth on National Patriot for the Country; The Red Cross of Kandal Province talked on how to prevent road accidents;  and the Girl Guides Association of Cambodia talked about HIV and AIDS prevention on youth.

The Campaign started at 6.30 am and all the groups met at 9am to discuss the experience at the Garden on Riverside at Takmao Town of Kandal Province.

PPPM centenary celebration in Bukit Mertajam

Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia (PPPM) joined fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide in celebrating 100 years of changing lives with a community project at the Community AIDS Service Penang (CASP) on 10 April 2010. By lending a hand to a fellow NGO, which provides support and shelter for HIV positive and AIDS patients, they are planting the seeds of change among girls and young women in helping to make the world a better place, especially for those in need of help.

Girl Guides in Sri Lanka are quizzed

In Sri Lanka, Girl Guides will take part in a special centenary quiz, celebrating “100 years of Empowering Girls and Young Women”. Centenary Ambassadors Wajira and Uthpala are also gathering 100 stories from people who have dedicated their lives to Guiding.

'100' themed food in Australia

Eastern Plains Girl Guides South Australia planted rushes in the creek bed of a local conservation park. Guest speakers shared their international Guiding experiences with the girls. There was also a party with games, 100th birhday cakes and other 100 themed food, like bread. They finished the celebration with a photo of girls and leaders forming the numerals '100'.

 

 

"Trefoil Guild" members from the Western Sydney area of NSW Australia made their own little "100".

 

 

Bangladesh

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh was guest of honour at the Girl Guides Association opening ceremony of its centennial year. Other members of Parliament were also present. The event was covered widely by the media.

Celebrations in Western Hemisphere

Camp in Trinidad and Tobago

More than 70 Brownie Guides, leaders and Junior and Ranger Guides took part in the Pack holiday and Guide camp from 5 to 10 April at the Freitas Park in Valencia, Trinidad.

 

 

 

100 in 100; Global Guiding challenge in Canada

Members of Girl Guides of Canada have the chance to learn more about their Guiding sisters around the world through an online, interactive Challenge that encourages girls to virtually visit 100 countries within the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). To complete the challenge participants need to learn about 25 countries as a Unit or three per girl.

Celebrations in Argentina

More than 2,000 people took part in a centenary game around the streets of the old town of Buenos Aires. They organized different routes and they all ended up at the Lezama park, where they danced and sang the 'Centenary song', composed by two Guiders.

 

 

 

100th birthday cards

Daisy troop, ages 5 and 6, based in San Diego, California USA learned about the Centenary celebrations and decided to make 100th birthday cards for their Girl Guide sisters throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

A '100' in Florida

More than 220 girls and adults of Lakeland Guiding Lights in Florida participated in a Service Unit encampment to help celebrate this momentous day. They stayed at a Girl Scout Camp called Camp Dorothy Thomas and had the girls form a 100 and took their picture.

 

Mexico

Brownies and Guides (from 9 to 12) from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, wrote messages to Girl Guides around the world and coloured flags. Another activity was to donate 100 non perishable food products to the community of Mexicali, which suffered an earthquake recently.

 

 

Barbados Celebrates Centenary!

Celebrate with flowers in Peru

The Association launched its Centenary flowers project which aimed to plant seeds of thanks to all those people or organizations who have made positive contributions in their communities, who work with girls and young women, or who build a better world. Groups of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts made 100 paper flowers from recycled materials and delivered them to people or organizations working in the community. Find out more on www.guiascoutsperu.com/pflores.html

Cultural celebrations in El Salvador

In El Salvador, Girl Scouts and special guests will enjoy a cultural day of celebrations including the Nation’s First Lady Sra Vanda Guiomar Pignato and the UK Honorary Consul as well as representatives from businesses who have sponsored the Association and Friends. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform as part of the celebrations.

 

Parades in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Floats depicting the WAGGGS’ Global Action Theme projects travelled through Kingstown on 10 April.

Celebrations in the Africa Region

A day of celebration and speaking out in Madagascar

More than 5,000 people from the three Madagascan associations (Fanilon’i Madagascar, Kiadin’i Madagascar, and Mpanazava eto Madagascar) celebrated the centenary. 

The festivities started with a carnival in the city of Antananarivo. Participants first meet in the stadium of Mahamasina, and then continued their way to join the cultural and sport palace in Mahamasina where all the authorities as well as all the partners, the former executive and current leaders of the associations were waiting for the official opening ceremony.

The official ceremony was marked by the speeches of the responsible of the SZM represented by Federation President, the President of the Centenary Committee and the Centenary Ambassador, as well as the godfather of the ceremony; it was also marked by the giving of small centenary souvenir to all the former leaders of the three associations; the National authorities and all the Malagasy responsible in international works as well received the same gifts.

To symbolize the passing of the torch to the next generation for the coming 100 years, the three National Commissioners draw three names randomly from the brownies (Between 6 to 11 years) of their associations.

The associations put together an exhibition about Girl Guiding in the world as well as in Madagascar during the past 100 years. In the afternoon the activities focused on the Global Action Theme (GAT) and the Millennium Development Goals.

The ceremony ended with the sending of balloons on which there are 100 messages dedicated to this centenary celebration and the distribution of a mini-grant illustrated by the Centenary logo containing seeds of rice, a symbol to encourage members to continue to celebrate and to plant.

Mauritius

Mauritius held the centenary celebration on 10 April 2010. After the Chief Commissioner’s message, participants were brought back in the History of Guiding in the world and in Mauritius through presentations, role plays, songs and dance.

They also welcomed a new pack of Blue Birds and they all commit to plant some more seeds so that they can be in greater number by the next Thinking Day.

Certificates and awards were attributed to new warranted Guiders, prospective commissioners and prospective trainers and some commissioners received the Long Service certificates. This event was shown on the National T.V News programme.

UN team in Nairobi

The WAGGGS representatives to the UN team in Nairobi marked the centenary by taking Girl Guides and Brownies on a tour of the United Nations complex in Gigiri. The tour was organized by our main partners at UNEP the department of Youth and children led by Joyce Sang. The highlights were the presentations about WAGGGS and the UNEP Tunza programme made afterwards in the press briefing session by the WAGGGS team and the UN staff.

The occasion was graced by former WAGGGS representatives Honorine Kiplagat and Shariffa Keshavjee, amongst others. The party later celebrated by having some tea and doughnuts in the UN grounds and also a cake.

Ghana

The Ghana Girl Guides Association launched the centenary celebrations on 10 April at the National training centre, Achimota. The chairperson for the day was Mrs. P. Aniagyei, the former Chief Commissioner and also a member of the Africa Regional Committee. Also present were the President of the Association, Princess Eva Monica Boateng, senior Guides and members of the Scouts Association.

After the opening prayer by the Chaplain, all members renewed their promise together and were officially welcomed by the International Commissioner, Miss. Emilia Abbiw. In her address, she expressed joy of being part of this day and encouraged all, especially the youth, to exhibit the spirit of volunteerism and also to keep the Guiding light shining as we celebrate 100 years of Guiding.

The Centenary message from the World Board Chairman was read by the Centenary Ambassador, Mrs. Linda Tamakloe. Some of the invited guests were also given the platform to share their experience of Guiding in their lives.

The official celebration also included the planting of a Centenary tree to mark the day and the theme for the year. 

South Africa

Teddies, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Guiders formed a 100 outside a local Theme Park, whilst the photograph was taken from a helicopter!

 

Planting peace in Chad

Several activities are taking place in Chad including a press conference, the planting of 100 trees, and special events on the culture of peace. The Girl Guides also held a debate on the radio on the impact of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting, and held 100 metre sports events for younger children.

Planting ideas for new members in Malawi

Girl Guides launched a fundraising programme to conduct training to help grow membership.