Pictures and Stories 2009

Taiwan

Troop #50 of Kaohsiung City Council sold handmade cookies for World Thinking Day.

Brownies worn red ribbons and distributed leaflets to buyers and passers for promoting HIV/AIDS prevention. Troop #115 of Taipei City Council played the “eliminate mosquitoes” game and discussed environmental protection and cleaning.

Many troops also conducted “money, money, money” survey which help girls to think about what money means to them.

Canada

The 22nd Hamilton Spark Unit in Hamilton, Ontario, raised a total of $112.00 to buy 16 mosquito nets for the ’Malaria Bites’ programme through the Canadian Red Cross.

The girls had to earn the money on their own by doing extra chores around the house or asking for donations. Their goal was to buy at least one net per girl but they surpassed it.

The girls understood what they were raising money for and how fortunate they are to live in a country where they are able to sleep in a bed in their own house. Their small donation will really make a difference!

Illinois, USA

Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scouts from Prairie Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois, USA spent the month of February collecting gently worn shoes. On February 22, 2009, they met to sort and pack the shoes, and volunteers then delivered the boxes to an organization called "Share Your Soles" (www.shareyoursoles.org).

Prior to the event, each troop researched a country and the footwear associated with it. The girls decorated the boxes with pictures of woven-sandals from Guatemala, wooden clogs from The Netherlands, and fine slippers from the royal courts of England, amongst others.

Their Thinking Day activity accomplished three goals: the girls interacted with the local community when they collected the shoes; they learned about other cultures when they created artwork of the footwear; and they made a personal connection with girls around the world when they sorted, packed, and shared their "soles." This experience allowed the girls to walk in another’s footsteps and lead others toward making the world a better place.

California, USA

Cadette Troop #845-5 in Santa Monica, California, celebrated World Thinking Day by teaching younger Girl Scouts about other Girl Scouts around the globe.

They distributed information about this year’s theme and how malaria is preventable and treatable. They also made globe cookies.

Venezuela

Brownies, Guides, Guiders and friends from the Lara Unit celebrated World Thinking Day with a campfire. All sixers and junior branch patrols were asked to prepare activities linked to the topic for 2009 – halting the spread of disease.

Our Guider Nedgly, who is a centenary ambassador was in charge of preparing the programme for the campfire – this included several games suggested on the World Thinking Day website whose ideas were very useful in presenting the topic to the girls at the campfire.

Colombia

Guides in Medellín, Colombia, organized a ’carrera de observación’ (outdoor clue collecting competition). They started at their usual meeting point and then went to a tube station and ended at the Los Pies Descalzos park where one of the guides prepared an activity for all the girls and their families.

Lebanon

The Association des Guides Musulmanes du Liban celebrated World Thinking Day 2009 with songs, games and sweets. They visited patients in a hospital to wish them a speed recovery and put a smile on their faces.

Florida, USA

The World thinking Day Celebration at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida was held on 21 February. It was hosted by Kappa Delta Sorority alumnae and Collegians and partnered with UNF Campus Girl Scouts.

 

There were booths with activities featuring the Our Rights Our Responsibilities theme: be happy, be me; be heard, to learn, to work together, to live in peace. The campus Girl Scouts hosted the booth about the World Thinking Day Theme girls worldwide say “together we can stop the spread of AIDS, Malaria and other diseases”.

 

Over 150 people in total participated in the activities, with 68 Girl Scouts from Daisies through Cadettes from Indian Creek District, which is part of Girls of the Gateway Council in Florida.

El Salvador

Muchachas Guías de El Salvador celebrated World Thinking Day on Sunday 22 March with an HIV and AIDS fair at the Cuscatlán park in El Salvador. This yea r’s World Thinking Day celebrations were postponed because the national elections took place on 22 February.

More than 400 people attended the event and enjoyed the different activities such as games and free blood tests, and they learned about how the virus is transmitted, how to protect themselves from the disease and how to use a condom. There were also traditional music and dance.

The Association received the support of the Health Ministry, Red Cross, Caritas, the International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) and several volunteer organizations.

Nelson County Virginia, USA

Girl Scout Troop 168 celebrated World Thinking Day this year by participating in the ’Nothing But Nets’ campaign. As the troop was learning about Tanzania for the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council’s International Fair (pictured right), they incorporated the World Thinking Day theme of “Stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases”, with empahsis on malaria.

The girls spent their early February meeting learning about malaria and the mosquitoe. They discussed the ways malaria is transmitted, why some countries do not have malaria anymore, why others still are plagued by this disease, why it is a "disease of poverty", and how malaria is prevented.

The girls agreed to donate some of their money to the "Nothing but Nets" campaign. Since it takes about $10 to provide a proper net for a family, each girl hoped to be able to donate a net, but the girls worked and earned enough for each girl to donate $20. 

Canada

On 21 February 22 girls and 10 guiders gathered at the Guide Centre in Calgary to hear an inspiring speaker from UNICEF talk about their Malaria “Spread the net” programmes.

They also held a Guides own ceremony, ate cake and other international food items, made first aid kits, AIDS ribbons and prayer flags and learned about human rights.


In Vancouver the 2009 World Thinking Day Celebration was held on 21 February for all Guiding Members - Guiders, Trefoil Guilds, Link, Lones and girls at the Provincial Guide House.

Highlights included presentations from BC International travelers, an Open House, displays and tours.

St Kitts and Nevis

On Saturday 21 February 2009, the Nevis Division of the St Kitts-Nevis Girl Guide Association partnered with the HIV and AIDS Coordinating Unit and the Scout Movement to highlight the theme for Thinking Day 2009.

Accompanied by the pulsating rhythms of the Seventh Day Adventist Drum Corps, the contingent carried placards which depicted relevant messages as they marched through Main Street, Charlestown.

Antigua and Barbuda

The Girl Guides Association of Antigua and Barbuda have celebrated World Thinking Day with many different activities. On 20 February they presented food packages and clothing to the Health Hope and HIV Network, a support network for persons living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. On 22 February they had a WTD church service joint with the Scouts, a march and a mass enrollment ceremony.

On 23 February all members wore uniform to school and work to celebrate National role model day and on 28 February they organized a WTD $10 barbecue fundraiser and Heal the World at ’Our House’ Health Fair.

UN team, Rome

UN team Rome members Alessandra Tasca and Luisa Juarez participated in the Girl Scouts USA annual World Thinking Day event on 7 March in the American Overseas School of Rome.

The day started with the Pledge of Allegiance and ended in the school amphitheatre with a traditional Girl Scout salute. Each troop studied and presented a particular country: Australia, France, Hungary, Mexico, Romania, Philippines, South Africa and the USA. The girls performed skits and songs and set up stands with pictures, visuals and snacks to taste.

Luisa and Alessandra talked to the girls about WAGGGS and some of the UN team Rome projects and asked the girls to write on note cards some thoughts about climate change and food security. They handed out WAGGGS pens, stickers, pins and ‘The Right to Food: A Window on the World’ cartoon book, which educates young people and motivates them to join in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

The UN team, Rome, WAGGGS’ permanent representation at the FAO, co-organizes key events and works with FAO and other institutional/non-governmental organizations. To learn more about the UN teams please visit the WAGGGS website.  

Greece

The Greek Guiding Association celebrated World Thinking Day at their headquarters. They played games, sung songs and tasted food from all over the world.

Egypt

Girl Guides Association of Egypt reviewed the contributions that have been done by the members and agreed on awarding the Guides association in Dakahleya the first rank, while granting Alexandria branch the second.

As for individual achievements, they awarded Guides and Leaders for their research work on AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

There was also a drawing competition and Guide Marwa Mohamed Helmy Sayed Youssef from the guides team of Rass el Tin secondary school for girls was awarded the first rank for her painting on AIDS.

The Alexandria Guides Association has organized three seminars in February with the participation of Caritas on Tuberculosis and AIDS. More than 60 Guides and students have attended each of the seminars.

Wisconsin, USA

The troop #27 from Platteville, Wisconsin, chose the country of Mexico and they had fun collecting information and discussing the many different options for food items to make.

They decided on nachos and they were a hit! They also had entertainment at the end of the ceremony. This year it was The Ballet Folklorico Dancers. All together they had 17 countries represented, including Switzerland, Russia, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, France, El Salvador, and Poland.

Peru

The International committee and the Fundraising committee of the Asociación Nacional de Guías Scouts del Perú organized a gathering on the evening of 23 February to celebrate World Thinking Day.

Around 40 Guides, members of the National Board and friends played games and activities around the theme of HIV and AIDS and malaria.

Panama

In Santiago, Panama, Guides did some door to door visits in the neighborhood to give information on HIV and AIDS.

They also did a survey about the knowledge on HIV and AIDS in the village of La Chorrera.

 

Dominica

The Girl Guides Association of Dominica celebrated Thinking Day together with their Carnival celebrations this year. They contributed to the parade with a float which featured the theme for Thinking Day. The Guides distributed brochures of the ten facts on HIV and AIDS at the opening of the Carnival in the town and also in one out district.

On Thinking Day all units attended the Church parade and distributed fliers about the dangers of HIV and AIDS. The Guides also had cake sales to raise funds for that day.

Brasil

Federaçao de Bandeirantes do Brasil has asked their members to participate in an interactive online course about the theme ‘Stop the spread of AIDS’. The course is part of the project ‘Listen, Learn and Live’ about preventing the spread of AIDS and sexual transmitted diseases.

You can access the online course, which is available in several languages.

Guatemala

All the groups within the Asociación Nacional de Muchachas Guías de Guatemala represented different diseases, such as diarrhea, pneumonia, measles and malaria, following this years’ theme: girls worldwide say “Stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases”.

 

There was also a ceremony where Guides received their service badges and a fundraising lunch with members and their families. In the afternoon, the World Thinking Day celebration concluded with games and a campfire.

Nicaragua

Muchachas Guías de Nicaragua organized a walk and the troops worked on very creative World Thinking Day drawings.

India

East Mumbai Suburban district of Maharashtra state Bharat Scouts and Guides celebrated World Thinking day 2009 along with over 700 Guides and Scouts. We had camp craft, essay writing, drawing and campfire interschool competitions. We had the elimination rounds on 7 February and the finals took place on 22 February. On this day we had all the office bearers, leaders and local supporters actively participating in the activities.

They also had a session on AIDS awareness with activities from the WAGGGS HIV and AIDS Training Toolkit, followed by a slide show. Participants departed with two red ribbons each, one for themselves and the other one to give it to their friends or family after.

Thornbury District (UK) plays mosquito tag!

1st Falfield and Stone Brownes, Thornbury District, UK, have either been donating part of their pocket money or collecting money for doing small jobs for their families since the beginning of January 2009. The photo shows the girls with their money bags and they will be sending just over £60 to WAGGGS very soon.

At their Thinking Day meeting they learned about different disease and how they affect people in the developing countries. They particularly enjoyed playing Mosquito Tag from the Activities page.

Dominican Republic

The Asociación de Guías Scouts Dominicanas celebrated World Thinking Day with a walk across the streets and send this picture.

Austria

The National Scouting and Guiding Association of Austria organized a “Get together” with headquarters staff, members and friends of the “Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs”.

They looked into the subject ‘Diseases’ and spend a very nice afternoon together.

 

 

Hawai

Ten girls from Junior Troop #15 Hilo, Hawaii, put on a "Beat the Mozzie" walk-a-thon on Sunday, 22 february in Hilo, at Lilioukalani park.

They walked 3 miles and collected pledges for walking. The girls are empowered because they found a way to take action to help others.

Honduras

The Asociación Nacional de Guías de Honduras celebrated World THinking Day with a training session for leaders and guiders from all over the country. The national Board also elected new members.

Belize

Belize Girl Guides Association celebrated World Thinking Day 2009 with a week of activities, including community service, a camp fire, and a parade to and after church on Sunday, 22 February.

Tokyo Council learns about Ireland

ASIJ Troop 16 from Tokyo Council of USAGSO (6 girls in 2nd Grade Brownies) participated in a postcard exchange, traded patches with troops in other countries and also a couple shoeboxes with things from Japan with troops in Ireland and New York.

The postcards they received from around the world were displayed on the bulletin board at school and they helped the 4th grade Juniors with a "Lick Malaria" fundraising campaign at school.

They also had a Thinking Day event after school with all 120 Girl Scouts from Daisies to Cadettes learning about Ireland with Irish food, musicians, dancers, and making a family crest. The troop learned an Irish Dance we will perform and help teach the other scouts.

The troop was invited by their Japanese sister scouts to their Thinking Day celebration. The lady running the event was the 89 year old daughter of the couple who first started scouting in Japan in 1919! They had a quiz about BP, the four WAGGGS World Centres and Thinking Day and they sang the "Our Chalet" song. Then they made butter by shaking cream in a bottle, a Girl’s Day origami picture, sang more songs, played a fishing game and did the bunny hop.

HIV and AIDS awareness campaign in Malaysia

Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia (PPPM) launched the HIV and AIDS Awareness Project on 22 February 2009 at the national World Thinking day celebration in Kuala Lumpur. Present at the event was the Federal Territory Minister YB Dato’ Sri Zulhasnan Rafique

PPPM has joined hands with PT Foundation, a community-based, voluntary non-profit making organization, to conduct a series of training programme starting in March 2009. The main objective is to increase awareness towards HIV and AIDS among members of PPPM.

After being trained, participants will share knowledge on HIV and AIDS with their families, friends and local communities through community service projects.

At the end of the training, all participants will have a log book containing guidelines, knowledge on HIV/AIDS, the community service project they carried out, learning experiences, photos and contact addresses of organizations /agencies doing work on HIV/AIDS.

Puerto Rico

Troop 251 in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, learned more about AIDS for World Thinking Day.

They wore the uniform all day and tried food from the countries they have been working on.

Poland

A group of Wolves called ‘The Joyful group of Winnie The Pooh,’ which meets at Primary School nº1 Jaworze (Poland), took part in a Red Cross initiative called “Stop malaria”. They watched a multimedia presentation and learned important facts about the disease.

The Wolves collected money from December 2008 to January 2009 for the Red Cross campaign ’Net for net’, which helps to raise funds with an aim to buying 10,000 mosquito nets to be distributed in Kenya and Uganda.