Girl Guides Association kicks off centenary celebrations

The Girl Guides Association of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is hosting several activities to mark the 100th anniversary of Girl Guiding in SVG. The association is celebrating the centennial year under the theme “Ever Alive, Celebrate and Thrive,” as the movement has continually developed over the years to reach thousands of girls and young women.{{more}}

In the centenary celebrations, the association hopes to continually capture the interest and participation of all Bim Bims, Brownie Guides, Girl Guides, Ranger Guides, Guiders, Past Members of Council and Executive, parents, well– wishers and friends. The association would kick off the centenary activities on March 14, 2014, with a 100 leg relay, dubbed “100 STRONG: Relay of Relays,” from Fitz-Hughes in North Leeward to Georgetown in North Windward, where guiding was started by Rev. Arthur Cocks, a Methodist Minister, in 1914.

President of the Girl Guides Association of SVG René Baptiste stated that the thrust of the association has continually been since 1914 centred on leadership development and active citizenship. Baptiste further indicated that the programmes are delivered through innovative education and community and advocacy programmes, delivered through a well-established, unique values-based approach to non-formal learning that is international and intergenerational.

The association has grown to 2,500+ members who are continually engaged in developing their full potential. In the “100 STRONG Relay”, the girls in various units in the association would cover outlined legs. The relay would commence at 5 a.m. in Fitz-Hughes and would climax at Black Point with a grand picnic, with live performances from steel pan sides and a local band from 2 – 5 p.m. on March 14, 2014.

Chief Commissioner of the SVG Girl Guides Association Réchanne Matthias pointed out that it has also been important for the association to involve and incorporate the work of other youth organisations in the relay and, as such, legs would be run not only by members of the guiding family, but also invaluable partners in youth development over the years.

Coordinator of the relay Tamira Browne noted that the celebration of this significant hallmark in guiding is greatly anticipated by guides and friends of girls nationwide. Browne also pointed out that the celebrations are also being reviewed by the World Association, as St Vincent and the Grenadines has been recognised as a top country in terms of growth and development.

The SVG Girl Guides express thanks to Platinum Sponsor: St Vincent Cooperative Bank and Gold Sponsor: Lulley’s Fishing Supplies for their partnership in this endeavour.