GOLDen hearted Miriam!

Favourite guiding moment?

The promise ceremony for Guides in Guyana GOLD 2013! The girls came to training sessions and at camp, at the end of our three week stay, they wanted to be part of Girlguiding. They made their promise in the rain forest between the most incredible torrential downpours and under a canopy of parrots. I felt so proud to be part of such an amazing organisation.
It is a memory that will stay with me forever!

Why do you volunteer?

I love passing onto my Guides the skills and experience gained from Girlguiding volunteers and through Girlguiding opportunities. It is so much fun, a great talking point, gives you skills for life, new friends, and even world travel!

I have been a member of Girlguiding since Rainbows but I tagged along to things when I was much younger, because my Mum has been a leader for many years.
Girlguiding has been a constant in my life despite moving around the country and I am now leader of 36th Stephenhill Guides in Sheffield. Over 2 years we have grown from 16 girls to 36. I have recently done my ‘Going Away With Licence' and I have just received my five year service badge!

What is special about Girlguiding?

The people! I have been inspired by so many people in Girlguiding…
LEADERS: My first international experience ever, I had only ever been to Wales and had never been on a plane!
SNOWY OWL: Still sends me updates, really cares about what I am up to and also helping me fundraise!
MUM: Always on the phone to give support and last minute planning ideas- particularly when I am trying to plan Guides five minutes before girls arrive!
GOLD FRIENDS: My Guyana team and leader, current and past GOLD coordinators who believed in me, GOLD 2016 leaders, my GOLD Aruba team; I cannot wait to share this adventure with you!
GUIDES: Showing why Girlguiding is special! We always have fun, even after all day in the library revising. You inspire me to be a better leader and remind me not to take things too seriously.

Why did you apply for GOLD?

I heard about GOLD when Judy Ellis, one of Shropshire’s old County Commissioners and Grandma of GOLD, explained the wonderful work that has been done over the years. I met several GOLDies who were so enthusiastic about their experiences of sustainable development with girls and young women overseas that I was inspired to apply to INTOPS (now Go for GOLD).

How do you balance studies and Guiding?

Being a student Guide leader is hard but helps you to break the student bubble. You can get caught up in student life and it is refreshing to do something different, it enables me to explore parts of Sheffield and build new connections that I would never have found as a student.
I am training to be a Speech and Language therapist at the University of Sheffield and have lots of placements, assignments and exams. I'm as organised as possible and super flexible with plans. My housemates are great; helping with cutting out and providing packed teas when I don’t have time to pop home before Guides.
I think my Guides value the fact that I am a student; I have been asked about University life, and hopefully, I am breaking some of the parent’s stereotypes of students too!

What has been the toughest bit about GOLD?

In Guyana I was super sleep deprived, covered in mosquito bites, sun burnt and very hot. After an intense day of training that hadn’t quite gone to plan, all I wanted to do was sleep/ have a little cry. I then broke a chair (by accident) and it all got a bit too much. After ice cream, a bit of singing and relaxation I felt much better and turned a rubbishy situation into a great one…. our training the next day was fabulous!

What has been the highlight of GOLD so far?

I have really grown in confidence through GOLD. Starting as a nervous 17 year old who had never really travelled, knowing little about anything outside of the UK, I now truly feel part of a global organisation. I have Guiding friends from all walks of life who are passionate about changing the lives of girls and young women by providing them with a unique girl only space.
I have the confidence to say yes to exciting opportunities, like leading GOLD Aruba!

What have you learnt at GOLD that you have shared with your unit?

“Don’t sit next to Fred”, “Toaster, Microwave, Elephant” and “Fox and chicken”; fantastic games taught to me by the wonderful Clare, from Guyana 2013. My Guides absolutely love them and at least one of them is played every week!

GOLD? What is it and why do we want to tell you about it?

What are you doing?

GOLD is an Overseas Guiding project linked with development that usually lasts 5 years. A team goes overseas for 3 weeks each year, delivering training in a country that has requested our support. In our case, Aruba needs help becoming a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts – WAGGGS. We will also be focussing on growing Guiding in Aruba and raising the self-esteem of all the women and children we engage with.

Why are you going?
We applied along with a few hundred other girls who are currently active in Girlguiding in the United Kingdom. After written application in July, intense selection weekend in October, we found out we’d been selected in Dec 2015. Once selected, you are matched to a country based on your personal strengths and experience. It is a really incredible feeling to have been selected!
 

Why do you have to fundraise so much?

The project costs include; flights, key equipment, uniform, resources, and travel costs for all briefing weekends, where girls travel from all over the country to meet and plan training for our expeditions. If you'd like to sponsor us, or run our fabulous badge pack, we'd love to have your support!
 

 

Who are you going with?

It is an opportunity for adult women all over the United Kingdom, and this year there are girls from a wide range of areas, including Scotland, Wales and Guernsey. Team Aruba 2016 is made up of representation from the following areas:

 

          Hertfordshire          Sheffield          Guernsey          York          Halifax          Chesterfield

 

 

Involved in Guiding already and aged between 18 and 30 years of age? Why not apply to GOLD 2017!

http://new.girlguiding.org.uk/latest-updates/opportunities-with-girlguiding/gold-2016-1 

 

Alexandra's GOLDen Journey!

How did you get into Girlguiding? 

Lucky enough to grow up overseas,  I didn't  know what Girlguiding was about until my late 20s, while studying for my professional accountancy exams. Caroline, also studying, was telling me about her amazing adventures with her guides!
My first night was a combined section comic relief Danceathon! I love dancing, had a great night, and got my First Badge! It was great to see girls interacting across the ages, having fun and keeping fit.

I've just had my 1st Guide Anniversary and hope to finish my LQ this year. What a fantastic year it has been: Flip Flop Fling, canal adoption programme, safe space training, The Big Gig, Remembrance parade, and World Thinking Day sleep over.

What do you think is special and unique about Guiding?

I love that girls can be children and enjoy the adventure that entails, in a safe environment where they are encouraged to be confident and question the world around them. There is pressure for children to grow up fast but my unit love camping, so we take every opportunity to go, as the girls become more self reliant and confident, face new challenges and support each other to overcome fears.

Any favourite moments or memories?

We ran a Remembrance day sleepover and 2 serving female soliders ran command tasks and spoke,  followed by an interactive session with our local female vicar. It was great to see the girls interested in how different jobs can impact the world around them and give them inspiration be their best.

Why did you apply to Go for GOLD?

I was recommended to apply for GOLD, I had never heard of it. When I started researching, I was fascinated!. My impression of Guiding was a local focus, however this focus on local communities is worldwide.

Having always been involved with charity work, and in China teaching and working with migrant families, I was curious to see how a Guiding project could bring about sustainable community development in exciting locations.  I am excited to see how the team can help the Guiding community in Aruba develop in the years to come.

How do you feel about the upcoming expedition?

With excitement I can only count the days till third briefing weekend when we will start planning our programme- when the project will become very real indeed. The thrill of landing in a new country is one of the best feelings, you never know what you will experience and how you will be challenged!