First Week Reflections

This morning spirits are high, after a fantastic evening with Lula from Guiding in Aruba (APG) at the Carubbian street festival of San Nicolas. Street vendors, colourful costumes and Pastechi were the tonic we needed after a very busy first week! We've been training in Santa Cruz and San Nicolas, and are now being recognised from TV most places we go!

Each GOLD project contains the same ethos and passion, but projects vary so much in content and context. For Aruba, we have an audience with fair English, drinking water, WiFi and we've hired a vehicle. Being a first year GOLD project, there are many firsts for our group to experience! We are building a structure that delivers over 3 years, and one that results in the APG progressing from associated to full members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Our greatest joy in training here is without doubt the incredible feedback we have had at the end of each session so far! So much work hides behind the flow of each session we run, and hearing that it is making a positive impact gives us the energy to continually tweak and improve for the next two weeks. As we get to know Guides and Leaders here, our love for and respect for the women and girls we meet continues to grow.

Ridiculous moments
- Miriam walking in on Sita going to the toilet
- The genuine struggles to open, close and lock all doors in our accommodation.
- Sophie's 'light packing' means the team must scrape together to dress her!

What's coming next?
- We have a huge weekend of training ahead, with existing leaders and their plus ones, and we couldn't be more excited!

4 days in, time for a talk show appearance!

Our first training session with the community was set up for retired women, and we had an intimate and positive session. This is a key aspect of GOLD, being flexible and adapting to the situation you are presented with! We had a fantastic few hours with women from the APG board, and the Women's Club of Aruba. Strong, successful and inspiring women, coming together to consider their skills, and the wider world of Guiding that supports 10 million individuals across 146 countries.

'I see APG as my family, I keep them safe, so nobody can hurt them' - Cecilia

If newspaper coverage, and 2 TV interviews weren't enough, it was time to head to the recording studio to appear on Dika's national talk show. This was extremely exciting for all the group, and Steph and Miriam did an incredible job of handling the pressure of the studio! We're excited to be back on telly again in a few days, the novelty will not be wearing off anytime soon.

We came home to a fabulous vegetarian curry, lovingly prepared by Zoë and Anne earlier in the day. Our third and final outfit change was for our first evening training session at the YMCA, in San Nicolas. We set off in our fabulous mini-van, and spent a lovely couple of hours talking with some of the board, some of the leaders and a truly inspiring young guide named Gabby.

What's coming next?
More TV appearances!
Training sessions in new locations

Ridiculous moment:
Alexandra accidentally crashing the TV talk show credits

Mountain Top Moment
Being on a talk show!

Getting to know our Guiding sisters

Today concluded our first weekend training the Guides of Aruba, and it was a day of laughter and utterly incredible Girl Power. The morning began with song sharing outdoors, and then a focus on the Aruban Guiding values. We used a Friendship Shop, Helping Hands activity and a ladders game to get the girls thinking about their Guiding laws. 

Our helping hands came up with some wonderful quotes! 

         'I help my grandma cook'       'I help at animal shelter'      
                     'I help my Dad with the groceries'

It was soon time for lunch, and then our fantastic 7 station activity to challenge female stereotypes and really consider self-esteem. Using 'Girls Can' resources donated by Girlguiding North East, a Mountain Top Moments mountain range, the Always 'Like A Girl video' and Little Miss cards, we considered obstacles women face, and we actively challenged them. The session was genuinely moving, the girls gave such powerful and inspiring responses. We brought together the messages of the training in a short film we made, this will be shared shortly.

      

Our Mountain Top Moments came up with beautiful celebrations of our Guides key moments!

  'I won a medal for basketball'    'Visiting Nuestra Cabana'      'Being a Mom' 

  'Overcame my fear of swimming in open water'     'Meeting the GOLD Team'

The day ended with lots of cuddles, and a real sense that girls truly can do anything.

What's coming next?

- Training retired women and parents of current girls

Ridiculous moment 

- Zoë forgetting the words of The Funky Chicken, and instead letting out a full on chicken squawk in front of all the girls!

Arrival, TV appearances, and 'Wobble Technology'...

We awoke at Pax Lodge and were part of their flag ceremony after a hearty breakfast! Pausing to pick up a limited edition 25 year pin badge, we loaded up our huge bags and marched in the sun to the tube, beginning our day in London. Next stop was a quick explore of Girlguiding Headquarters in Victoria, and a pizza pitstop to fuel us for the travel ahead.

It was soon time to take the tube to Heathrow, making friends along the way! We boarded our first flight, and 8 hours later we landed in JFK, New York. Our 9 hour layover was spent trying to sleep on the airport floor, but loud announcements about taxi dispatchers prevented much sleep occurring! Before we knew it, we were boarding our final flight to Aruba...

Arriving in Aruba was surreal, and a big relief after a long journey to get there. We were greeted by wonderful women from the Aruban Guide board, and picked up our car from Hertz, before discovering our beautiful home in Savaneta for the next three weeks. Living on the beach, with pelicans and crabs for neighbours is certainly a fabulous base.

Our first morning in Aruba included 2 TV interviews and a journey to San Nicolas YMCA, which is an amazing Community building that supports up to 150 young people on a daily basis. This venue will be an incredible place for us to deliver training from, with large meeting rooms and a fantastic covered basketball court. 

What's coming next?
- First meeting with the board members tonight.
- Our first training with Guides will happen tomorrow!

Ridiculous moment
- Our 'Wobble Technology' Samsung washing machine, continues to only massage our clothes, despite 8 attempts to get it to wash them!

Mountain Top Moment
- Seeing the inside of a Guiding hut, and talking with Aruban unit leaders about our shared experience in Guiding in different parts of the world! 

All about Anne, our fab first aider!

 In volunteering, I have not had much interaction with other young women my age, and I felt GOLD would be a good opportunity to do this, whilst giving back. As an adult member of Girlguiding, I absolutely loved the Go for Gold weekend which was part of the selection process for GOLD. This was the first time I had participated in a Girlguiding event that wasn't for Brownies. The weekend was a  fantastic adventure full of different challenges, games and some unexpected twists and turns.

'this was the first time I had participated in a Girlguiding event that wasn't for Brownies'

I joined as a Rainbow with 30th Halifax St Jude’s and stayed through to Guides. For my Duke of Edinburgh I went back to my Brownie unit to volunteer, and I'm still here! I believe Girlguiding is special because it is truly an inclusive environment where every girl can be themselves.

As part of my GOLD fundraising, I held a cake stall in my town centre, and this was the first time I had promoted Girlguiding within the community. Some girls had very traditional views of Girlguiding; asking if ‘you had to get everything right’, and some parents seemed concerned about the expense of an extra activity. Some people are unaware of the fantastic opportunities the organisation offers at such an affordable price.

'GOLD has definitely taught me that you can't say yes to everything!'

Balancing GOLD with other commitments has been difficult. I unexpectedly became the Brownie Unit Leader in March, after the sudden death of our Brown Owl. This meant completing my Leadership Qualification and Pack Holiday Licence. Doing this, along with GOLD, University, and work has been pretty hectic! I have been late completing tasks and missed phone conferences, however, my team have been extremely understanding and supportive. GOLD has definitely taught me that you can't say yes to everything!

Top activity learnt through GOLD has to be 'Ride my Tuc Tuc', my Brownies love this game! I'm not even sure if we’re singing the song to the right tune anymore, but regardless they love it! We recently adapted it to our Harry Potter Pack Holiday theme, singing ‘Riding on my broom’

Guiding and self-esteem, the 3 sentence challenge...

A key training topic for GOLD Team Aruba is self-esteem, so each team member has written three sentences about the relationship between Guiding and self-esteem. We hope you enjoy reading them.

'With a severe eye condition from birth I have found it hard to make new friends due to embarrassment, but this wasn't the case with Girlguiding.  The leaders taught us all, from Rainbows through to Senior Section, that each person being unique was very important and you should never change who you are, and should be true to yourself.  Twenty three years on, I have travelled the world - on my own a lot – and am leader in charge of Guides and assistant leader to Rainbows.'

'In being asked to lead a GOLD project my perception of my abilities has improved no end. The affirmation of my GOLD Guyana 2013 team, family, friends and GOLD 2016 leaders believing that I am up to the job and past and present GOLD coordinators supporting me, has helped me learn to believe in myself. In turn, this has made me more confident at University, while on placement, among friends, in local Guiding and shown me that I am capable of much more than I often give myself credit for.'

'Being a student and a Rainbow leader has helped me to grow in confidence in a community that is bigger than the student bubble. Knowing I can positively influence a girl’s life, even by just providing an evening of fun at Rainbows, helps me to see my own potential for the future as a leader. Having girls who are happy to see me at a Rainbow meeting boosts my self-esteem because I am a part of their lives, especially when I don’t expect them to remember me!'

'It’s so important to grow up on positive messages, and in the face of too many negative messages I’ve certainly wrestled to try to create healthy levels of self-esteem and self-respect. Girlguiding gives me a network that actively welcomes and celebrates me, making me feel accepted and that I am part of something. I make a real difference to girls as they grow up, and that is one of the most healing activities I’ve ever been involved in.'

'Having volunteered for a number of years as a unit helper with Brownies, being asked to lead the unit has given me a huge boost to my self-esteem and confidence. It enabled me to realise I have the skills and abilities to lead an empower other young girls and women. I am extremely passionate about the ethos of Girlguiding and feel privelliged to be part of an organisation where I am enabling others to learn, explore and most importantly, have fun!'

'Before Girlguiding my friends were predominately male, and through blossoming friendships with other leaders, I have embraced female friendship and value how it is encouraging & supportive, whilst having adventures together. Girlguiding skills crossover into my work, such as teaching, facilitating learning, admin, etc., and by developing my skills as a Guide Leader I have become more involved in training on our new graduates scheme, increasing the number of people that I mentor. Joining Guiding in my late 20’s, it's not so much how Girlguiding has helped me grow in confidence, but instead how I can boost the girls’ self-esteem, and I have been able to value and recognise my own skills in challenging Guides to become very accomplished young ladies.'

Please take the 3 sentence challenge! We will be taking some of these comments to use in training on project in Aruba this summer, to help show the positive power of Guiding. We'd love to have some comments from different countries.

Our weekend in York!

              
Almost a year from our first application,
Once again time for another train station!
Time for 3rd briefing, in Wharram Le Street,
So much excitement, we can't wait to meet!

Arriving in York, get to know a new City,
Alexandra, our host, in a village so pretty.
Tour of the house, and yum, time for dinner,
Casserole, mash- always a winner!

We met our team Mascot, beautiful boy!

Cuddles and fuss for us all to enjoy.

Catch up and chat, then ready for sleep,

The comfort! No need to try to count sheep.

Early breakfast, so much to do!
21 tasks we must make our way through,
Unboxing uniform and 10 minute training,
All different, and fabulous ways of explaining!


 A most special guest, from Go for GOLD
Inspiring Guiding tales were told,
Never forget, what we are achieving,
In moments of doubt, keep on believing.

Lunchtime cheeseboard summons the crew,
A pit stop to refuel, admire the view.
Session plan blitz-attack, ideas are flowing,
So much to share, so much worth knowing!

Embedding leadership as a key theme,
Now innovate ways to boost self-esteem.
Well-being catch up, we're stronger together,
From strangers to sisters, bonded forever.

So much completed, out to the Fire,
BBQ treats, spirits couldn't be higher,
A game of Croquet before citrus tart,
Learning, laughing, GOLD love in our heart!


Laughter all evening, then darkening skies,
Early birds ready to soon rest their eyes,
Sleepover chats, then breakfast once more,
Girlguiding resources we need to explore!

Dividing up homework, Flesh on the bone,
Finding our flow, we're all in the zone!
Vegetable curry and ice cream for pud,
Trash and treasure, to reflect on what's good!


Beautiful gifts, so thoughtful, unique,
Small in size, great volumes they speak,
 Next time we meet, will be the big day,
But we've nothing to fear, It'll all be Croquet!

Journeying home, goodbye to the team,
With lots of GOLD Love, from Sophie Sunbeam.x