Guiding links
Girl Guides Australia is comprised of seven member organisations, one in each of the six States and the Northern Territory.
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the largest international voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the world.
WAGGGS is a global association supporting the female-oriented Scouts and female-only Guiding organisations in 144 countries. All members of Girl Guides Australia are members of the worldwide family of 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
In 27 countries across Asia and through the Pacific (including Australia), Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting is bringing girls and young women fun and friendship – as well as opportunities for personal development, education and professional training. Member Organizations work together to exchange good practice and run joint activities.
The four World Centres - Sangam in India, Our Chalet in Switzerland, Pax Lodge in UK and Our Cabaña in Mexico - belong to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
The World Centres are residential and training centres where girls and young women develop leadership and life-skills through international friendship, challenge, adventure and self-development.
Global Action Themes
At the 2008 World Conference WAGGGS announced the new triennial Global Action Theme (GAT) as girls worldwide say “together we can change our world,” The GAT will replace Our Rights, Our Responsibilities as the WAGGGS theme from 2009 onwards.
The GAT theme encourages girls, young women and members of all ages to make a personal commitment to change the world around them. The GAT is based on the United Nation’s eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and has been designed to be girl-friendly. The MDGs were agreed upon by the United Nations in 2000 by 187 nations with the overall aim to eradicate extreme poverty globally. WAGGGS has agreed that Girl Guides and Girl Scouts should be a part of this global effort.
The GAT badge curriculum encourages girls and young women to consider the many issues that may affect their lives, and the lives of others around the world, and provides the opportunity for them to focus on ways in which they can improve their world.
The GAT badge curriculum details activities for all girls and young women, including special activities for older girls, and younger girls. It is suitable for all Guides and Olave Program participants.
There are three levels, Basic, Advanced and Specialist, with each level requiring additional challenges to be completed. This curriculum will be available until 2011 – so it is possible for girls to work through more than one level of this badge. It is suggested that if this is likely its best to start with Basic, and then progress to the other levels.
The curriculum can be downloaded at:
Girl Guides Australia
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