Tuesday 12 January 2016

2015 Highlights and End of Year Address

  

2015 has been a brilliant year for WAGGGS and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your hard work, dedication and enthusiasm to making the Girl Guide and Girl Scout experience so amazing.
Nicola Grinstead, Chair of the World Board and WAGGGS Chief Executive, Anita Tiessen, recorded a message for every one of you; our members, volunteers, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and staff around the world.


2015 Highlights

We’re delighted to have reached millions of girls throughout our programmes, events and workshops this year - here are some of the best bits!

January

WAGGGS adopts Charitable Incorporated Organisation status
On 1 January, WAGGGS became one of the first charities to adopt the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status, a legal structure unique to charities.
Millennium Development Goals
WAGGGS launched the Take Action backpack for the last year of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since 2008, over 100 Member Organizations and four million young women have taken action to achieve the goals.

February

World Thinking Day
On 22 February, thousands of members across the globe celebrated World Thinking Day. From sunrise in Kiribati to sunset in the Cook Islands, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts shared their #GuidingLight, which reached approximately 600,000 people through social media.
World Board
For the first time we held a second World Board Meeting in one year. Members of the sub-committees also attended.

March

Region Committees
The five WAGGGS Region Committees held their meetings with a focus on growth.
Commission on the Status of Women
A delegation of 12 young women represented WAGGGS at the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
Event team at CSW59

April

Anita Tiessen joins as CEO
We were delighted to welcome Anita Tiessen to the team as the Chief Executive Officer of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Nepal Earthquake
In the aftermath of the Nepal Earthquake, thousands of Girl Guides, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts provided rescue and relief efforts.  They helped to rescue more than 500 people and provided 200 tents, along with food, shelter and water.
ACTIVATE Stop the Violence trainers training, Zambia
44 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from Africa and Europe went to Zambia for the second of four regionally-focused ‘training the trainer’ ACTIVATE events supported by Zonta International.
Free Being Me training, South Africa
In collaboration with Dove, 26 participants from 14 Member Organizations took part in the Free Being Me #PreparedtoLearn training in South Africa.

May

Free Being Me Africa Region training, Rwanda
We held the first Free Being Me #PreparedtoLearn training for French-speaking African countries, in Rwanda.

June

WAGGGS and WOSM Consultative Committee
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the World Organization of the Scout Movement Consultative Committee met to discuss strategies on growth, youth empowerment and opportunities for cooperation.

July

World Thinking Day 2016
WAGGGS launched the World Thinking Day 2016 pack earlier than normal after feedback that Member Organizations wanted it earlier to allow for translation and programme planning time.
World Scout Jamboree, Japan
A 14-strong team represented WAGGGS at the World Scout Jamboree in Japan, providing Free Being Me and Stop the Violence Activities for thousands of young people.
Contingents at WAGGGS stand at World Scout Jamboree

August

Free Being Me Festival, India
82 participants came together for a fun-filled Free Being Me experience on the camp grounds of Sangam World Centre. Along with boosting their own body confidence, they spread the Free Being Me message to 150 girls and boys in a community action project.
Sangam Pool
Thanks to support from donors around the world, our Sangam World Centre was able to raise enough funds to build a brand new swimming pool.
Strengthening the girl experience and education programme, Benin
Continuing our work with the Africa Region on strengthening the Girl Experience, the Fifth World Centre travelled to Benin to work with 29 leaders from 14 French speaking Member Organizations.

September

UN General Assembly delegation
Three WAGGGS delegates attended the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to prioritise girls’ needs and to involve girls as agents of change for the Global Goals on Sustainable Development.
New WAGGGS Website
We launched our brand new website to provide an online space that is accessible, modern and clear.

October

Launch of Kusafiri, the Fifth World Centre
A Swahili word meaning ‘to journey’, Kusafiri has no fixed location, but provides World Centre experiences to members throughout the Africa region.
International Day of the Girl
On this year’s International Day of the Girl, we launched our 10 Million Voices programme, to be used with WAGGGS members of all ages and to introduce the new Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
World Board Meeting
The 122nd meeting of the WAGGGS World Board took place in London. WAGGGS officially committed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals and to focusing on quality membership growth.

November

Growth Round Table, London
With 122 participants from across the world, this event offered the chance for Member Organizations to engage with each other, and share best practices on membership growth.
Girl Guide and Girl Scout Experience Forum, Oman
100 participants from 40 countries gathered in Oman for the first ever WAGGGS Girl Experience event.
112015_Oman_International evening at Girl Experience forum

December

Stop the Violence - 16 Days of Activism
For this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, thousands of members made a noise for our #GirlsAreValuable campaign and turned their social media profiles orange to symbolise a bright future free from violence.
COP21: United Nations Conference on Climate Change
WAGGGS sent a delegation of young women to the official UN talks on climate change in Paris, where they advocated for the rights of girls and young women across the world.


Source:Wagggs.
Happy new year

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