World Thinking Day 2020

22 February 2020

Every year on 22 February, members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) celebrate World Thinking Day where girls and young women all over the world connect and celebrate what makes them truly unique and shout about the amazing things we do. This date, chosen in 1926 at the 4th Guiding and Scouting World Conference, is the joint birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout and Guide movement, and his wife Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.

The theme for 2020 is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and these values are at the core of Girlguiding. Volunteers work hard to make their units inclusive by creating a safe environment where all girls feel an equal sense of belonging and are supported to reach their maximum potential. They recognise diversity by embracing the common differences that may exist among people, including social and economic background, height, weight, hobbies and interests. All members, no matter what their identity or background, feel supported and involved in Guiding.

In the Berkhamsted District, all 12 units (2x Rainbows, 7 x Brownies and 3 Guides/Rangers) come together for an afternoon at the end of February to celebrate Thinking Day. To align with this year’s theme of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Thinking Day committee have come up with some fantastic activities to take them ‘Around the world in 4 hours!’

As we all know, Rugby isn’t just for boys – in fact, did you know that one of England’s ‘Roses’ comes from Tring?! Many of our girls play rugby, as well as football, hockey etc, and so someone is coming along to teach The Haka. It’s going to get loud!! Next, to give them a breather, the girls will be getting creative with some African Printing on canvas bags. Then, after some refreshments, the girls will be getting active again with some Bollywood Dancing before making Dream Catchers.

At each activity, the girls will collect a different coloured length of wool (4 colours representing each section in Girlguiding) which they will then twist and tie together with gold ribbon to make a friendship bracelet.

The afternoon ends with the girls renewing their Promise, some camp fire songs and the presentation of ‘Service Cups’ to those units who have done the most for the community over the past year – activities can include: litter picking around their meeting place or along the canal, entertaining residents in care homes, fundraising for good causes etc…

In Tring this year Guides are celebrating in their individual units rather than a District event. The Guides are planning an evening of International Food Tasting while the Brownies are focusing on Australia, with a view to raising some funds to help their sister Guides affected by the terrible bushfires. Rainbows will be making friendship bracelets. All members, young and old, will renew their Promise while some will make theirs for the first time. The Promise links us to other Girlguiding members and the ten million people involved in guiding.

Girlguiding is incredibly popular and there are long waiting lists for Rainbows and Brownies but the two thriving Rainbow units in Berkhamsted are sadly at risk of closure unless they can find a couple of new Leaders, by Easter. Tring also needs new Leaders for Rainbows and Brownies so if you could spare a couple of hours a week/fortnight and want to ‘give something back’, and have fun at the same time, then please contact Jo Bushe (Berkhamsted) on 07766 462775 or Sheila Hill (Tring) on 01442 823463 for an informal chat. They would love to welcome some new faces to the team.

And if you would like to register your daughter, you can do so via the link below:

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