BellTime 6 pt1:Layout 1
23/09/2016
19:59
Page 36
BellTIME
Reach for the sun, moon &
stars with Irish Girl Guides!
‘IGG is a window with so many opportunities’,
says Young Scientist winner Climbing three Alps in a day, sailing a
tall ship, working with poor children in
India, broadcasting from a music
festival in Germany and representing
Ireland at the Women in the World
Summit are just a few of the many
exciting opportunities members of Irish
Girl Guides (IGG) have enjoyed in the
past year.
Branchers gain from their involvement
in IGG look great on a CV!
Jessica McMahon (16), of Celbridge
Senior Branch, loves the great
experiences IGG has given her. “I like
the confidence it gives you to do
public speaking and the extra
responsibilities you are given, like
being asked to help out with Brownies
That’s not forgetting the buckets of fun (girls age 7-10) and Ladybirds (age 5they’ve had taking part in a variety of
7).”
indoor and outdoor activities at their
meetings and on days out, weekends Emer Hickey (18), a Senior Brancher
away and trips abroad. Also, lending a from Kinsale who won the BT and
helping hand in their local communities European Young Scientist of the Year
and helping the next generation of girls 2013, describes IGG as “a window
grow in confidence.
with so many opportunities”. “I am a
lot more independent and secure
Senior Branchers (age 14-30) enjoy
because of Guiding,” she says, “And I
the independence of planning their
have had many opportunities other
own meetings, choosing activities that girls my age would not have had. We
interest them and that can be fitted in learn a lot about respecting other
and around their busy schedules. As
people, about leadership and the
well as the craic they have together,
world around us.”
the teamwork, leadership and life-skills
that Guides (age 10-14) and Senior
IGG members are encouraged to
make a difference and inspire
others to do the same. Emer
hopes that her prize-winning
project, which she achieved
with two school-friends, to
speed up the germination
process of barley and other
crops, will one day help
eradicate famine and poverty
in developing countries.
Aisling Claffey, a Senior Brancher from Cork, pictured
at Our Chalet, a Guide centre in the Swiss Alps where
Sarah Connolly (17), a Senior
Aisling has attended events and worked in the kitchens
36
Brancher from Lucan, was
Niamh McSweeney (left) & Aishling O'Connor of
Macroom, Co Cork, who completed the Chief
Commissioner's Award in Kerry this summer –
a 60 kilometre trek over 5 days, carrying all their
cooking and camping equipment, completing
eight projects and living on €3.50 a day
one of 14 hardy souls who took part
in this year’s Chief Commissioner’s
Award. The highest IGG accolade,
this event sees participants hike 60
kilometres in five days while carrying
all their cooking and camping
equipment and living on just €3.50 a
day. "We set out to achieve
something we had only dreamed of
and came out successful,” says
Sarah. “It was something completely
mad to do, but something completely
worth doing."
If you were a Ladybird, Brownie or
Guide (or even if you weren’t!) and
would like to give something to your
community, IGG is a great opportunity
to volunteer as a youth leader. You
can use the volunteering and other