UAE Girl Guides attend 36th WAGGGS Conference in India

As part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts’ (WAGGGS) 36th World Conference, the UAE Girl Guides Movement (UAEGG) has continued in its efforts to restructure its policies and ensure that its strategies are in keeping with the world body.

The five-day conference, running from 18 – 22 in New Delhi, India, included several relevant discussions and expert panels that aligned with the UAEGG’s visions of an updated and progressive system to develop governance, management and sustainability systems and further increase the diversity of members, goals and opportunities.

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Chairperson of the UAE Girl Guides (UAEGG), the movement has embraced several goals, including encouraging girls and young women at all levels to achieve their aspirations, increase community awareness and develop funding and financing opportunities, which are also key strategies of WAGGGS.

The worldwide ten-year plan mirrors the UAE Girl Guides initiatives: 2014–2017, Affirm; 2018-2020, Empower; and 2021-2023, Elevate.

Representing UAEGG at the conference were Board Members Reem BinKaram and Aisha Al Suraidi, two of the most inspirational and supportive figures in the movement.

Reem BinKarem said: “It is vital that we invest in facilities, resources and curriculum development to ensure that the UAE Girl Guides Movement continues to recruit and retain girls and young women. And, as well as provide a valuable service to our community, and a source of inspiration to our members, we must also define a way to ensure that we are on track through outcomes and indicators, and be able to respond to changing needs and expectations.”

With a strong and influential presence at the event, UAEGG were proactive in attending and participating in many of the sessions in the packed agenda, with a view to long-term collaboration and promoting dialogue for mutual benefit.

Aisha Al Suraidi added: “Attending the conference has been an excellent way for UAEGG to not only listen and appreciate the strategies of the world body, but also to impart our own initiatives and goals. I feel that we have all taken a great deal away from these sessions and UAEGG has provided plenty of its own insights which will prove valuable to the other members.”

During the course of WAGGGS’ conference, UAEGG voted on the main agenda items, including fees, communication, delegation of administration, recruiting, adoption of procedural rules, modifying rules and strategic appropriation.

“In a digital world, it is time to invest in the new technology to make scouting more accessible and efficient, improving communication and reaching new communities in order make sharing knowledge easier,” Reem BinKarem added.

“It is gratifying to know that not only have we laid down our own visions for the future, we also see that these are very much in line with global goals. At the conference we pledged to continue those strategies so that we can enhance our contributions to the worldwide Girl Guide and Girl Scout movement and provide an even better service to our growing number of members and the societies to which they belong.”

UAEGG has sought since its inception to enhance and develop the skills of Emirati girls. It has contributed significantly to achieving its goals of developing creative and cognitive skills and cultivating the team spirit among Emirati girls. The guiding association strongly encourages girls to participate in its events and activities as members. This stems from UAEGG's belief that knowledge acquired by girls will help them in their academic and professional career as well as in their life.