World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is comprised of 144 Girl Guide/Girl Scout national associations, including Girl Scouts of the USA. WAGGGS not only provides the structure for uniting all its member organizations, but also promotes and establishes the Girl Guide/Girl Scout program in new countries around the world. WAGGGS member organizations aim to increase opportunities for girls and help them develop important life skills.

Girl Scouts of the USA supports international friendships through contributions to WAGGGS, including a donation every year from its Juliette Low World Friendship Fund to the World Thinking Day Fund.

Headquartered at the World Bureau in London, WAGGGS also owns and operates four world centers. Girl Guides/Girl Scouts can visit these program centers, which are in England, Switzerland, India, and Mexico.

How Did it Start?

Sir Robert Baden-Powell first created Boy Scouts in England in 1908. When girls showed up at a Boy Scout rally in 1909, Sir Robert decided that girls needed their own movement and name, and created the Girl Guide movement, first led by his sister, Agnes. In 1918. Sir Robert's wife, Olave, became the United Kingdom's Chief Guide, and the following year formed the International Council, which later (in 1928) officially became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Participation Around the World

The WAGGGS constitution requires that at least two women on its board be under 30 and that all World Board committees include at least one woman under 30. WAGGGS member organizations offer girls a wide range of leadership experiences. These positions allow girls to become competent and confident leaders, both in the organization and in their life in general.

WAGGGS Conferences

WAGGGS schedules events of many kind each triennium. Below are some examples of WAGGGS events.

• World Conference and Regional Conferences. Internal decision-making conferences are a vital part of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout democratic process. The most recent WAGGGS World Conference took place in Amman, Jordan, June 20-24, 2005. There, WAGGGS welcomed a new member and launched an exciting new tagline, "girls worldwide say." Read a summary of the conference.



• International Training Forums and Seminars. Every triennium, WAGGGS regions hold training events, focused on leadership development, that are aimed specifically at young women. From April 19-25, 2003, 24 Girl Guide Leaders ages of 20-35 from 11 countries in Africa were trained as "Peace Ambassadors" in Rwanda. The issues addressed were violence, conflict management, the effect of conflit on the community, acceptance, and tolerance.



• Juliette Low Seminars. Started in 1932, Juliette Low Seminars take place twice every triennium. The seminars provide international leadership training for young women who come from any member organization. The most recent Juliette Low Seminar was held in Pax Lodge, London, from January 8-15, 2005. The seminar provided a platform for young women to:
  
  
  • Share their views and experiences
  • Develop a sense of universal citizenship
  • Enhance their leadership skills
  • Appreciate cultural differences
  • Broaden their international understanding and
  • Prepare for national and international leadership

World Association at the United Nations

WAGGGS has six teams at United Nations locations around the world. Each team has members promoting issues affecting girls and young women. GSUSA works closely with the WAGGGS UN teams at the UN in New York. Read more in the UN section.