Girls World Forum
July 12–16, 2012
Chicago, Ill.
Come be a part of this global celebration!
The Girls World Forum (GWF) is the third and final event in a series of forums that are part of the global centenary celebrations. The world forums, hosted by Girl Guiding UK in 2010 and the world centers in 2011, have already engaged more than 300 young women in discussions about the WAGGGS global action theme Girls Worldwide Say "Together We Can Change Our World," addressing the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
GWF 2012 will focus on three millennium goals: to end poverty and hunger, to promote gender equality and empower women, and environmental sustainability. It will include the following elements:
- Exchanges with external partners
- Development of advocacy skills
- Identification of viable solutions to MDG issues; incorporation of solutions into personal action plans
- Participation in local Take Action projects
- Review and incorporation of 2010 and 2011 forum action plans and centenary celebrations of member organizations
Every Girl Scout council and WAGGGS member organization is invited to select two girl delegates who are:
- Between the ages of 14 and 18
- Actively engaged in the council or member organization
- Interested in the UN MDGs
- Willing to develop skills and networks to bring about change in their communities and countries
- Fluent in Arabic, English, French, or Spanish (to contribute to and benefit fully from the forum experience)
We also ask that each council and member organization identify a young adult member between the ages of 18 to 30 to serve as a chaperone for the selected girl delegates. We ask that member organizations select delegates from YWWF 2010 or YWWF 2011 to serve in this role. Please note that this is a request and not a requirement. We are aware that not all member organizations had representatives at the previous forums and not all councils or member organizations will be able to send chaperones between the ages of 18 to 30.
If you are a girl interested in attending the Girls World Forum, contact your local council or member organization to find out how they will be selecting their GWF representatives.
Check out what happened at the 2010 and 2011 world forums.
Questions about GWF? Email GWF2012@girlscouts.org.
Millennium Development Goals
The United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight specific goals to be met by 2015 that aim to combat extreme poverty across the world. These goals were agreed upon at the UN Millennium Summit in New York in 2000. This was the largest gathering of political world leaders in history.
The Millennium Declaration, adopted by the 189 heads of state and governments, promised to "free all men, women, and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty."
The Eight Millennium Development Goals:
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Reduce child mortality
- Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Develop a global partnership for development
Why the MDGs
Millennium Development Goals embrace the WAGGGS mission of empowering girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as engaged and responsible global citizens. The MDGs address important issues that affect girls and their communities. Yet, with only a few years left before 2015, governments, the Millennium Campaign, and NGOs recognize that the MDGs are far from being achieved.
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have an opportunity to join the conversation and encourage key government figures to meet these historic goals. Girls can learn more about the MDGs on the WAGGGS website as well as through earning the Global Action award detailed in The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting.
