Want to learn important life skills? Join the Girl Guides
The Girl Guides in Krugersdorp are still very active and invite young girls to join them and develop valuable skills while having fun.
If you are a young girl wishing to learn important life skills while having fun, why not join the Girl Guides in Krugersdorp?
Diane Ring, a Guider at 1st Krugersdorp Guide Company explained that Girl Guides is a world-wide movement that was founded 110 years ago.
“Its aim is to develop girls into competent and confident young adults, as well as caring citizens,” Diane said.
The Krugersdorp Girl Guide units have been in existence for over 70 years, and Diane has been part of the Guides for many years. She is also involved in training young Guiders to run their own companies.
There are two Brownie Packs for girls between the ages of seven and ten, two Guide Companies for girls between the ages of ten and 14, and then one Ranger Crew for girls between the ages of 14 and 18.
Diane said there are many benefits for girls who join the Guides.
They have the opportunity to experience different adventures at minimal cost. Because most activities are done in small groups, their social and leadership skills are developed. Guiding also instils a value system which grows them into caring, compassionate adults.”
On January 8 they also welcomed four new adult leaders, Andile Tshuma, Lerato Maripela, Neo Moerane and Kathy Slade into uniform. These ladies were members of the movement when they were younger and will now run their own units.
“They have started working on their Adult qualification which will enable them to competently run units of their own. They start with a three-month internship at an existing unit and undergo three levels of training.”
The Guides have a full year planned and while every meeting is filled with different age-appropriate activities to develop the girls, they also have an outdoor day and four-day camp planned in March.
In the second term there will be a craft day, and a day hike, and there is also the opportunity to attend a raft-building competition and a national youth camp.
Their weekly activities cover self-development, interpersonal relationships, community service, environmental awareness and leadership skills, and anyone is welcome. All you have to do is chose a unit you would like to join and contact the adult leader, arrive for the meeting and join in the fun.
Because Guiding is a volunteer organisation, the adults who organise the events do not get paid, so the only charge to the girls is basically the cost of materials used, transport and venue hire.”
One of their most experienced Guiders has been running the 1st Krugersdorp Guide company for 65 years. Vickey van der Walt was also regional commissioner for ten years. When the western part of Gauteng became a guiding region in its own right she helped to ensure a dynamic group of women in the region who gave of their time selflessly to the benefit of the youth of the area.
Weekly meetings and contact details:
• Guides (age ten to 14)
• 1st Krugersdorp Company meets on Fridays from 15:00 to 17:00 at the Girl Guides clubhouse at Monument Dam next to Key West. Contact Diane Ring on 073 836 2918.
• 3rd Krugersdorp Company meets on Saturday mornings from 09:00 at the Curamus School in Rant-en-Dal. It used to be called the Rant-en-Dal School, and is on the Sterkfontein road. Contact Debbie Bevan on 073 152 0333.
• Brownies (age seven to ten)
• 1st Krugersdorp Pack meets on Tuesday afternoons from 15:00 at the Girl Guide clubhouse at Monument Dam next to Key West. Contact Mary Weldon on 078 207 5142.
• 3rd Krugersdorp Pack meets on Saturday mornings from 09:00 at the Curamus School in Rant-en-Dal. It used to be called the Rant-en-Dal School, and is on the Sterkfontein road. Contact Michelle van Zyl on 084 526 5000.
• Rangers (14 to 18)
• Krugersdorp Crew meets on Saturday mornings from 09:00 at the Curamus School in Rant-en-Dal. It used to be called the Rant-en-Dal School, and is on the Sterkfontein road. Contact Michelle van Zyl on 084 526 5000.
