Girl Guides unite to celebrate achievements and plan ahead
Girl Guides Gauteng West honoured exceptional service while gearing up for camps, community projects and fundraising events.
The Girl Guides South Africa (GGSA) is continuing to expand its footprint in Gauteng West, empowering more girls and young women through leadership, skills development and non-formal education.
The organisation’s Gauteng West Region held its quarterly meeting at Curamus School for Autism on July 11, bringing together current and prospective leaders to celebrate achievements, recognise long-serving members and plan future activities.
According to First Florida Assistant Brownie Pack Leader Kathy Slade, the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on recent events while preparing for upcoming programmes.
Kathy explained it also allowed them to introduce new members to their Regional Commissioner, Diane Ring, who has recruited leaders to train for new units she is establishing in Tarlton and Kagiso.
She added that, over the past 18 months, Diane had established six new units and is in the process of opening another four.
She said the quarterly gatherings also help strengthen relationships between new and experienced leaders through informal training sessions and the sharing of ideas.
“Folks were thrilled with their Christmas in July gifts they received by answering quiz questions.”
A total of 25 current and prospective guiding leaders attended the meeting, during which several members received National GGSA Awards for Service.
The recipients were
• Jan Davidson – Silver Fish
• Janet Aereboe – Bar to the Bronze Award
• Debbie Bevan – Silver Award
• Kathy Slade and Joan Lester – Star of Merit: Fortitude
Kathy said the region was also honoured to welcome newly elected GGSA CEO Zimasa Gqibani, who is from Gauteng West and serves as Ranger Crew leader at Florida Park High.
The meeting also welcomed back GGSA Youth Chairperson Nokuthula Mahlangu, who represented the organisation at the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in Cambodia in June, as well as Trefoil Guild GGSA National President Jan Davidson.
Kathy concluded that items discussed were the virtual AGM; 67 minutes of community service for Mandela Day in the form of a soup kitchen and stationery drive; a guide camp and brownie pack holiday to be held in September/ October; various trainings for adult leaders, fundraisers such as the Trefoil Guild Murder Mystery Dinner on September 19; and the next regional meeting in October.
