Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Western Endeavour - Issue No.: 1116 Issue Date: 21 Apr, 2024

Miss Jessyka Jakovcevich gave an impressive presentation to the RCWE at the Tuesday 7 March meeting on “Girl Guides in today’s society”. Jessyka is well versed on Girl Guides in WA being the third generation in her family to have significant involvement in the movement. Operations of Girl Guides may have changed over the past 100 years but Jessyka stated that the objective of the association “promoting the potential of girls” remains the same. In fact, the mission of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS) is to “empower girls and young woman to grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community members”.

Jessyka mentioned that Girl Guides were formed after girls rallied in London during 1909 in constructive protest at the exclusiveness of a boys only scouts which had been established in 1908 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Boy scouts in the early 20th century was formed to encourage camping and woodcraft. Girls rarely become involved in these activities at that time but had demonstrated considerable interest in doing so. In support of the girls, Lord  Baden-Powell and his sister Agnes started the girl guides in 1910. WAGGS developed thereafter and the movement reached Australia in 1915.

WAGGS has a membership of over 10 million girls and women in 145 countries. As an organization, it has centres in London, India, Switzerland, Madagascar and Mexico where girls from around the world can meet and develop their leadership and life skills in an environment of international diversity. There are about 30,000 girl guides in Australia of whom 2,000 are in Western Australia accompanied by about 500 volunteer leaders and adult members. Members are aged from 5-17 years of age with leaders of 18+ years. Four to eight young members become part of a patrol consisting of different ages and backgrounds to help improve skills of self-government, communication, group management and leadership. These patrols are part of a unit. Patrol and unit names in Australia are traditionally named after Australian flowers and small Australian animals such banksias, kangaroo paws, possums and pelicans.

Todays Girl Guides operate in a safe and friendly environment where its members have fun and make friends. The girls can have a say in planning activities and other decisions affecting them, are listened to and their views respected. Members are encouraged to challenge themselves to develop their own potential. Outdoor activities of the past remain part of Girl Guides, but the main objectives are for the members to do your best while being challenged by diverse experiences, undertake teamwork and acquire leadership skills, develop self-awareness, self-respect and self-confidence and to develop personal values. As part of Girl Guides Western Australia, Jessyka will continue to promote the organizations relevance and attractiveness to develop confident, capable and responsible generations for the future.