Guides mark 100 years of changing lives

Why three years of celebration? 1910 saw the first Girl Guide groups started in the UK by Robert and Agnes Baden-Powell.

By 1912, Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting had been introduced in many countries around the world.

Guiding came to Trinidad two years later in 1914, with the first meeting held at the St Ann’s Church hall on Oxford Street, Port-of-Spain on June 8 by Mrs Havelock, wife of a Methodist minister. By Christmas of that year there were four companies with a total of 100 guides and nine guiders. To add to the fun and activities of the 100th anniversary, a Celebration Day will take place on the 100th day of all three years (8th April).

The centenary theme, “100 years of changing lives”was announced at the 33rd World Conference in South Africa.

The Girl Guides Association of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates “100 years of changing lives” with the world following specific themes for each year of festivity.

— 2010: plant, introduce — this can be trees, food plants or flowers or a symbolic “seed of change”.

— 2011: expand, grow — let the seeds of change grow, expand existing plantations to bring about change or bring symbolic “growth”.

— 2012: dedicate, pass on, share — dedicate the plants, your achievements and share them with your community. Pass on your “harvest” literally or symbolically.

The local commemoration will continue through to 2014 with the publication of an anniversary magazine.

Former Guides are invited to submit bios on their Guiding career to The Girl Guides Association of Trinidad and Tobago, 8 Rust Street, St Clair, or by e-mail to girlguidestnt@mail.tt.

For more information about the upcoming celebrations or other Guiding activities, contact 628-7966.