Loving Guiding: Volunteers Speak

As well as being members of GOLD Estonia 2016, each member of our team is also a volunteer with Girlguiding. Over the last few weeks, we have been highlighting on Facebook why our team loves Girlguiding. Because we love Guiding, and believe in the opportunity it offers to all girls, we volunteer our time. In honour of Volunteers' Week, here's all of our reasons for loving Guiding:


Charlotte: I love being part of Girl Guiding as it has enabled me to undertake opportunities I would never have dreamed of doing, and to be part of experiences that have pushed me and made me grow as a person. I have visited many amazing countries, and along the way have met incredible people from all over the world, who I share a unique bond and friendship with which begins at our common interest in Guiding. I love being an advocate

for Girl Guiding, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.


Alyson: I love being apart of guiding as it gives you the opportunity to grow in confidence and the chance for international opportunities. Guiding has given me this chance to grow in confidence and also travel, which has led to gaining some new friends. Friends that will be friends for life! 😀


Tamara: I enjoy the experiences in the moment in Guiding, but I love the impact Guiding has on every minute of my life:

It has given me a moral compass to navigate an ever changing world.
It has given me an opportunity to explore our natural world and the wonders within it.
It has given me a sense of history to learn from a wealth of previous experiences, and to be proud of where I have come from.
I have learned to work with others, not just my friends, which is invaluable in the world of work
I have confidence to step up in any situation with dignity and without needlessly trampling on others
I have learned the benefits of giving to others, both for the recipient and myself. I have learned that I must always consider others, and from that good things will flow.
But most of all, I have moved 10,000 miles for work, confident that I would have friends and a community with common interests and goals because of Guiding!


Margaret: Difficult question, it's hard to pin down, there are lots of reasons. I enjoy the community, the fact you can move across the country or across the world and find like minded people. I have also had the chance to try buckets of new activities and challenge myself, gaining leadership and team work skills. It is also rewarding working with a group of young people and watching them grow and develop in their own space. One of the best moments I have had in Guiding was after we had made bicarbonate of soda volcanoes as a unit. The next week a Guide came in and showed my a picture of one she had made at home to show her younger siblings. A really small thing but it showed how we are making a difference to girls lives!

Trying things out of doors

Katie: The reasons i love being in guiding is endless. I love being a brownie leader seeing the girls come in at 7 and them leaving at 10 with more self confidence and turning into young women. I go away with guides and see them learning new skills and trying new things. Senior section is my favourite to see them from 14 as grumpy stroppy teenagers converting into young ladies. Their journey is the biggest dealing with GCSEs, A-levels, University, 1st jobs and of course 1st relationships. Helping them through these times and giving advice and support is the biggest reward for me. The friends I have made on my Guiding journey are friends for life and we stick together in the good times and the bad regardless of background or age. The memories I have made and are making with my Guiding friends will be forever in my mind and thats why I love it so much.


As you can see, we all believe in the magic of guiding for all girls, and we always welcome more volunteers from all walks of life - including men!

If you are not already a member, and want to be part of it, head to Girlguiding to register your interest to join!