About our Project

GOLD

Guiding Overseas Linked with Development is a programme of Girlguiding whereby members 18-30 are trained to deliver sustainable projects in conjunction with host organisations to develop Guiding overseas. For participants, GOLD is an experience of a lifetime and will give many, many opportunities for personal development. Participants are expected to contribute fully and dedicate significant time and resources to making projects a success. Host organisations benefit from trained teams of experienced Guide members to work with them to develop and implement a project in line with their objectives. 

Eesti Gaidide Liit

The Estonian Guide Association is our partner for this project, and has a long history. Guiding first came to Estonia in 1919, with the first Guide Unit starting from roots within Scout Units. Guiding continued to grow in Estonia with significant success including membership of WAGGGS from 1928. Soviet and then German occupation led to the banishment of Guiding in Estonia, although Estonian Girl Guides were resilient and established themselves in exile all across the world (Canada, Sweden, USA, Australia, Argentina). 

With political change came the restoration of Guiding in Estonia. Two organisations were formed in 1988, whom formed an alliance in 1992 with a successful push for WAGGGS membership. Unification into Eesti Gaidide Liit (The Estonian Guide Association) occurred in 1999, with a strong, unified organisation to grow into the new millennium. 

Despite its proud history as a survivor, the Estonian Guide Association is a young organisation, and this new GOLD project is an opportunity to develop the organisation's capacity to deliver programmes for all youth. Current sections include Brownies (7 - 11 years), Guides (12 - 15 years) and Rovers (16 - 26 years). 

Camping is a very popular activity amongst Estonian Guides. Over the years, many camps have been held through the country, ranging from troop to national level events. The Guide Assocation shares close ties with the Estonian Scout Association, including running of joint camps. 

Our Project

The purpose of this GOLD project is to assist the Estonian Guide Association with updating their training programme, the retention of older guides and rovers, and the recruitment of new leaders with the overarching aim to grow the organisation. This is important as they are still a small organisation with ambitions to grow. Improving training for leaders can return excellent dividends by directly improving member experience, and empowering experienced leaders to deliver trainings to continue the benefits long after we have left. 

The First Year

2016 is the first year of the Estonia project, and we intend to lay the foundations by undertaking a variety of activities including:

• Attend the national camp for a week to run workshops with Rovers and leaders to share their experiences and develop empowerment 
• Work with the training commissioner and a focus group in Tallinn to restructure the training scheme in response to feedback on camp
• Visit local leaders to trial the new training scheme (Parnu/Tartu/Tallinn)
• After project, Estonian Guides to finalise the training scheme with the training commissioner in response to feedback

In addition to providing real change and development for the Estonian Guide Association, this project will develop participants to be leaders, ambassadors, and self-confident individuals to serve Girlguiding and their communities. 

This project will change lives, and you can be part of it but making it happen. Head to our support page to see what you can do.