ABOUT GOLD 2016
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.
It is here! GOLD Estonia 2016 Team's Challenge Badge.
Click here for the web version (small), or here for the print version (large).
If you are not sure, why not try our 1 hour taster programme. Click here for a print version, or here for a web version.
Watch this page in the next two weeks as we progressively upload all of the templates, detailed instructions, and further resources to help you run this amazing programme!
Resources
Challenge
AGP SuggestionsIntroducing Estonia Weblinks
Feedback Form
Go for Gold
WAGGGS Games IdeasPassport Template
Postcard Template
WAGGGS Website on World Centres
Last year's Go for GOLD applications closed in late July. The website for 2017 GOLD is not yet available, but check out the GOLD Co-ordinator's blog post, and watch your usual channels for 2017 dates.
History
JOTA-JOTI WeblinkVikings
Viking Invasion Wide GameViking Longboat Craft - Hobbycraft Blog
Viking Helmet - Paper mache instructions #1 Link (glue)
Viking Helmet - Paper mache instructions #2 Link (flour paste)
Food
Collection of Estonian RecipesPiparkook Recipe - External Link to Nami-Nami food blog
Talk of the Land
Estonian National AnthemEstonian Language - Link to website of letters, pronunciation & lots morelinks
Estonian Language Games - Link - Great for learning a few words and phrases!
Estonian Song Festivals - Link from Visit Estonia
Folk Craft
Knitting TemplatePyrography Information Sheet
All information in this website (including
links) is provided in good faith for your convenience and interest. Links to
websites were correct at time of publication; we cannot guarantee the content
of any linked websites, and we encourage leaders to preview any linked
information for suitability for their group prior to use. If you feel any of
the links are not appropriate, please contact us as GOLDEstonia2016@gmail.com.
As always, if you have any questions or queries (or just want to get your badge order in), send an email to GOLDEstonia2016@gmail.com.
Meet Team Estonia!
Members of our team have been drawn from across the United Kingdom, and are all members of Girlguiding. Here's a little bit of information about each of the team, however stay tuned to our blog for interviews and 'getting to know us' articles.Charlotte Mellor - Team Leader
Charlotte is our leader, having participated in the GOLD Cambodia 2014 project, and traveled to Estonia on a preliminary visit at the end of 2015. She is currently studying English Literature at Falmouth University and enjoys the outdoors and living by the sea. Charlotte is a Rainbow and Brownie leader, and is also currently working on her Queens Guide Award. At first briefing we received Estonia themed bags which has set Charlotte well on her way to being the best team leader ever!Katie Webb - Treasurer
Katie hails from Derby and works at the Co-operative bank. Her fantastic skills with numbers is definitely going to come in handy! Katie is a Brownie Leader and a Senior Section Leader and also has her Queens Guide Award. Katie is also an occasional leader and treasurer for a local Explorer Scout Unit.Alyson Wright - Photo & Video Co-ordinator
Alyson comes from Chester and works at Marks and Spencers. She is a Guide leader for a local Guide unit in Chester. She has previously traveled extensively with Girlguiding, including a trip to Gambia in 2014 and 2015. Alyson has also completed her Queens Guide Award and thinks being the Photo and video co-ordinator is another challenge to under take.
Tamara Ham - Written Documenter
While Tamara currently lives in Woking, she emigrated from Australia in 2014 to pursue a career in Quantity Surveying. Moving countries is much less intimidating when there are always new Guide friends to be made in the new city! Since joining as a Brownie, she has always been a Guide member, with leadership roles from working with 5 year old Gumnut Guides, to 17 year old Ranger Guides and everything in between. While in Australia she is a canoe and kayak instructor with Guides, Tamara has been taking advantage of the colder climate in the UK and learning to ice-skate and play ice-hockey.Margaret Duff - Training & Resources Co-ordinator
Margaret is studying Mathematics at Cambridge University and representing her college in rowing. She is also the Scout and Guide Liaison Officer of the Cambridge University Scout and Guide Club, and loves getting muddy on hill walks across the Peak District around Sheffield. Margaret volunteers with Guides when she is at home in Sheffield. She also volunteers for the Scout Association as an Assistant Cub Scout Leader.Emily Stone - First Aider
Emily's world revolves around her dogs. She shows them at charity fun dog shows, and has organised a dog show as part of her fundraising for Estonia. Cake decorating is another of her skills in development which she shared with a very grateful team at our first briefing. Based in Bedfordshire, she is currently working towards her Queens Guide Award. Emily is a dual qualified Guide and Brownie leader and runs a unit with her Mum and helps at a local Guide unit when they need an extra pair of hands. Emily's main passion in Guiding is campfire songs and she loves picking up new ones to teach to her keen Brownie pack.These 6 women from across the UK are on an amazing journey, and you can follow our project through our blog or by heading to our Facebook page 'GOLD Estonia 2016' and giving it a 'like'!
2016 Links and Resources
Note: These links are provided for information only, and are not updated beyond the 2016 Project. Team Estonia takes no responsibility if they no longer work. Our GOLD project is not in isolation. As we learn and grow, links and resources from our blog will be archived here for all of our reference.Other GOLD 2016 Teams
7 other GOLD teams are heading off this Summer/Autumn. Check out their progress here:
Team Peru Facebook
Team Aruba Facebook Twitter
Team Malawi Facebook Blog
Team Cambodia Facebook Blog
Team Ghana Facebook Twitter
Team Aruba Facebook Twitter
Team Malawi Facebook Blog
Team Cambodia Facebook Blog
Team Ghana Facebook Twitter
