Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG) was honored to hold the organization’s much-anticipated annual event on 20 February 2014 at headquarter of Sharjah Girl Guides. The full day program consisted of an indoor ceremony and an outdoor fun fair. Themed “Discover Your Dreams,” the day motivated local Girl Guides to explore their skills, hobbies, and talents to build a better tomorrow. The day was held in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, the Patron of SGG and a role model for all Girl Guides due to her own unfailing mission to inspire others to follow their passions.
The event commenced with an indoor ceremony from 9.30 am-2.30 pm which drew an enthusiastic crowd of 160 guests, representatives from respected Sharjah organizations and 400 Brownies (ages 7-12) from more than ten participating local schools. SGG leadership shared meaningful stories from 2013 with the audience, celebrated the non-for profit organization’s most recent accomplishments, and revealed exciting plans for 2014 including launching registration for the Guides program for older girls aged 13-15 years old.
A number of leaders and educators were honored and a special video of the year’s highlights was screened with interest. Significant events that took place in 2013 included an Emirati Arts and Crafts Workshop, a Mangrove Tree conservation workshop, the large scale painting of a colorful mural, volunteer activities including the “We Care” project and Ramadan visits to senior citizens’ homes, numerous arts workshops to encourage self expression, and the popular “Around the World” summer camp.
Partner schools present included: Australian School, Maryam Model School, Al Saleh School-Branch, Al Saleh School, American School, Al Nukhailat School, Al Bardi School, Al Helalyat School, Al Khan School, and Asma School.
An outdoor fun fair took place next from 4.30-8.00 pm with entertaining activities specially chosen to help the Girl Guides foster big dreams about what they want to be when they grow up. Led by dedicated local educators and volunteers, each station presented an innovative idea through play and discovery. Activities included jewelry making, exciting science experiments, and fashion design. The fair was open to the public and an additional 300 guests came to enjoy themselves and learn more about the organization that is shaping the next generation of female leaders in Sharjah.
All proceeds from the Sharjah Girl Guides festival were donated to The Big Heart Campaign, launched on World Refugee Day in aid of Syrian refugee children at the initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qassimi.
Reflecting on this important day and the previous year in review, SGG Assistant Director Eman Mohammed Al Mahmoud remarked: “2013 was a big year for Sharjah Girl Guides; we launched our new identity and our new revamped Brownies program. Under the leadership and with the support of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, the patron of SGG, we aim to grow even stronger on 2014. This annual event serves as a celebration of a year passed, a launch for the Guides program, and more importantly, a chance for non-registered girls to join us at SGG and experience for a day the fun activities we do here.”
About Sharjah Girl Guides
The Sharjah Girl Guides program includes a variety of activities that build leadership skills, encourage self-development and a healthy lifestyle and focus on outdoor adventures. Through a motivational system in which themed badges are earned by merit, Guides work to serve their community and get their voices heard in society. SGG is constantly creating new opportunities to cater to the various interests of the girls and help them to further develop.
The Guiding movement was first established in Sharjah in 1973, when the first camp was held by ambitious women seeking empowerment and change-based leadership contrary to the typical views of a woman’s capabilities in society. In 1979 the Girl Guides Association was officially born in the UAE and has since spread to all seven Emirates. All programs are managed and supervised by professional coordinators and follow the international standards of Girl Guiding. SGG belongs to a larger global movement founded in 1910 Sir Robert Baden-Powell is now known as The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.