International - Wagggs Leadership Development Programme Seminar 09

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD?

WAGGGS Leadership Development Programme

Pax Lodge, London. 18th – 22nd April 2009

A new WLDP (WAGGGS Leadership Development Programme)which consists of 8 modules was launched in London in April 2009. The Europe Region, WAGGGS and Pax Lodge London jointly organized the seminar. WAGGGS leadership development focuses on the aspects of international leadership that are unique to Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting, namely:

v Values based

v Non formal education

v Inter- generational

v Cross cultural

The event was advertised in the “Guiders Link” and I decided to apply. I was very happy to get a place as I felt I was in need of some motivation to help me top up my leadership skills. Thirty-five leaders from twenty-one countries attended... I was the only one from Ireland. I was made very welcome by the organising team and all the other participants.

WAGGGS has been empowering girls and women as leaders for almost 100 years. Leadership development is about ensuring leaders realise their potential and have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience needed to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Leadership development is at the core of our movement and strategic direction.

The seminar provided participants with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills acquire a better awareness of their leadership roles within their association and identify their own leadership path using the methodology of the WLDP with its specific gender, inter-generational and inter-cultural perspectives.

We were asked to set goals, as this can be a challenging activity for some people; it requires you to think long and hard about what you really want to achieve for your life. Our call each day was “What did I do to-day to make me feel proud”. Many things happened to me to make me feel proud, going to the seminar on my own, raising the World Flag at a world centre ( people worked long and hard for our association to be able to do this) and entering the “ World Centre” as a member, along with many decisions to take control of my own life. The techniques and the programme were very good. Our journey began by forming patrols; in my patrol, we had the Philippines, Estonia, Mauritius, Slovenia, Belarouse and Ireland represented. We were called the “Poppy Patrol”

Our days and nights were very active; we spent a beautiful sunny day on “Hampstead Heath” enjoying our packed lunch. We visited an old church to see a very interesting stage version of “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

With so many countries attending, we had many interesting party evenings; the leaders brought many different kinds of food and costumes. The leaders

from Asia Pacific brought so much, they must have had a private plane. I would like to thank C.G.I. for giving me the opportunity to attend this very interesting seminar. The opportunities are out there, so I would urge all members to take whatever they can,( read you’re “Guiders Link”) and so be better able to pass on their skills to future members. It will also have benefits at an individual level. For those currently in leadership role, changing leadership roles or moving into a new leadership role, attending a WLDP event will not only strengthen your capacity but also have a positive affect on other areas of your life.

Change is never a waste of time. We have the potential to do it! We are the change; let us help to make our association grow.

Breda Healy, Cork & Ross.

Breda Healy

Poppy Patrol in Pax Lodge

Guiders from 21 countries