THE Irish Girl Guides (IGG) launched its new national strategy ‘The Journey Programme’ in Mary Immaculate College this week.
Speaking at the launch were Ireland Women’s Rugby captain Niamh Briggs and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan, who said the 12,000 IGG members “will develop and grow in confidence, resilience and emotional well-being as they embark on their impressive new programme”.
She added that today’s members were set to become the “trailblazers” of tomorrow, no matter what paths in life they chose to pursue.
According to the organisation, the new programme will see IGG members develop confidence, resilience, emotional well-being, teamwork and leadership skills.
The Minister, who was once a Brownie (an IGG member aged 7-10), said: “The Journey Programme encompasses an outstanding range of activities and challenges that have been developed by hundreds of volunteer Guide leaders throughout the country. The impressive array of badges ranges from cultural diversity, healthy mind and disability awareness to independent living skills, voting, science investigator, community action and many, many more.”
Niamh Briggs, a former member of St Augustine’s Guide Unit in Dungarvan, said: “Being a part of the Guiding movement gave me huge self-esteem: it helped me to make friends and to take part in so many different activities and provided me with an outlet to express myself while learning so many life skills.”
Pauline Kennedy of Caherdavin, IGG’s Mid-West Regional Commissioner, said IGG is “the best movement for girls in our times” as it helps girls and young women grow in confidence.
