FINDING OUR PATH A TOOLKIT ABOUT THE OLDEST YOUTH AGE BRANCH IN YOUR ORGANISATION “Finding Our Path” was co-created with valuable contributions worldwide: Ideated and overseen by: LILIT CHILINGARYAN, COMMITTEE MEMBER EUROPE REGION WAGGGS MANUELA CAPRARO, GLOBAL PROGRAMME MANAGER Project coordination: With the special contribution of Thank you to all of our Member SARAH LEDJOU AND EIRINI KAPPOU the WAGGGS volunteers: Organisations (MOs) who responded to our research and helped this tool become Curated by: ANTONIA YIP, HONG KONG a reality with global inputs and feedback. EIRINI KAPPOU ROSEMARY GHOSH, UK ANNA BAMBRICK MILLIE CHEN, TAIWAN Special thanks to the Europe Region EMMA WITHINGTON PEI-YI LU, TAIWAN who ideated and coordinated this project. JANA KARASOVA FLISS CALLANAN, UK LUCA GIACOMINI, ITALY Graphic Design by: PRIYANTHI RAJAPSKE, SRI LANKA KLAIRE CHAVAKI PASCALINE UMULISA, RWANDA ROBERTA LORENZETTO, ITALY Graphic Design Contribution: CHRISTINE CRONIN, IRELAND LILIT CHILINGARYAN ULRIKA KOCH, SWEDEN ASHLEY GOLDSTEIN BARBARA MUÑOZ MADARIAGA, CHILE SIMMEN KAROLIUSSEN, NORWAY 1 WELCOME WAGGGS is a very diverse organisation. We worked with a group of volunteers Taking the diversity of our MOs into Our diversity is enriching; it makes us coming from Europe, Western consideration, we also designed this tool stronger and provides us with valuable Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia Pacific. in two phases. We provided a translated opportunities to get inspired by each They shaped the structure and the versions in our four official languages other. At the same time, creating a content of this tool. to a group of different MOs, in order tool that is relevant to all our Member to receive feedback that was then Organisations (MOs) and that can be We asked our members and girls to share integrated into this final version. A big adapted to local context all around the their experience with us in two occasions: thank you to them! world is a considerable challenge. 1. To develop a better understanding of We hope that you enjoy reading this This tool addresses a global need, how the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting tool and that it can help you to continue as expressed by motion 17, and is (GGGS) method is used by different offering the best possible girl experience developed by the WAGGGS Europe MOs. In response, 56 organisations in your Association! Region. As a Region, we are proud of from all regions shared their knowledge, the work we have been doing for Rovers challenges and best practices. and Rangers, particularly regarding the delivery of several successful editions of 2. To ask girls and young women what Roverway. We are very excited to make adulthood means to them. This resulted the most of this learning experience in 305 young people from all regions and create something that can serve all participating in a questionnaire that WAGGGS in its entirety. we shared through the WAGGGS’ social media channels. The Europe Region is very diverse, and still we are aware that we cannot just The great majority of what you are about assume the MOs’ practices and needs. to read, comes from our MOs; from our Therefore, while creating this tool, we young women that work to deliver the tested a new process with the aim of best possible learning experience to girls. producing something that is relevant of all WAGGGS’ MOs, in all their contexts. 2 CONTENTS 02 Contents 04 What is this toolkit about 08 About WAGGGS 11 Time to start finding our path 12 The path to adulthood from different perspectives 16 Adulthood around the world 18 Active citizenship 20 How does the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting experience look in practice? 21 What does your Educational Method look like in practice? 27 What is the role of the leader during the Path? 29 Pathfinder to adulthood around the world 32 What is your Member Organisation’s educational focus? 37 Ways to to review your programme 39 How can you review your programme? 53 What happens on a local level? 58 Appendix: Tools to help you review your programme Top tips Link to WAGGGS resources Pause for thinking 3 WHAT IS THIS TOOLKIT ABOUT A TOOLKIT ABOUT THE OLDEST YOUTH In summary, many Associations refer AGE BRANCH IN YOUR ORGANISATION to this age group in different ways, and even when we are using the same word, Rovers, Rangers/ Ambassadors/ JIN/ we might not mean the same thing. Cadettes/ Guías Mayores/ Compagnon/ Megaloi Odigoi/ Guides Ainées/ Moinho/ With the aim of easing communication Nil/ Older Guides/ Parmanuhiner/ Pion- in this tool, we will avoid using a word eros/ Caminantes/ Rover e Scolta that means something different in each country. Therefore, this age group will Age branch division can vary from one be referred to as “Pathfinders”, much like Association to another. Furthermore, it Lord Baden Powell’s name for this group is not static. Therefore, when an Associa- in “Scouting for Boys”. As it is used less tion reviews their programme, they may frequently than Rangers and Rovers, it also change the age branch segments, leaves you, the reader, with the flexibility depending on their members’ needs. to replace it with the word or words you use within your Association. There is also a great diversity in how we refer to this age group or groups. Keep in mind, this does not change the While we used to refer to it as “Rangers way we informally and formally commu- and Rovers”, we noticed that even the nicate internationally in WAGGGS. usage of the same word tends to change the meaning depending on context: the Accordingly, this toolkit broadens Ranger branch does not correspond to the definition: the same age group in different coun- tries! More importantly, it does not nec- This age group will henceforth be essarily correspond to “the oldest youth identified as the “Path to Adulthood” age branch” but, rather, a younger one. age group. Moreover, we shall use the term “Pathfinders” to refer to all those Globally, the age range itself varies who are transitioning from childhood significantly across our MOs – from 13 to adulthood. to 30 years old! “This age is one of the most difficult yet passionate things.” — Leader, Girl Scouts of Madagascar 4 Who are the stars of this toolkit? The Path to Adulthood Depending on your context, this tool There are different ways of describing/ can be used to reflect on what your deciphering this age. We would do well Association offers to girls and young to be proactive and broad-minded about women on their path to adulthood. creating a quality programme for our dynamic young members. In doing so, This toolkit aims to answer the key we’ll explore the problems they face question: what common methods every day. can we use worldwide among all WAGGGS’ MOs to inspire women to The United Nations Convention on the reach their full potential and help them Rights of the Child specifies that anyone take proactive action to transform the below the age of 18 is a child (UNCRC world around them? 1989, Article 1). Thus, can we assume that anyone who is 18+ is an “adult”? Or, This toolkit is for you: is there more to it than meets the eye? You’re a decision maker in your Throughout this toolkit, Organisation. You shape programmes you’ll see views and for this age branch – regionally and/ experiences from Guides or nationally. You set the strategies for worldwide. Young member engagement. women have answered our questions online in the research specifically designed for the Pathway to Adulthood age group. We received 142 answers from 56 Member Organisations comprising of local leaders and decision makers. Thank you Antonia, Anna and Priyanthi for this precious work. 5 Why did we create this toolkit? It took a journey of 3 memorable years to develop this toolkit for you and share the things we learned during the course of this eventful journey. WAGGGS provided young leaders with How can this toolkit support you How can you use this toolkit? a practical opportunity to work with in your MO? Rovers and Rangers via the 2016 project This toolkit provides a path to follow and “Lead the way”. The Roverway camp in This toolkit: all the chapters are interconnected with the Netherlands was a huge milestone - Encourages reflection in different each other. Reflection is the key point, in 2018, after which this project focused areas on how your work with this age so we recommend that you follow the on helping the volunteers become more group maintains relevance, excitement, whole path as described below: confident and competent – encouraging accessibility and learner-led focus. them to become conscientious - Helps you understand how you can 1. Read it fully. WAGGGS ambassadors. practically use the Guiding Educational 2. Note down the reflection activities method, based on the experiences of throughout this toolkit, you can find them Furthermore, at the World Conference other Associations. at the outer edge of each page, marked 2017, MOs voted the Motion 17: - Recommends steps to remember to with the respective icon (see p.3 and 10). “Conference recommends the engage with this age group in your MO. 3. Get inspired from best practices development of tools to support MOs to - Guides you through a process to assess followed globally that helps you reach help them to develop and/or improve their and track your programme. out to this age group more effectively. — educational programmes based on the - Helps you restructure the program, You can also contact experienced MOs in GGGS educational methods and taking wherever necessary. this regard. the different age groups into account.” 4. Use the tools provided in order to “We will be glad to learn from this programme, assess your current programme.