January - Girl Guides Singapore

Features
What Is Girl Guiding? (continue from previous page)
from other countries and culture – stimulate an
awareness of a wider world and the development of
a world view by being part of a world organization.
Relationships with the younger and older, weaker
and stronger members enable her to learn, to lead
and to be led. This is the beginning of establishing
friendship, leadership and sharing responsibility
within a team, and is found everywhere in the
Guide Movement.
4. Guiding endorses a set of moral values. In the
Promise, a Guide recognizes the existence of God
and discovers a spiritual strength for herself to do
her best. In the Law, she upholds a set of moral
values. As years go by, the values become ingrained
and will stand her in good stead throughout life.
In other words, Guiding helps her grow up into
matured womanhood ready to take a responsible
place in the home and community.
Girl Guiding develops humanity through love
rather than perpetuity of ill-will through fear.
We provide varying opportunities for girls to see
the problem of dynamics of ethics, group living
and democracy in a girl-sized setting they can
understand. A community that cares for the healthy
and wholesome development of girls will see to
providing opportunities for them to grow in the
right direction.
It rests with us - the adults - to decide how we
want to help our girls. As responsible citizens of the
country, we have this duty to perform.
by Chan Siok Fong
MITA (P) 206/10/2003
This Issue
Dear Brownies, Guides, Young Adults, Guiders & Commissioners,
A new year! A new beginning!
Vol 38 No. 1 Jan 2006
Newsletter of Girl Guides Singapore
The promise of new experiences, new challenges, new friendships …
With this year so new, like a clean slate, how will you write it? I would like to
encourage you to Discover your potential! Unleash your creativity! Live your
dreams! As an association, we would
like to build our capacity. On your
part, you could focus on developing
yourself as a leader. I dream of a
revitalized GGS! A strong and growing
GGS! A strong and growing GGS will
need you as leaders! Are you ready?
Are you ready to be the voice of girls
and young women to build a better
world? We can begin with a simple
new year prayer…
Highlights of 2005
PATRON:
MRS S. R. NATHAN
PRESIDENT:
MRS TEO CHEE HEAN
CHIEF COMMISSIONER:
MS YVONNE LIM
EDITOR:
MRS WAH TENG SIEW
MEMBERS:
MRS TEO CHEE HEAN
MS JALILAH JOHAR
MS JILLIEN FOO
PUBLISHED BY:
Girl Guides Singapore,
9 Bishan Street 14,
Singapore 579785
Tel: 62599391 Fax: 62595452
Email: queries@girlguides.org.sg
Website: www.girlguides.org.sg
Guide News is the official
publication of
Girl Guides Singapore.
PRODUCTION BY:
Lexis Branding LLP
01 New Year Message From
Chief Commissioner/Guiders’
Conference
UPDATES
02 President’s Guide Award
Ceremony
03 The Denmark Jamboree 05 –
An Awesome Experience!/
Australian Friendship Train
04 Blue Sky 2005 - MY Camp
(Mongolia)/West Division
Brownie Quiz ‘05/South Division
Day
05 Brownie Challenge 2005/
Celebrating Lantern Festival By
N5 Cluster Schools/Project Good
Turn
08 Singapore Armed Forces
Veterans’ League
Rememberance Day 2005/
Visitors From Overseas
FEATURES
09 The Special Good Turn/
SWING - UK Camp
10 WAGGGS - New Look/32nd
WAGGGS World Conference
11/12 What is Girl Guiding?/
Highlights of 2005
IN-TOUCH
06/07 Recruitment Tips/“Experience
The Magic” VCD/Yummy .../
Priorities In Life/Brownie for
Brownies/Limited Offer
For what we are about to do,
May God make us truly responsible;
For what we are about to think,
May God make us truly wise;
For what we are about to say,
May God make us truly sensible;
For what we are trying to achieve;
May God accept and bless our
efforts.
[Taken from ‘The Best of the Leader Cut-Out Pages]
In all that we do, may the Promise and the Law that bind us, remind us to
Be Prepared.
Think it. Say it. Live it.
Guiders’
Conference
Yours-in-Guiding
Yvonne Lim
Chief Commissioner
Guiders’ Conference was held
on 10 September 2005. The
theme for this year’s conference
is “Positioning for the Future:
Building Capacity and Revitalising
the Movement”.
It was an opportunity for
everyone in the Guiding family
to come together to take stock
of what we have achieved, keep up with the developments in our Association, plan for
2006 and have fellowship with other Guiders and Commissioners.
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Updates
President’s Guide Award Ceremony
Highlights of 2005
Features
What Is Girl Guiding?
“ . . . It is a preparation for life itself and all its challenges . . .”
- Be Prepared -
Twenty-two Girl Guides from Girl Guides Singapore (GGS) received the President’s Guide Award at the
ISTANA on Saturday, 15 October 2005. His Excellency, President S R Nathan, officiated and presented the
awards to the recipients.
The support these recipients received from their Principals, Guiders and parents has made it possible
for them to survive the rigorous tests involved to achieve this award. They, like those before them, serve
as a role model for other Girl Guides.
President’s Guides
1 Chew Wei Xin Anderson Secondary School
2 Chew Zhi Yan Anderson Secondary School
3 Lee Jia En Anderson Secondary School
4 Nurshidah Binte Mokhtar Anderson Secondary School
5 Teo Wei Ching Anderson Secondary School
6 Yueh Hui Ying Anderson Secondary School
7 Ang Kai Fong CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School
8 Lee Kiah Leng CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School
9 Noordiani Binte Mohd Salleh Damai Secondary School
10 Poon Hui Ting Damai Secondary School
11 Tan May Jan Clara Methodist Girls’ School
12 Loke Yongli Dawn Nanyang Girls’ High School
13 Ng Hui Jin Nanyang Girls’ High School
14 Tan Wen Hui Nanyang Girls’ High School
15 Ang Yi Shan Raffles Girls’ School
16 Boppana Sai Prasuna Sruthi Raffles Girls’ School
17 Divya Selvaraj Raffles Girls’ School
18 Su Mei Qi Charmaine Raffles Girls’ School
19 Wu Sau Ling Raffles Girls’ School
20 Yang Huiyue Cherie Raffles Girls’ School
21 Yeo Xin Wei Raffles Girls’ School
22 Quek Yanting Seng Kang Secondary School
Girls growing up need friends of their own age. They
like the feeling when their friends accept them for
what they are. They want to be useful as individuals
by knowing how to do things well. They yearn for
information on all sorts of subjects - some of which
they do not get from home or in school. They want
plenty of activities that are lively, fun and adventurous.
They need an older, understanding friend to whom
they can talk.
The Girl Guide Movement has just the right
programme and activities for them. Race, religion
and culture are not barriers for them to realize their
goals.
Girl Guiding in Singapore started in 1917. Is
the Movement still relevant today - almost 90 years
later?
Yes, very much so. Living in a high-tech society
does not mean we concentrate only on developing
individuals to think, reason and analyse. While one
copes with the rapid and incessant technical and
interpersonal changes today, one needs to be humane,
innovative and capable of responding to challenges
instinctively. As our schools provide the intellectual
and physical needs for academic achievement, Girl
Guiding activities cater to the mental, emotional and
social needs of the girls. Thus, Guiding provides the
balance in the development of a wholesome person.
How does Girl Guiding contribute to this
development?
1. Guiding awakens the personality of each
individual. In Guiding and its activities, a girl
discovers things about herself, her surroundings
and her own spiritual belief. At the same time
she develops her senses and an awareness of what
goes on around her. This process of discovery and
development continues throughout life and is part
of all true education. Nothing is done by theory
alone. Everything depends on experience. It is
“Life through Knowing and Understanding.”
2. Guiding caters to the mental, emotional and
social development of each individual. Awakening
of individual personality leads to the awakening of
ability and the capacity to do things, including the
very things that seem impossible - “I can’t read
a map”; “I can’t thread a needle”; “I can’t cook
“ - Guiding challenges all these statements and
proves to the Guide that she is capable of doing
these things. The Badge System leads each Guide
to succeed at her own pace.
3. Guiding provides training in interpersonal
relationship and leadership in her service to the
community. Working together in groups within
the Patrol System helps the Guide to realize her
capacity to use her skills and knowledge to help
other people. This capacity begins with a daily
“Good Turn” that culminates in a willingness and
readiness to “help others at all times” in a bigger
community. Through service comes a growing
consciousness of people – family, friends and peers.
Through international gatherings - meeting people
(continue next page)
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Features
Updates
32nd WAGGGS
World Conference
The 32nd World Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts (WAGGGS) World Conference was held in
Amman, Jordan from 20 to 24 June 2005. Girl
Guides Singapore (GGS) was represented by our
Chief Commissioner, Yvonne Lim, and Deputy Chief
Commissioner cum International Commissioner,
Jessie Tan. Members Organisations (MOs) from
more than a hundred countries sent representatives
bringing the number of participants to more than
five hundred.
Amongst the delegates were three special
guests – HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan,
HRH Princess Azizah, The Crown Princess of
Pahang, and HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark.
In addition to the warm welcome and hospitality
extended by Princess Basma and the Jordanian
Association for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, His
Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan also showed his
support and attended the opening ceremony which
included visiting dignitaries and ambassadors from
around the world.
Six new members were elected to the World
Board this year. They are Lucia Piñeiro Gastañeta
of Peru, Rehana Banoo of Bangladesh, Linden Edgell
of Australia, Liesbeth Lijnzaad of the Netherlands,
Della Salway of the UK and Margaret Treloar of
Canada.
WAGGGS
- New Look
The World Board recognized that WAGGGS, as the
leading organization for girls and young women, needed
to have a high profile and to present a more dynamic
image to be attractive in the 21st Century. A new
identity was launched at the 32nd World Conference
in Amman, Jordon.
The New Look features the WAGGGS logo, the
strapline ‘girls worldwide say’ accompanied by the
traditional trefoil. The logo can be used with key
messages to communicate a broad range of ideas.
The Denmark Jamboree 05
– An Awesome Experience!
Led by Mrs Mindi Peter, our Guide Branch Commissioner, fifteen of us left
for Denmark on 21st July. We took a train from Copenhagen to Viborg, then
trudged a 7-kilometre track - amid miles of barley fields, corn and potato
plantations – wearing ski jackets to protect us from the severe cold winds
to arrive at Zunstrup Campsite on 23 July 05. We wasted no time joining
campers from eleven other countries to build the fire pit, set up camp tables
and other massive gadgets. When the Danish say ‘camping outdoors’, they
mean just that. The firewood was freshly sawed. Breakfasts and lunches
comprised mainly grains and sandwiches with no hot food throughout the
eight-day duration.
The camp programme was unique with a new activity introduced
everyday. Some of us learnt more about the wildlife while others learnt to
cook bonbons, bake bread on an open fire, make candles, lace as well as
instant cheese.. We went on a gruelling 20-km hike around the countryside
and slept under ‘bashas’ at our pit-stop - a dairy farm! That night was also
the coldest and most tiring night for us, yet not even two cows in labour
could keep us awake.
Australian
Friendship
Train
About 130 participants from
9 countries came together on
a trip to make friends around
Australia. There was no age
limit for the
participants
whose ages
range from
12 to 81. We
started from
B r i s b a n e
going to
S y d n e y ,
Melbourne, Lauceston, Adelaide,
Alice Springs, Kalgoorlie and
finally Perth, a total of 28 days
with 2 to 3 days’ stop in every
town. The accommodation in
the towns range from motels to
backpackers’ hostel.
We became very good
at reorganizing our luggage,
queuing for food and toilets -
just about everything.
All in all, it was quite an
experience.
10 3

Updates
Features
West Division
Brownie Quiz ‘05
The Girl Guides Unit at
Regent Secondary School, in
collaboration with River High
School, hosted this year’s
Brownie Quiz for the West
Division of Girl Guides Singapore
on 9th July 2005.
Brownie Guiders from Keming
Primary, Rulang Primary and
Jurong Primary – part of
the organizing committee
– generated questions from the
Brownie Handbook.
Results of the preliminary
round determined the four best
teams which competed in the
Individual Round, Speed Round
and Buzzer Round - where teams
compete to answer questions.
South Division Day
Blue Sky 2005 -
MY Camp (Mongolia)
It was hard saying goodbye after
ten days at MY camp (Mongolia). I
was part of an international group
comprising Koreans, a Latvian and
a British. We were welcomed by
Mongolian participants and camp
staff as well as British volunteers
for the camp.
Shrill whistles woke us every
morning and we started the day
with physical training in the wide open fields around the camp, or on
the surrounding hills and mountains.
The campsite was within five minutes’ walk from a river which
soon became a favorite haunt as we were allowed only 3 showers in
those ten days. In full view were herds of horses galloping wildly and
flocks of sheep grazing serenely.
We learnt about the cultures and traditions of the Mongolians and
tried Mongolian sports such as wrestling, archery and horse riding.
There was also an International Day when participants introduced
their countries, practices and traditions.
My guiding skills were put to a test on Tent Camp Day when we
hiked 5 km to pitch tents in a grassy field. We had to find our own
wood and water as well as start our own fire. Without axes or knives,
we ventured deep into the forests to break dry branches off trees. It
was no mean feat trying to start a fire in the rain but with teamwork
and perseverance, we managed somehow!
However, the best part of the camp is making new friends. Not
everyone spoke English fluently but we overcame the verbal obstacle
and formed close bonds. The camp may have ended but I’m sure it’s
just the beginning of many new friendships.
by Aneesa Fazal
The Special Good Turn
Part 4 of 4
“Where have you been, you naughty girl?” Pat’s mother scolded.
Ann ran along the path. “I found her crying in the woods,” she
said. “I don’t know how she got there.”
“Come along to the cottage and dry yourself,” Pat’s mother
invited.
The cottage was not far away. Ann was thankful to see it. As Pat’s
mother opened the door, Ann saw that a fire was burning in the grate,
and smelt warm bread.
Both girls were quickly relieved of their wet clothes and then
wrapped in blankets.Soon they were squeezed through the gap.
“Where do you live, Ann?”
“At Leaf Lane,” Ann told her
“Are you on the telephone?”
“Yes,” Ann replied.
“If you will tell me your number I’ll ring your parents and let
them know that you are safe.”
Ann gave her the information, and she left the cottage to
telephone. She came back about fifteen minutes later.
“You could stay for tea, Ann, if you like, and your father will fetch
you when he comes home from work.”
It was several hours later, when Ann was safely back at home,
that she remembered the leaves she had collected.
“I must have left the basket in the woods,”she thought. “I’ll go
back tomorrow for it.”
She found the basket the next morning, but the leaves were
ruined.
“Never mind,” she said. “I can easily collect some more.”
During the remainder of the week, Ann pressed the leaves,
mounted them up, looked up their names in a book she borrowed from
the public library, then carefully printed the name beside each leaf.
At the next Pack meeting, Brown Owl asked whether the Brownies
had all remembered to do a special good turn. Some Brownies had,
some hadn’t; some shuffled their feet, and some said they did nothing
at all. Then, Brown Owl took a letter from her pocket and read it out.
It was from Pat’s mother, and had been passed on to Brown Owl by
Ann’s mother, who hadn’t told Ann about it. It thanked and praised Ann
for looking after Pat and for so cleverly finding her way home.
“ It just shows what you can do if you really try,” Brown Owl said.
“Finding the way was the part of the Discoverer Badge test you really
dreaded, wasn’t it, Ann? Well, you proved that you could do it by being
alert and using your eyes, even under very difficult conditions. You can
certainly count what you did for Pat and her mother as a special good
turn - don’t you think so, Brownies?”
All the Brownies nodded and shouted “yes” with great vigour.
“You’ll still have to pass the test with a tester, Ann,” went on
Brown Owl, “ but I’m quite sure now that you’ll pass.”
A week or so later, Ann took the final part of the test for the
Discoverer Badge. She did so with a confidence she wouldn’t have
dreamed she possessed a week earlier, and was praised by the tester
for the way she found signs and landmarks that guide her along the
right path.
Now she not only wears the Discoverer Badge and the Collector
Badge, but under her Six Emblem is a Second stripe!
The End
SWING -
UK Camp
4 9

Singapore Armed Forces
Veterans’ League
Rememberance Day 2005
Remembrance Day is observed annually in
commemoration of the soldiers who died defending
Singapore during World War Two.
This year, the SAFVL observed Remembrance Day
on Sunday, 13 November. Eighteen Girl Guides from
South Division represented Girl Guides Singapore at the
Kranji War Memorial while nineteen others attended the
ceremony at Sarimbun Beach - where members of the
Allied Forces were overcome by Japanese soldiers who
made a successful landing at the beach on the morning
of 8th February 1942.
The ceremony was attended by surviving war
veterans - some of whom came all the way from Britain.
It proved to be very moving and enlightening for our
girls who may not truly realize the suffering endured by
those who defended our country. To quote the citation
on the Memorial at Elizabeth Walk, “They Died That We
Might Live”.
Thus, the SAFVL continues to observe Remembrance
Day “Lest We Forget” and to pay homage to those who
made the supreme sacrifice so that generations could
live in peace.
Visitors From
Overseas
Updates
Girl Guides Singapore received delegates from
the Uniformed Groups of Hong Kong on the 16
July 2005. The officials from the Hong Kong Girl
Guides Association exchanged badges and gifts
with local Guide officials.
On 22nd August 2005, Mrs Nina Lim Yuson,
Chairman of Asia-Pacific Committee visited Girl
Guides Singapore from 22-25 August 2005. During
her stay, she visited a Brownie pack at Fengshan
Primary School, a Guide company at Pasir
Ris Crest Secondary School and met up with our
Young Adults.
Ebony and her mum, Sue, from Melbourne,
Australia visited the Brownies from Holy Innocents
Primary School on 17 August 2005. Ebony joined
the Brownies in the Brownie Ring, played games
and made bookmarks.
Brownie
Challenge
2005
by Mrs Santhi Chandrasegaran
Commissioner For Brownie Branch
Brownie Challenge 2005 was held on Saturday, 3rd September. A total of
249 Brownies from all four divisions participated in this Challenge held
at Girl Guides House.
Activities tested the teamwork, creativity and speed of the girls.
There were four stations - namely the Scarf Savvy, Observers, Builders
and Creators. The girls either worked individually or in pairs to complete
the tasks set for them.
Brownie Branch members and their assistants carried out the
activities diligently. Prizes were awarded to the top three positions of
each station. Miss Jessie Tan, Deputy Chief Commissioner (International)
and Miss Teh Yi Wen, Commissioner for Young Adults, gave away the
prizes that day. The overall winning division was selected based on the
scores of the best five schools in each division. North Division walked
away with the Bebe Huang Challenge trophy this year.
Congratulations to all the participants!
Project Good Turn
by Lee Jinman,
Peicai Secondary School
At 1000hrs on 22 October 2005, Guides from
several units volunteered their services in a
massive humanitarian effort initiated by our Guide
Branch Commissioner, Mrs Mindi Peter. The project
aptly named “Project Good Turn” was in aid of the
Pakistan Earthquake victims.
Blankets, groundsheets, sleeping bags and
clothes were packed into 300 boxes donated by
Crown Relocations Singapore. Money donated
was used to buy halal foodstuff and other survival
rations for the victims.
After 6 hours of sorting and packing, our Girl Guides managed to present
over 200 cartons to the people of Pakistan. Everyone went home with a
sense of accomplishment - knowing that our good turn for the day was
benefiting someone less fortunate than them. Crown Relocations transported
the packed items to the Collection Centre.
Updates
Celebrating
Lantern Festival
By N5 Cluster
Schools
On 9th September 2005,
Brownies from Qihua Primary
and Admiralty Primary came to
Woodlands Secondary to learn
to make Snowskin Mooncake in
a demonstration by Guides from
Woodlands Secondary.
After the mooncakemaking
demonstration, the two
primary schools also shared
their culinary skills: Brownies
from Admiralty Primary made
Konnyaku Jelly while Brownies
from Qihua Primary made
chocolate brownies. The Guides
and Brownies enjoyed the fruits
of their efforts with jasmine
tea.
We hope to be able to
share these activities with more
schools in other clusters next
year.
by Ms Nurdiyana Abdul Rahman
Guider-in-charge
Woodlands Sec School
8 5

Recruitment Tips
Here’s a great idea that can be revived time and time again!
Be one up in the scramble amongst the various CCAs to recruit
new members…. plan a Recruitment Week! But, of course, we’ll call
it Brownie Week or Guiding Week!
Guiders, plan a one-week photo exhibition showcasing your unit’s
proudest and most memorable moments last year! If your school
already has a CCA recruitment day, get extra mileage and undivided
attention with a recruitment week coinciding with Thinking Day!
Make full use of the latest GGS video on guiding! It’s a compact
and fast-paced video clip of fun-filled guiding activities in VCD format
which you can run and re-run on any laptop! Check with your captain
to view your unit’s copy! A movie clip paints a thousand words!
Draw up a roster and have your girls help man the exhibition
stand and answer questions during peak periods – recess especially!
Brownies & Guides, put on your smart uniforms and interest new
schoolmates in guiding! If your girls are enthused enough to want to
be in uniform all week, all the better!
Issue forms encouraging interested girls to leave their names and
other important information …. maybe even indicate what they find
most interesting about our activities! Grab them while they’re hot
about us!.
Finally, get our young friends in and keep them enthralled the
rest of the year! Yes, let them ...
“Experience the magic….”!
“Experience
The Magic” VCD
As part of its rebranding exercise,
GGS is releasing new videos about
our Brownies and Guides. Available
from captains of all units in early
January, the video is a compact
and fast paced video clip available
in VCD format. Besides featuring
interesting footage of some of the
best activities of the movement,
it also includes interviews with
girls who have experienced the
magic...
Yummy ...
Die-hard supporters of our famous
cookies will be pleased to know
that the Shop is looking into
making cookies - together with
new flavors and other food items
- available for festive seasons
as well! Soon you’ll be able to
get your Valentine’s Day gifts &
Chinese New Year cookies at the
Guide Shop!
Take charge of your energy.
Be original
Keep reaching for what you can be
Never miss a chance to
tell someone you care
PRIORITIES IN LIFE
Be the change you wish
to see in the world
Sing as loud as you can
Be helpful
Have fun
Be 100% alive
Discover your potential
Lead by example
Take good care of yourself
Be Prepared
Tell every Brownie &
Guide to look at the stars
Keep going
Brownie for Brownies
FREE delicious brownies
for all girls who sign up
as tweenies. Join the
Guiding family!
Calendar of Events 2006
Log on to GGS website to see the calendar of events for 2006!
Coin Bank
(Brownie)
Usual: $10.90
Offer: $9.90
Trinket Box
(Frog)
Usual: $6.00
Offer: $4.90
Trinket Box
(Brownie)
Usual: $8.30
Offer: $6.90
Coffee Mugs
Usual: $5.90
Offer: $4.90
In Touch
LIMITED OFFER!
From the GuideShop
Till 31st March 2006! Hurry!
T-shirts (with Lycra)
Usual: $17.90
Offer: $14.90
Coaster Set
(6 pcs per set)
Usual: $12.30
Offer: $9.90
Yellow Tote Bag
Usual: $12.30
Offer: $9.90
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