GirlGuiding around the World

New Zealand is one of 144 member countries of the World Association of GirlGuiding and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). As with other countries, every member of GirlGuiding New Zealand automatically becomes a member of WAGGGS – there are now over 10 million girls and women in the World Association.

The Mission of WAGGGS is:
“To enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.”

Each WAGGGS member organisation chooses how it believes it can best promote this mission, taking into account its culture and the needs of its young people.

For more information about the World Association, visit www.wagggsworld.org

• International Guiding centres to visit
• Friends of Sangam NZ
  
• WAGGGS regions
• Asia Pacific Region
• Asia Pacific Region Logo
• World Badge
• World Flag

International Guiding centres to visit

The World Association of GirlGuiding and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has four World Centres which welcome GirlGuiding and Girl Scout members from around the world.

Each centre offers opportunities for international friendship and education and the chance to learn about WAGGGS. All current members of GirlGuiding New Zealand are welcome to stay at the World Centres, either to attend an event or just to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. The four centres:

• Sangam – Pune, India (www.sangamworldcentre.org)
• Pax Lodge – London, England (www.paxlodge.org)
• Our Cabana – Cuernavaca, Mexico (www.ourcabana.org)
• Our Chalet – Adelboden, Switzerland (www.ourchalet.ch)

For more information on these centres please visit our properties page.

Friends of Sangam NZ

Friends of Sangam New Zealand (FOS NZ) was formed in 2008 and is a member of Friends of Sangam International (FOSI). FOS NZ is 'committed to increasing interest, participation and enthusiasm for Sangam through promotion and attendance at events, and fundraising’. Any person or group can join FOS NZ and be instrumental in supporting this WAGGGS World Centre in the Asia Pacific Region. See FOS NZ for more information.

WAGGGS Regions

Administratively, WAGGGS is divided into five regions – Africa, Arab, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Western Hemisphere – New Zealand is part of the Asia Pacific region.

Each region has a regional committee and it is these committees that determine and implement the goals, strategies and priorities of the regions to help achieve the mission of WAGGGS. They look at the needs of the member countries and administer the development and carrying out of activities, events, training and projects.

For more information, visit WAGGGS at www.wagggsworld.org

Asia Pacific Region

New Zealand belongs to the Asia Pacific region. It is one of 27 member organisations (countries) in this region with nearly 2.4 million members. Two countries – Mongolia and Nauru – are also working towards membership.

There are six members on the Asia Pacific regional committee and they’re elected by the regional conference which is held once every three years. A committee member is elected for a three year term, renewable for a further term of three years. At least one member must be under 30 years of age at the time of election.

Tracey Peoples was the most recent New Zealander on the committee. She was elected onto the committee in 1996 as the young member and in 1998 she became the Vice Chairman of the committee. She retired from the committee in 2001 and became the Chairperson of our National Programme Committee.

The 27 member countries of the Asia Pacific region are:

View the Asia Pacific Link News, January 2011.

Asia Pacific Region logo

Each part of the logo has a separate meaning:

• The blue bird flying freely symbolises the Pacific Ocean, liberty and peace.
• The circle of white enclosing the World Trefoil symbolises enlightenment.
• The trefoil of WAGGGS spreads the GirlGuiding/Girl Scouting spirit throughout the Asia Pacific region.
• The World badge is in gold.
  

For more information on the Asia pacific region, visit the WAGGGS at www.wagggsworld.org

World Badge

The World Badge was updated in 1991 – every part of the Trefoil has a separate meaning.

• The outer flowing circle around the trefoil represents the world-wide association.
• The golden yellow trefoil on a blue background represents the sun shining over the children of the world.
• The three leaves present the three-fold promise as originally laid down by the founder.
• The base of the stalk represents the flame of the love of humanity.
• The vein pointing upwards through the centre of the trefoil represents the compass needle pointing the way.
• The two stars represent the Promise and Law.

World Flag

The World Flag is used in New Zealand and in every other member country of the World Association of GirlGuiding and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

The blue flag has the trefoil as its focus. In addition to the meaning of the trefoil, the remaining parts of the flag also have specific meanings:

• The three yellow blocks are a re-enforcement of our three-fold promise.
• The white corner shows out commitment to peace.