Guiders throughout Canada know that WAGGGS is the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, but what does it do, and why is it, and our membership in it, so important?

WAGGGS is the largest voluntary organization for women and girls in the world, with approximately nine million active members in 145 countries around the world. It is part of a network of international non-governmental organizations, all of which share similar aims and objectives.

WAGGGS Membership Benefits

As a member of WAGGGS, Guides Canada enjoys:

· access to an international network of organizations
· direct experience of other cultures
· financial assistance through WAGGGS, Mutual Aid and WAGGGS' links with other organizations
· increased status as a Member Association
· advice and support from professional staff and volunteers
· a direct affect on setting and maintaining standards around the globe
· global representation to international organizations, government ministries and other non-governmental organizations within countries
· friendship, understanding, and togetherness
· input to the world's largest organization for girls and young women
· opportunities to attend and benefit from international and intercultural events
· a sense of identity at individual, national and international levels
· a shared vision for girls and young women.

WAGGGS Membership Responsibilities

As a member of WAGGGS, Guides Canada agrees to:

· be involved in the policy-making of WAGGGS
· provide quality programs to girls and young women
· fulfill the WAGGGS goals and strategic plan
· give young women the opportunity to take a decision-making role within the national organization
· ensure efficiency and effective management of the national organization with a suitable structure to meet our leaders' and girls' needs
· take an active role in the life of the Western Hemisphere Region, attending events and communicating with the World Bureau
· fulfill conditions of membership as set out in the WAGGGS Constitution.

By co-operating with other organizations, WAGGGS promotes the international Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement, while addressing world issues and making its contribution to the formation of world policies. Partnership among members of WAGGGS takes many different forms, including an exchange of information, human resources, finances, or girls and young women visiting other countries.

On an international level WAGGGS:

· works with national and international non-governmental organizations and United Nations programs and agencies

· has a team of representatives at the United Nations in Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Paris, Rome and Vienna (The role of the UN Teams is to represent WAGGGS and its interests at UN meetings and during UN activities. Each team attends relevant UN meetings and events, where representatives are given the opportunity to speak and to give statements on behalf of girls and young women.)

· is part of an alliance of the seven largest non-formal education organizations in the world, including World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations, World Young Women's Christian Associations, World Organization of the Scout Movement, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, The International Award Association and International Youth Foundation

· is a partner for the World AIDS Campaign with the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (Canadian Girl Guides can earn a WAGGGS/UNAIDS badge.)

· promotes peace among children, in partnership with Soroptimist International

· worked in partnership with Clean Up the World, as part of the Building World Citizenship initiative

· joined with Family Health International to implement the Health of Adolescent Refugees Project (HARP) (Funded by UNFPA, it aims to improve the health, particularly the reproductive health, of adolescent girls and young women refugees in Egypt, Uganda and Zambia, by using Girl Guide methods and health education activities.)

· implemented Youth Service Teams with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to meet the needs of female refugees (Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 10 countries have formed Youth Service Teams to carry out community development projects.)

· has Special Consultative Status with the United National Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which coordinates the economic and social work of the UN and related specialized agencies and institutions.

· WAGGGS is not just an entity on its own; it is the sum of all its member organizations. It is able to play a vital role in international campaigns for global improvement is areas such as health, the environment and education, because of the enthusiastic and determined contributions of its members.

Written by Judi Gardner for Canadian Guider, Winter 2003