A Redhill Brownies group leader is set for a “golden” trip of a lifetime this summer when she will take part in an important community development scheme in Guyana.
Amelia Guare, 22, a member of Girlguiding UK and leader of the 4th Redhill Brownies, will be travelling alongside five other Girlguiding UK members to take part in the Guiding Overseas Linked with Development scheme – otherwise known as GOLD.
The GOLD project has been one of the core opportunities open to Girlguiding UK members between the ages of 17 and 30 since it was launched 21 years ago.
In that time, participants have travelled as far afield as Honduras, Madagascar, Russia, South Africa and Thailand, to take part in a range of vital community development projects.
Amelia, who works as a Science technician at Reigate College, said: “On my Gold project I’m working as part of a team of six.
“We are going to be helping the Guyana Girl Guides to improve their training and create resources for them to develop further.”
She said: “We will also be working with them and the community on an environmental project.”
Amelia, who also coaches and plays with a local badminton club, said: “I am looking forward to finding out about guiding in other countries and meeting new people. “In addition to this I am looking forward to seeing the different culture and environment that Guyana has.”
Amelia said: “Guiding has helped me complete several qualifications which I wouldn’t have done otherwise, and has been a great way to meet new people.
“It has helped me greatly increase my confidence and I have done so many weird and wonderful things with guiding that have been great fun.”
Girlguiding UK is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the country.
The charity is part of a worldwide movement of about ten million girls and young women in 145 countries, and celebrated its centenary in 2010.
In the UK it has 538, 247 members and recognised volunteers, and aims to enable girls and young women to develop their potential whatever their ability or background. For more information on GOLD and Girlguiding UK, visit its website at: www.girlguiding.org.uk