Sisters for a Century

Anyone who has even been a Girl Guide themselves or have a daughter who is part of Guiding has witnessed the amazing things the Girl Guides of Canada do.

There's more to Girl Guides than meets the eye. As the movement celebrates 100 years in 2010, they have helped hundreds of thousands of girls explore the themes of fun, friendship and adventure.

Whether it be as a Spark, Brownie, Guide, Pathfinder, Ranger or leader, Girl Guides offers a warm, welcoming environment for girls. As noted on their website, Girl Guides of Canada has always strived to prepare girls to meet the challenges that they face in their lives head on. From teaching girls to bandage wounds in World War I, to today's challenges of anti-bullying and working to eradicate poverty and hunger - the Girl Guides is in a league all their own.

All you have to do is look in the pages of The Pilot. There aren't too many weeks when there isn't a story or photos about the things Girl Guides are doing in our communities. The leaders are phenomenal, dedicating so much of their own time and talents to making the Girl Guide experience the experience of a lifetime for these girls.

As hundreds of Girl Guides (from communities throughout the Central district) gathered in Lewisporte for National Rally Day this past Saturday, it warmed your heart to see all the young faces. They are so eager to learn and to live up to their promises that begin in Sparks with, "I promise to share and be a friend." If we could all make that most basic (but most important) of promises in our adult lives the world might be a much different place.

The Girl Guide movement has been sustained for 100 years because it believes in the girls who are their members. Each and every girl is seen as being a special individual worthy of the time and effort made in investing in their lives today that will ultimately impact their lives - and the lives of people around them - in the future.

Congratulations to all the Girl Guides and their leaders in celebrating this important milestone. Here's to another 100 years of making a difference in the lives of young girls.

Karen Wells, editor