South Africa

Promise:

Girl Guide Promise

I promise that I will do my best:
To do my duty to my God and my country,
To help other people, and
To keep the Guide Law.

Rangers extend the Promise with the following:

My challenge as a Ranger is to:
Render service by taking the Promise out into the wider world and by being aware of my responsibilities as a young adult.

Brownie Promise

I promise that I will do my best:
To do my duty to my God and my country,
To help other people, and
To keep the Brownie Law.

Teddy Promise

I promise to care and share.

Law:

Girl Guide Law

1 A Guide is to be trusted.

2 A Guide is loyal.

3 A Guide is helpful.

4 A Guide is friendly.

5 A Guide is polite and considerate.

6 A Guide cares for the earth and living things.

7 A Guide is obedient.

8 A Guide is brave and cheerful.

9 A Guide is thrifty.

10 A Guide respects herself and others.

Brownie Law

A Brownie is truthful, obedient and cheerful.
A Brownie thinks of others before herself.

Motto:

Girl Guide Motto - Be Prepared

Brownie Motto - Lend a Hand

Teddy Motto - Teddies always try

Age groups:

Ranger 14-young adult

Guide 10-15

Brownie 7-10½

Teddy 4½-7

Development of the movement:

The first Guide Company in South Africa was the Hospital Hill Company, Johannesburg, which was formed by Miss Dorothy Rogers in 1910. Soon after this companies were started in Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, King Williams Town and Cape Town.

By 1920 Guiding had spread all over South Africa and the national body was formed, known as the Girl Guides Association of South Africa. The equipment department was opened in Cape Town and the Lone and Extension Branches were started.

In 1924 the South African Girl Guide Magazine was first published. Although it ceased publication during the 1939-1945 War, it is still produced today and is entitled SA Guider.

The Girl Guides Association of South Africa, which included members in Basutoland (now Lesotho), Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and Swaziland, was a Founder Member of WAGGGS. These areas remained part of the Girl Guides Association of South Africa until 1961, but are now members of WAGGGS in their own right. Upon the independence of Namibia in 1991, another region separated to become the Girl Guides Association of Namibia.

Guiding in South Africa strives to keep abreast with modern trends by continually updating the programme and the uniform, for both girls and adults.

Programme:

The Teddy section, for girls aged 4½ -7, earn a series of ‘Paws’ for participating in various activities.

The programme for Brownies, Guides and Rangers encompasses challenges relevant to girls from many different backgrounds. Rangers choose their own programme and are encouraged to earn the highest South African Girl Guides Association Award – the Protea Award.

Development of Guiding in South Africa was recently given a boost through the process of the Transformation Challenge. The number of Regions has increased and leadership in the Regions is demographically representative. Guiding is brought to as many girls and young women as possible in order to empower young girls and women to take up leadership and decision-making positions. Financial sustainability continues to be a major problem as many of the members are from poor areas, distances are great and equipment costly.

Relationship to society:

Community service is an important aspect of the Association’s work. The various Branches are involved with their communities in different ways such as providing help for people with disabilities, providing care for children orphaned through HIV/AIDS, and by giving aid to the elderly by way of shopping, visiting or providing blankets. Over and above this the Association is very proactive in addressing real life issues such as children’s Rights, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and gender violence. The Association is contributing to the government’s Moral Regeneration Programme. Peer Education training is a very successful mechanism in this area of work. Over and above this, the Association is involved in many Community Outreach projects, such as vegetable gardening and job skills training as way of addressing poverty and providing job creation.

Communication and Co-operation

International education is promoted in the Regions through a specific programme, and the post box links over 1,500 girls a year with members of the Movement in other countries. Travel is encouraged and members of the Association frequently attend international seminars and camps in other parts of the world.

The Girl Guides Association of South Africa informs the general public about activities through newspapers, magazines, the Internet, radio and television. For its own members it publishes a magazine called SA Guider which provides information and resource material for adult members and fun activities for the girls.

There are eleven official languages and many others spoken throughout South Africa. Material is written in English and is sometimes translated in order to cater for specific needs. The Association works in close co-operation with the South African Scout Association and holds many joint activities such as mountain and beach hikes, jamborees on the air and internet (JOTA/JOTI), raft races and camping. A representative of each Association has a seat on the National Council of the other.

The Girl Guides Association’s National Centre, Khayalami, is situated in Johannesburg. The Centre offers excellent accommodation and facilities for conferences, camps, and local and international tour groups.

Partnership

In 1997 a partnership agreement was signed between Scouting Nederland and Girl Guides Association of South Africa. Exchange visits and projects are undertaken between the two Associations. These have widened the knowledge of each Association and mutual understanding of the different cultures.

Scouting Nederland has helped Girl Guides Association of South Africa with personnel and securing funding. The funding has been used to offer the benefits of Guiding to girls and young women particularly from historically disadvantaged communities.

Further partnerships are being developed with other Guiding/Scouting organizations particularly in Europe and Africa

Training:

National training events are held to provide the necessary support to the National and Regional teams and to keep leaders up to date with recent developments within the Movement. Regional training events take place more frequently.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities

Throughout the country, in both rural and urban environments, outdoor activities attract adventure-loving girls. Camping, hiking, water sports, absailing and environmental trails are most popular. Outdoor activities form a prominent part of the programme throughout the year. Brownies attend pack holidays.

Service camps focus attention on community development, afforestation and conservation. National Regional events are held regularly, and bring together girls of all cultures from all parts of South Africa. Guides also take part in annual World Environment Day and Arbor Day projects.

Events

• Thinking Day 2006

Projects

• South Africa Celebrates Climate Change Day
• Khomanani Hiv/Aids
• Right to Live In Peace Badge
• Fight HIV/AIDS
• Poverty Alleviation
• Capacity Building
• Business Skills Development

Micro-site

Visit the WAGGGS' micro-site for this Member Organization.