Q: What do you get when you cross 85 enthusiastic Brownies, 15 wide awake leaders, two Commissioners, one Guide, one enormous Zoom meeting, and 90 minutes of "peacebuilding" themed activities?
A: Bauhinia Division Hong Kong's first-ever virtual World Thinking Day Brownie Revels!
Bringing together six Brownie units from all over Hong Kong, this Saturday Bauhinia Division logged onto Zoom to celebrate World Thinking Day 2021. Across 90 minutes, girls from Tung Chung, Discovery Bay and Hong Kong Island met Brownies from other units as they rotated through five different zoom breakout activities, all centred around the theme of peacebuilding.
From origami peace dove folding to poignant discussions about what peace means to them and digital team games, each activity highlighted one of WAGGS World Thinking Day 2021 themes: Stand Up, Stand Strong and Stand Together. At the end of the meeting Peony District Commissioner Anne Simpson and her Guide daughter, Sabine lit a candle and sang "This Little Guiding Light of Mine". It was a fitting end to a Revels enjoyed by the leaders just as much as the girls.
Bauhinia Division Commissioner Diana Lancaster reflects on the Revels: "I am hugely proud of the 15 Leaders in my Division for pulling off such a magnificent Thinking Day Revels. For me, it epitomised the energy that exists throughout our Division, even despite our current situation of having to run virtual meetings and events. It felt both 'fuzzy' and exhilarating to see over 80 girls throw themselves into the WAGGGs' Peacemaking and Peacebuilding' activities whilst at the same time having fun and getting to know each other. It was run by the most remarkable group of leaders that I could ever imagine knowing and their teamwork in making this event happen was both admirable and awesome. It was truly an international event run by nine different nationalities of women, and who knows how many different nationalities of girl! Maybe even a first of it's kind in WAGGGs! "
With Hong Kong's social distancing laws preventing girls from meeting in person for almost a year, this was the only opportunity for some Brownies to participate in Revels and therefore earn their HKGGA Super Brownie Awards. With some quick thinking and a superbly adapted virtual World Thinking Day programme from 61st Leeds Brownies in the U.K, Super Brown Owl Gaylene Meeson (424NT Pack' B') planned and ran an event that celebrated the Guiding spirit–and was a tremendous amount of fun! All of the leaders who took part would testify that Gaylene was the embodiment of "be prepared"!
Now in the coming year, let's spread PEACE. Bring on Bauhinia Division's World Thinking Day Revels in 2022, when hopefully we can all be in the same place!
Want to volunteer and be a part of making opportunities like this happen for girls and young women in Hong Kong? Get in touch here to find out more about how you can get involved!
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