Reaching for the stars – with the Irish Girl Guides
By Aran Penrose
THREE members of the Irish Girl Guides from Lucan (IGG) have helped launch a partnership between IGG and Gaisce – The President’s Award.
It is hoped the new initiative, which was launched in Dunsink Observatory, Castleknock, will encourage girls and young women to reach for the sun, moon and stars.
Erin McElwee, (age 17), Sarah Connolly (age 16) and Amy Dunne (age 16) are all members of Griffeen Valley Senior Branch (Senior Branch is the IGG section for girls and young women age 14-30).
Recognising the similarities between their award schemes for young people, the two organisations decided to join forces with the aim of encouraging girls and young women to undertake challenges that will help them become confident, and responsible citizens.
IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon said that, while re-engineering their programme for 14-30 year-olds recently, it seemed perfectly apt to work in partnership with Gaisce.
“In order to facilitate delivery of Gaisce, IGG has aligned the requirements of the Overall Award to Gaisce at each level. IGG members who successfully achieve a Bronze Star, Silver Moon or Golden Sun Award will now receive a Gaisce Award at the corresponding level.”
Given their joint aim of encouraging young people to reach for the sun, moon and stars, IGG and Gaisce chose Dunsink Observatory, Dublin 15 – part of the Astrophysics and Astronomy Section of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies – to launch their new initiative. Both organisations hope that the partnership will help young people them develop confidence, self-reliance, responsibility and other essential life skills.
Yvonne McKenna, CEO of Gaisce–The President’s Award, said “We are delighted to announce our special partnership with the Irish Girl Guides. Gaisce’s vision fully aligns with that of the Guides – ‘to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world’.
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