So I guess it's time to find the Guiding Travel blog again, because, after a whole year and a half with no International Guiding Travel (just several UK based camps instead, and some non-Guiding international travel) I am OFF AGAIN! Well. In 2014. September 2014. Still. Time to start planning.
For now, lets start from the very beginning, it's a very good place to start...
September 2013 - INTOPS.
At the end of September, I travelled up to Edinburgh for a magical weekend in a field (and several indoor spaces), for the national INternational OPportunitieS weekend (INTOPS) along with 84 (I think) other participants. We were there to learn about all the incredible things we can be doing with Girlguiding as 18-30 year old members. Some of them I knew a lot about (World Centres), some of them I knew less about (how to take my own unit away). A vast majority of the 80+ participants there were also interested in GOLD (Guiding Overseas Linked with Development) and INTOPS is also the selection weekend for GOLD projects. I can't tell you a lot about the selection process, or the weekend in general, because they try and keep it quiet for future selection weekends to get the same element of surprise in next years applicants. All I will say is if you are thinking about going to INTOPS for whatever reason, firstly, GO, and secondly, be prepared for the most random weekend of your life. That is all.
GOLD
This year (as most years) there are several GOLD projects running. They are 3-5 year projects in countries that are less developed, and where the Guiding MO (Member Organisation - so the national body that is a member of WAGGGS) has come to Girlguiding here in the UK to ask for help with a project - sometimes it could be HIV/AIDS education, sometimes it will be helping to develop certain aspects of the guiding association in that country, helping recruit more members, or train more leaders, or implementing a programme for Rainbow ages (5-7 year olds). Girlguiding sends a team of 6 18-30 years old over for 3 weeks, and those 6, in conjunction with the MO run the whole project from there on. They plan the dates, the way that things will work, all the logistics, as well as the content. I have had friends who have done projects in Tanzania, Armenia, Malawi, Madagascar, Latvia, Ukraine... the list is endless, the countries are incredible, and they have all come back saying that it was hard work, but WORTH IT.
So good job I guess that I have been selected to go! I will be travelling with 5 other lovely (I hope!) ladies to Latvia in September/October time next year. I have to raise a SHED load of money (literally) but it will be amazing. I have grand plans, and if my plans go to plan then I will have as much fun doing the fundraising as I do doing the trip itself! :D
Hopefully you can expect more dates, fundraising, countdowns, planning, and other general excitement (including finding out who the rest of my team are!) in not-so-distant-future blogs! YAY!
