“ GUIDING IS FUN!”
Saturday, 30th May 2009 was a historical day of-sorts for so
me 70 Girl Guides from Johor Bahru and Pasir Gudang as they were officially enrolled as full-fledged PANDU PUTERI of Girl Guides of Malaysia and W.A.G.G.G.S (internationally known as the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) at Hutan Bandar, Jalan Tasek Utara, Johor Bahru.The morning started off with finishing touches to a series of test-work to ensure that the girls are eligibile to earn their Enrolment Badges for Brownies (now known as Pandu Puteri Tunas), Guides (Pandu Puteri Remaja) and Senior Guides or Rangers (Pandu Puteri Renjer). In groups of tens, they went through stations for knot-tying, flags recognition, whistle and hand signals, Semaphore Code, tracking signs, history of Guiding,W.A.G.G.G.S and the Asia Pacific Region and recite the Promise and learn the Guide Laws, ones that they will internalise right through their lives hereon. They had to complete their log books to finally qualify for Enrolment in the afternoon. The ceremony was auspicuously officiated by the State Commissioner, Puan Juriah Mohamed and the ex- State Commissioner and HQ Trainer Puan Hjh. Fatimah bt. Mohamed amidst the beautiful trees and landscape that is so well known of Hutan Bandar, with parents and teachers witnessing the Enrolment.
The idea of having a GUIDES’ REVIVAL REVEL a.k.a KARNIVAL KEBANGKITAN KEPANDUAN was first mooted by Dr.Rani Panadam, a dental surgeon and Immediate Past President of Soroptimist International Johor Bahru and a member of the Johor Girl Guides’ Trefoil Guild . Dr.Rani was herself a Girl Guide during her younger days and knowing how much Guiding has to offer young girls and women, she feels that the present state of affairs can benefit a lot from the FUN of GUIDING!!!. So with her persuasive skill and abilities, she was able to co-op the help of friends in Soroptimist International Johor Bahru (for the “women-power”), the City Council (for the venue) and the Education Department (for the permission for girls from schools to take part). If not for the collaborative effort of everybody, including the parents, the event would not have been such a success. ” What spurred the idea of the project was the alarming situation amongst Guide companies in schools where the girls experience delays in staring Guiding activities due to pressures in prioritising academic programs at the expense of co-curricular activities. Thus the Girl Guides sailed throught their school years without any proper enrolment, test work, camps, campfires, inter-district , inter-state, national events being represented . The group has drawn up a program to help girls achieve the Chief Commisioner’s and
the Queen’s Guide Award , which is the ultimate in Girl Guiding. We are also vying to get parental support and active participation to serve as leaders and testers or whatever else so that our activities become family-oriented. This is not new in countries like the U.K, New Zealand and Australia and others where Girl Guiding is soooo active !!!” So, parents, if you have a skill and want to help us and be alongside your girl as she takes part in Guiding activities, you’re very welcome to join us...
With more than 50 years of Guiding in her blood, SIJB Membership Convenor Hjh.Fatimah Mohamed feels that Girl Guiding has plenty to offer the girls – good, clean, healthy FUN, indoors and out, besides learning life skills to make them better citizens. Guiding, she feels, offer the perfect situation to create inter-racial harmony among children and adults...all gearing towards the 1Malaysia concept of our Honourable Prime Minister.
Also present to lend a much-needed helping hand was Social Convenor Margaret Liew, who got refreshments under way, Secretary Vickie Yap, Treasurer Mariette George and other diligent members Kamala Somarajah who got Registration going, Myna and our ‘newbies’ Dr.Shahrom Nor Azian, Goh Siew Mei to give support by helping to ‘man’ the stations for the girls’ tests.
Ms.Liza Alip, the Incoming President of Soroptimist International Johor Bahru has agreed to make this an on-going project of SIJB as it is in line with the objectives and aspirations of Soroptimist International – “ Women helping to build a better world through Awareness, Advocacy and Action “. So schools that have missed out on the fun this time can join in the FUN in a month or two when we organise the next one.
Source: Puan Fatimah Mohamad - SIJB Membership Convener
