A World of Friendship

 

“Each race, each creed, each nation beneath its roof are one” This is part of theOur Chaletsong, and it tells us what guiding and scouting can do to us as individuals and as part of a group. Guiding and scouting is for me the purpose of the activities we do and the spirit we put in them. It can potentially happen anywhere, but atOur Chaletwe are lucky enough to have some amazing surroundings high up on the mountain and a lot of lovely guests for girl guiding and scouting to be alive and developing.

We are more than halfway through the summer, and as well the volunteers as all our guests who have been one under our roof, and it has given us the chance to grow as individuals and world citizens. We have had a lot of adventures in the neighbourhood, experiences of Swiss culture and amazing campfires. When we sing all together in the light of a glowing fire, it makes me feel the unity and the heart of guiding. “We are one voice and we are singing”. We could sing the song with total strangers but it wouldn’t mean the same if we didn’t have a bound. The songs and the experiences makes the goose bumps settle on our skin, and make us smile, laugh and cry, because of the feelings we create in each other. We want to create a better world, but it all starts we the basic connection between people. Then the courage, the will and the spirit builds up and we can reach amazing goals.  

But in the end it all centres around friendship. If you don’t feel safe and confident with the challenges and opportunities you are faced with, making new friendships makes the impossible  possible. Together we can do so much more than we can as individuals.  It is friendship through fun, challenge and adventure. And friendship in spite of cultural and personal differences.

By Christina Ingerslev