With over 10 million members in 144 countries, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the largest voluntary organization for girls and young women in the world. It is an international organization that promotes cultural awareness, international peace, understanding and appreciation.
Its mission is to “enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world”. This is achieved through leadership and decision-making training and non-formal education programmes that promote and enable self-development personally, spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, intellectually and morally.
WAGGGS’ projects address issues as diverse as reproductive health and the environment, the rights of children and young people, HIV/AIDS and education.
As one of the seven major international youth organizations in the world, WAGGGS is a member of the Big 7, a partnership of the Chief Executive Officers, and also works with several United Nations (UN) and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partners at a world level. Through WAGGGS, young women have the opportunity to participate in exciting international projects with major international UN and NGO partners.
For more information, visit the WAGGGS web site: http://www.wagggsworld.org.
THE FOUR WORLD CENTRES
Our Chalet is one of four World Centres owned by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The other centres are:
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Just 20 minutes from the heart of London, Pax Lodge is on the edge of one of the most popular and exciting capital cities in the world. The centre offers a convenient place to stay whilst exploring the city’s historical sights and is an international gathering place for WAGGGS (and WOSM) members.
The setting for Our Cabaña in Mexico is spectacular, with each building set in its own tropical garden, overlooking the city of Cuernavaca and surrounded by distant snow-capped volcanoes. Activities give a colourful experience of Mexican culture, food, language and arts and crafts, and include discussions of WAGGGS themes and current worldwide issues and helping a local community project.
Sangam offers a rich experience of Indian life within a safe, friendly multi-cultural environment. Activities include trying Indian foods, clothes, music, dance and crafts, learning about Indian traditions and religions, visiting Indian families, local temples and street markets and giving practical service to children and women in local community organizations.
The four World Centres are places for girls and young women from all around the world to meet, to have fun, to learn and to have new experiences. They are open to all members of WAGGGS and WOSM, and also to non-members, providing a ‘home away from home’ – a warm, comfortable, friendly place to stay where guests can feel part of a family of new and old friends.
For more information on the world centres, visit the WAGGGS web site on http://www.wagggsworld.org/aroundtheworld/worldcentres or visit the world centres’ individual web sites:
- Pax Lodge: http://www.paxlodge.org
- Our Cabana: http://www.ourcabana.org
- Sangam: http://www.sangamwagggs.org.uk
The Four World Centres Song
Click here to hear the four World Centres song, ‘Hands of Friendship’. You can order this on CD from our on-line shop.
Four World Centres Book
The ‘Story of Four World Centres’, published in 2003, tells the story of the opening of the first WAGGGS World Centre, Our Chalet in 1932, the building of Our Ark in London, England, followed by Olave House, and finally Pax Lodge, the current World Centre in London; and the history of Our Cabaña, Mexico, opened in 1956 and Sangam, India, built in 1966. This is available from our on-line shop..
Four World Centres Newsletter
The newsletter ‘World Centres News’ gives news and information about all four World Centres and gives details of their programmes of events at a glance. It is published twice per year.
This postcard is available from Our Chalet and the other world centres. You can order packs of 10 postcards from our on-line shop.