About Me

Hi, my name is Orla and I have been involved with Girlguiding since I was 5 years old. Loving so many aspect of my time as a rainbow, brownie and guide it was inevitable I was going to continue my Girlguiding journey as an adult! I have been volunteering as a Brownie Unit Leader for just under 5 years in Droitwich, this year I have become a joint co-ordinator for Young Leaders within the Droitwich division running socials and skill development workshops, and I have recently taken on the role of Midlands Assistant Growth and Retention lead volunteer. Throughout this time I have made friends, developed skills, and learnt what goes into running a unit and events, giving young girls the same amazing experiences and opportunities that I had.

About the Project

This year I took part in a rigorous GOLD selection weekend and am delighted to say I have been offered a place as part of the GOLD 2020 Senegal team.

GOLD stands for Guiding Overseas Linked with Development. GOLD delivers sustainable projects throughout the world, working alongside member country organisations of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Each project lasts 3-5 years and are planned in order to create a long-term and meaningful impact on each country’s organisation. Part of a team of six Girlguiding UK members, I will be working in partnership with the Association des Scouts et Guides du Senegal for 3 weeks in summer 2020.

The Senegal project is in it’s second year and will build upon work already started by last year’s volunteers; the main aims of this project will be:

• To train leaders in recruitment and retention,

• Develop Young Leaders in confidence, leadership and decision making skills

• To devise a Peer Education programme.

About the Fundraising

As part of the GOLD opportunity I am required to fundraise. Over the next few months I will be fundraising towards the total of £2,200. This covers the cost of the project including, developing resources, facilitation of the delivery of vital training, travel and other in-country costs. Many of my friends will know that I have quite strong opinions on voluntourism and paying for unsustainable projects, I don’t want anyone to think that you are helping me fundraise for a holiday, so I will be putting in a portion of my own savings to cover costs of flights etc.

Through out the next few months I will be organising various fundraising ventures both in the girlguiding and the wider community. I am in the process of creating a challenge badge which girlguiding units throughout the world can buy, other current fundraising ideas are a brownie division disco and organising a community spring fair.

I have also come up with the slightly crazy idea of cycling from London to Paris, and I’ve even convinced my family to join me! Whilst my brothers and my dad are keen cyclists, I have never ridden a road bike so to say this will be a challenge is an understatement!!!!

Why this challenge??? One of the only things I knew about Senegal before being offered a place on GOLD, was that it was the original finishing point of the Dakar Rally. A motorbike, quad and car race, with the original route starting in Paris and ending in the former French colony of Senegal. Whilst there is no chance of me completing the Dakar Rally I think with a lot of training and hard work I can ‘PEDAL TO PARIS’.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page, any donation will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions about the project or can help in any way to fundraiser please get in touch.