Girl Guides celebrate 100 years in San Fernando

Members of the Girl Guides Association of TT took to the streets in a motorcade through the streets in San Fernando to celebrate 100 years of guiding in the southern city.

On Saturday at about 10 am, people began gathering at Ground B Skinner Park to start the event. The association, founded in 1914, is part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the world's largest international voluntary organisation for girls and young women.

Its chief commissioner Jacqueline Dolly said she was pleased to join in the celebration.

"We are proud that we have been able to reach 100 years in San Fernando, and thanked God for the people who started guiding in this area. Its 100 years of changing lives in TT. We are teaching girls using methods that are unavailable to the nation’s schools," Dolly said.

"We use non-formal methods of learning things, preparing children for life. It is all about learning through doing things."

Interim division commissioner for Victoria central Marilyn Barker-Duncan recalled guiding came to the south in 1920, adding members have a lot to be thankful for.

"We are thankful for the elders who passed it down to us. It first came to the Methodist Church in San Fernando. In 2014, TT celebrated 100 years in guiding. Now, San Fernando is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, a year when we all have challenges," Barker-Duncan said.

Yucklan Chadee, a past pupil of St Joseph's Convent shared fond memories of her guiding days. She said the guides worked for their badges. "Most of all, I had fun learning new things and making friends. The friends I made then, are still friends presently."

One of the oldest person attending the event was 79-year-old Grace Mohammed, who said she benefited immensely from the Girl Guides movement.

"As women and girls, we have so much to be thankful for from the movement," Mohammed said.

"I had to choose between ballet and guiding, and I chose guiding. I am forever grateful, and I wish that younger girls know the value of the movement. We are very proud of the strong women we have and have had over the years in San Fernando."