GOLD (stands for Guiding Overseas Linked with Development) is a Girlguiding UK iniative where members from the UK work in partnership with an organisation in another country on a project to help them to develop their guiding offer. This will be the second year of the GOLD project in Aruba and the main aims of the project will be: 

1. To boost the leadership skills and self-esteem of women on the island. 
2. To recruit more adult leaders. 
3. To train new and existing leaders and Guides on leadership, managing a unit, Guiding values, communication, WAGGGS and training techniques. 
4. To grow the youth membership.

Aruba is a Caribbean island about 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela and has a permanent population of around around 100,000. Guiding was introduced in 1941 (when the island was a Dutch colony) and has waxed and waned over the years. In 2014, Het Arubaanse Padvindsters Gilde had 343 members. They are currently an associate member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and want to develop their organisation to achieve full membership. I will be participating in a project, running activities and training sessions to assist with meeting this goal.

Any donation you are provide will go towards meeting the costs of this project (travel and other expenses for the UK based team, training supplies, etc) as well as an element being reinvested in the Aruban economy through the purchase of postcards and stamps on the island. 

In return, if you choose to provide contact details, I will keep you updated as the project progresses via email and a postcard will be winging its way to you from the Caribbean Island in September 2017. If you are part of a group, or just interested, I'll also be sharing some of the activities, songs and games (from the sessions we plan and, with their consent, those we learn from our sister guides in Aruba). 

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