Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Ms Morag White, the leader of the girl guides in Coatbridge.
Ms Morag White (Girl Guides, Coatbridge)
Good afternoon. I have belonged to girl guiding for over 30 years and I work in a unit in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire. We are part of Girlguiding Scotland, which at present has 59,000 members, including almost 11,000 trained volunteer leaders. It is the largest girl-only youth organisation in Scotland. Our statement of purpose is:
“Girlguiding UK enables girls and young women to develop their potential and to make a difference to the world.”
The aim of guiding is to help girls and young women to develop emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually, so that they can make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world. The core value of guiding is our promise and law, the fundamental principles of which remain unchanged. They are, in fact, what unite 10 million girls and women across the world. We all have a sense of belonging.
We see a five-year-old girl joining rainbows, unsure of what to expect and not wanting to join in the activities. Slowly, she becomes involved in the group chat and gradually she belongs. Moving on to brownies, the same feelings of uncertainty arise. The time within brownies is a great learning process, with new skills learned and tasks achieved. With pride, she takes home her well-earned badges. What a different person she is becoming—more confident and self-assured. She belongs.
Moving into the guide unit is also a challenging time, with another phase of adjustment, but quickly she integrates and, with the help of her patrol leader, she learns to give her opinion and to help make decisions on what they, as a group, would like to achieve. She also has opportunities to travel further—often abroad—and to attempt new personal activities that teach her that she can achieve great things in her life. The range of badges that can be earned is extensive, and even the Queen’s award, the highest badge attainable by girls, is within her reach. Still she belongs. Each guide and guider still has their own identity and opinions, but they need to share those opinions and to learn to appreciate and tolerate each other. As guiders, we still belong and strive to do our best for the girls in our care.
Similarly, you all represent different parties across Scotland and belong to the Scottish Parliament, and you strive to do your best for the people of Scotland. I wish you all continuing success in your endeavours.