Third briefing!

Third briefing is a time when a GOLD team spends time as a group of 6, rather than with all the other projects. So for our final weekend together Team Malawi travelled to Thea's house in Taunton. We have to say a big thank you to the Saunders family for letting us stay!

The weekend was all about final planning and preparation for the trip and we spent a lot  of time putting together our training sessions for project. The 5 main things we will be focusing on in our project are: Leadership, Public and Self presentation, Camp Skills, Teenage Health and Craft. We will also be supporting the creation of Rainbows in Malawi.

On Friday evening we made a plan with all the things we needed to do over the weekend and made resources that explain the different branches of Girlguiding in the UK and information about our home lives.

On Saturday morning, Thea and Alice set up the group bank account for our project. The day continued as we put together activties and games that would cover the aims of our project and would go towards making full training sessions. We set up the kitchen as our office and all worked from our computers. Time went really quickly, as we all got so involved in our research. The most fun was learning the Rainbow Song and actions together, so we could teach leaders in Malawi!

Before we knew it Sunday was here! We had lots of little tasks to do such as deciding our transport to Heathrow and a Q&A session with Thea where we asked many, many questions about her project last year! But like any GOLD project we must expect the unexpected! We even had time to partake in the GOLDie tradition of making group pants, which we tie dyed.

Top Row (L-R): Thea, Gemma and Rachael
Bottom Row (L-R): Alice, Becky and Emma

Here is a group photo in our GOLD uniform along with our mascot Bregta. Just like your typical school yard group, her name is made up of our initials!

The next time you hear from Team Malawi will be when we are on project, from July 26th - so be sure to check here regularly or subscribe to our blog (receive emails whenever we update) by submitting your email address in the 'Follow by Email' bar at the top right of the page!

Second Briefing

Between first and second briefing we began to have phone conferences and use our Facebook group to stay in touch. This was a great way to feel as though we were all still together - even if we were miles across the country!

Second briefing took place 26-28th April and this time it was like a big family reunion after being apart for 2 months! We had lots of fun during the weekend and shared lots of ideas and information with the other GOLD teams - as this would be the last time we would all be together before our projects.

Over the course of the weekend we began to plan resources to take to Malawi with us and gave each team member a list of things to prepare before 3rd briefing. We had training for how to deliver workshops and also training that was specific to our role. We also learnt about Stop the Violence as many of our countries use the WAGGGS programme.

Team Malawi dressed as the Great British Bake Off!

The evening activities were really fun, with each country preparing an entertainment for the other girls. We did the Great British Bake Off, where our contestants had to answer questions about the show to earn ingredients and then turn one member of their team into a cake!


We also said goodbye to Carrie, who is the International Events Co-ordinator for Girlguiding. She is moving on to a new, exciting job but we will be sad to see her go as she helped us so much with our project and fundraising.


All the Team are currently working hard with University deadlines, essays, exams and A-Levels. But soon they will all be over and then it is full-steam ahead with 3rd briefing and on to MALAWI!

First Briefing!

Our first briefing was lots of fun! It was held near London on 22nd-24th February. Everyone was a little nervous as it was the first time we would be meeting in person since INTOPs and the first time we would meet our leader Thea.

However, everyone seemed to click straight away and we all got on really well. We had lots of things in common and the conversation flowed. Throughout the weekend we learnt more about our own GOLD project and also the 7 other GOLD projects in 2013. We learnt about working together as a team and how important it is to be open and honest with each other. We made our group charter and picked out colours for our uniform, after much debate!!

Above is our very first group photo together - there will be many more to come! As you can see we were the pink team as part of our evening activities and Thea was Paddington Bear!

It was great getting to bond over the weekend and it already felt as though we had made lifelong friends.

The Team!

Team Malawi 2013 is made up of 6 young women. Here is a little information about ourselves.

Name: Thea
Role: Leader

I went to Malawi last year on project, and had a fantastic time.  It was my first time traveling outside Europe, which was a little daunting at first but the country is such a wonderful, warm friendly place, it was amazing.

I am currently in my fourth and final year at uni studying Fashion knitwear and knitted textile design at Nottingham Trent Uni.  It was a sandwich course so had a whole year out in industry where I worked for a swatch company knitting fabrics that sold to large fashion companies.

I am extremely crafty and love making and sewing things in my spare time, I also enjoy cycling, baking, exercise(may be not enjoy so much) and Guiding!!! So when I am at home in Taunton, Somerset I help at my local Brownie pack where I am Boobook Owl.  

Name: Emma
Role: First Aider

Hello! I’m Emma! I’m 22 years old and am studying medicine at the University of Leeds. I’m currently taking a year out from my medicine degree to do a BSc in International Health. I’m a leader at a Guide unit and a Senior Section unit in Leeds. On the GOLD Project I am first aider, looking after the health and wellbeing of the team.
I have visited Africa before, but this is my first visit to Malawi and I’m excited to help promote guiding and develop MAGGA! I’m also really looking forward to experiencing the culture and the food! x

Name: Rachael

Role: Secretary

I'm 25 and currently doing a PGCE in Modern Languages at Bath university. I love teaching, although it is really hard work! I did my undergraduate at St Andrews up in Scotland in French and German but I am originally from Lancashire - so I've lived all over the place in the UK recently! I spent a year living in Germany and a year living in Quebec to improve my French and German and I love traveling and living and working abroad.

In my spare time I help out with youth work at church and I love figure skating! It's an obsession. I'm hoping to start competing in a few years time. I also love knitting  - my Mum has a knitting business and spins and dyes all her own wool, so I always have a plentiful supply!

Name: Gemma

Role: Resources

Hey! I’m Gemma, I’m 21 and from Sheffield, currently I am a student at the University of Huddersfield studying surface design on my placement year. I am super excited although a little nervous about our Gold project, as this is my first experience travelling internationally with girl guiding!! My role is the resources preparing and gathering resources for our various training in Malawi. I’m looking forward to seeing Africa and its culture and meeting lots of new guiding members with my lovely teammates :)!

Name: Alice
Role: Treasurer

Hi my name is Alice. I’m 18 years old and I’ve been a brownie leader for three years . I’m in year 13 where I’m studying Maths, Biology and Chemistry A level. I hope to study adult nursing at university in September. In guiding I’m a young leader in brownies and I’m trying to complete my adult leadership qualification. I’m also trying to complete my queens guide award. I love playing sports and I also love travelling, I have been to Australia with girl guides.   I can’t wait to go to Malawi with girl guides and see a new country and learn all about it!

 

Name: Becky
Role: Documenter

Hello! I'm Becky, I'm 20 years old and I am just about to graduate with and English Literature degree from Cardiff University. So, as you can imagine I love reading!
I'm very involved in Girlguiding. When I moved for University I became a Brown Owl, which has been really fun but when I move back home I am going to be running my old Guide unit - scary! I am currently working on my Queen's Guide and am a member of Llais Y Ddraig - the Welsh Junior Council of Girlguiding.
I have been to Africa 3 times before but never to Malawi and I have never visited a country for so long either! I'm super excited to learn about the culture and make lots of new Girlguiding friends.