Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG) hosted a ceremony yesterday (Tuesday) to honour 70 girl guides (aged 11-15 years) and brownies (aged 7-11 years) at Al Qassimia University Theatre, in appreciation of the guides’ successful participation in the various workshops and training courses that were organised by SGG this year. 

With the honouring given in four key categories; sports, community action, guidance world and the arts, the awarding ceremony was attended by Sheikha Amal bint Khaled Al Qasimi, Ambassador of SGG, Shaikha Al Shamsi, Manager of SGG and a host of SGG officials, guides, brownies and their parents.

A main feature of the event was an array of activities performed by the guides which highlighted their unique skills. The audience enjoyed the silhouette show titled ‘The World of Shadows’ and watched a video about SGG’s history, its achievements over the past years and the key projects it had implemented in the last year.

“Throughout 40 years the achievements of SGG have been instrumental in empowering girls and enabling them to develop their talents and skills in line with the vision of the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs,” said Shaikah Abdulaziz Al Shamsi, Manager of SGG.

“Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi has always provided support to enable young girls to achieve their ambitions and elevate them in all fields so that they become effective actors in their communities. Her Highness has been a highly effective force in raising the profile of the guiding movement to reflect the stature of Emirati girls and to enhance their presence in the Arab world and globally,” she added.

“The graduation of this batch of guides today commemorates the fourth anniversary of SGG’s launch with its new identity in 2013, incorporating new images of excellence, philanthropy and service. We are proud to be creating a cadre of enthusiastic, determined, ambitious and energetic young girls who are keen to build the future and contribute to the development of the UAE,” she noted.

During the ceremony Al Shamsi announced that a new category has been created under the name ‘Senior Guides,’ which will be dedicated to girls older than 15 years who wish to continue their guiding journey. Senior Guides will be able to carry on in their development role by mentoring younger guides, brownies and furthering the progress of SGG.

For her part, Sheikha Amal Al Qasimi said: “Over the past four decades SGG has enhanced its position as a premier destination for girls where they learn many important life skills, discipline and the fundamentals of excelling in various situations. SGG has fostered the values of selflessness in them and encouraged them to volunteer and enhance their sense of loyalty and belonging to their country.”

Established in the UAE in Sharjah in 1973, the guiding movement subsequently spread to all seven emirates, giving rise to the Girl Guides Association of the United Arab Emirates in 1979. Operating under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikh Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, SGG aims to inspire and nurture future generations to become progressive global citizens by providing a platform for girls to develop to their fullest potential.