Throughout 2014, the Malta Girl Guides continued to provide an educational programme addressing issues affecting girls and young women. The iCAN do Science project, an initiative aimed to encourage girls to get learn about science and eventually take up science oriented careers and the Guiding for All Savings Fund were among the innovative projects carried out to make Girl Guiding relevant and accessible for all. The work on gender equality advocacy, empowerment and raising awareness on gender based violence also continued. Reflection of a woman – Calendar in aid of Dar Merhba Bik
MGG’s campaigning against all sorts of violence against women will continue throughout 2015 by supporting the production of the 2015 calendar themed ‘A reflection of a woman’.
The calendar is a tribute to women’s independence, strong will and enthusiasm. The photos featured on each month of the calendar are accompanied by quotes of women who experienced living in the shelter of Dar Merhba Bik, until they got back on their own two feet. The residents of the home run by the Sisters of Charity, will be the beneficiaries of the donations collected from the sales of the calendar.
The production, which took five months to complete, was coordinated by Stacey Abela from My Melts. Dormax Press Co. Ltd. sponsored half of the printing costs while the Foundation for Social Welfare Services paid for the rest. The MGG will be helping the initiative by selling the calendars for €5 each. All the models, photographer, editors, hairdressers and make-up artist involved in the making of the calendar worked together on a voluntary basis. Guiding for All Savings Fund The Malta Girl Guides have set up a Guiding for All Savings Fund in collaboration with Soroptomist International Malta.

The purpose of this fund is to provide financial support to girls and women who cannot access the Girl Guiding educational programme due to lack of financial resources. Even though Guiding is not an expensive extra-curricular programme, there are still girls who do not afford to pay for fees such as membership, insurance and activity costs. The MGG believes that its non-formal education programme which aims to empower its members to develop their potential and become responsible citizens should be accessible to all girls. Hence, it should be also accessible to girls coming from difficult socio-economic backgrounds. Soroptomist Malta spent two years raising money for this fund being launched today. Hopefully donations from other entities will continue to support this initiative into the future. A board made up of MGG officials, a social worker and an external independent member representing the benefactors will be running the funds. Duke of Edinburgh International Award integrated in MGG programme As from the beginning of the Girl Guiding year 2014-2015, the Duke of Edinburgh International Award programme will be integrated in that of the Rangers (Age 14 -16) and Senior Rangers (Age 17-22) sectione educational programme.

This has been done because the two programmes share aspects that address the holistic development of young people through informal and non-formal education. Last year, the MGG went through a rigorous process to integrate the two programmes of the award within the Rangers and Senior Rangers programme. Meanwhile, leaders are being trained to facilitate and mentor the girls on the award programme. Eventually, the MGG leaders will be fully qualified to assess the girls doing the Bronze and the Silver levels of the award. More information on the MGG’s educational programmes is available on the association’s website.