Stand Together For Peace – World Thinking Day 2021
Celebrated since 1926, World Thinking Day is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity for Girl Guides worldwide to speak out on issues that affect girls and young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides in 150 countries. During this day, celebrated on the 22nd of February, MGG unites with all Girl Guides around the world to be inspired by the history and impact of our global Movement; to connect with the worldwide sisterhood of Girl Guiding; to take action and speak out on issues we most care about and to make a difference by fundraising for projects around the world.
Every year, World Thinking Day (WTD) has a different theme that Girl Guides around the world can learn about and act on. This year’s theme for Thinking Day, as chosen by WAGGGS, was ‘Stand Together for Peace- Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together for Peacebuilding’. Peacebuilding is at the heart of Girl Guiding and is as vital and relevant today as for the last 100 years.
MGG held various activities to celebrate WTD amongst which, an online national event for all Guides and Rangers and an online celebration for all MGG Adult Volunteers. Each Unit also celebrated this special day with all the different Sections, whilst the Central District held a joint activity for its Units. During this year’s celebrations, the 3 main pillars of this year’s theme, Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together, were the fundamentals for all activities.
Activities related to the Stand Strong Pillar focused on what peacebuilding means, whilst exploring the issues and actions that can lead to conflict and those that lead to peace. Activities also empowered MGG members to become peacebuilders themselves.
Different conflict situations from different perspectives were explored to dig deeper into the Stand Up pillar and members practised adapting their behaviour to resolve such conflict and build peace. The link between discrimination, exclusion, and peace was also explored and during the young members’ activities media such as songs and videos were used to get through the message of how easy it may be to judge each other and discriminate against each other in today’s world.
Members also reflected on choices rooted in their values and considered the ripple effect of their actions, and how they may impact different groups during fun activities related to the Stand Together pillar. The Ripple of Peace activity, using pebbles and water, made clearer the message that the ripple effect our daily actions can have on others’ lives. Finally they reflected on taking action towards creating a more welcoming and peaceful society.
Both adults’ and young members’ celebrations ended with the Thinking ceremony, a ceremony all members keep close to heart and that celebrates and sums up our Guiding mission and values.
To further celebrate Thinking Day, MGG members were encouraged to wear their scarves to school or to their place of work, to further disseminate what our Association is all about. Our Chief Commissioner, Ms Stephanie Anastasi, was also invited to Sacred Heart Primary School, to tell the students about our mission, vision and values which are celebrated all year through, yet more especially on Thinking Day.