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Renewing our Promise in Lahemaa National Park, Estonia

In 2019, eighteen members of 1st Chislehurst Guides and 1st Chislehurst 'Blizzard' Rangers are going on the adventure of a lifetime to India.  India is home to one of the WAGGGS World Centres, Sangam.  There are 5 World Centres - Pax Lodge in London, Our Chalet in Switzerland, Our Cabana in Mexico, Kusafiri which moves around Africa (read this for an explanation) and Sangam in India.

We are an internationally-focussed group, having been on several European trips over the past five years - young members have variously met with local Guides in Luxembourg, enjoyed a day-trip to Germany; we've searched for the Northern Lights in Iceland and been whale-watching; young members have made their Girlguiding promise in Lake Bled in Slovenia, or up a tower in the middle of Lahemaa National Park in Estonia; we've met with Estonian Girl Guides in Tallinn, we've danced our way to Helsinki on a ferry, on a day-trip organised by our Rangers.  We've travelled.  

But why? International opportunities with Girlguiding provide young members with unique and wonderful experiences, which enable girls to develop their potential, to better understand themselves, to make solid friendships and enjoy a safe and secure environment created by experienced, committed Leaders, whilst experiencing diverse new places.  

Our trip to India is our biggest, most ambitious project yet.  We are attending a programme at Sangam called 'Mangoes and Mermaids' where we will be immersed in Indian culture, learning about festivals, food, visit local community projects and see India through an international Guiding lens.  We will spend a couple of days sightseeing either side of the programme.

In order to make this trip truly accessible, as we always do with our international trips, each participant is paying £750 and we are fundraising the rest.  In doing this, young members realise the value of the trip and actively contribute to the fundraising in all sorts of ways.  We have already raised over £8,500 through: grants, online selling, Craft Fair and Evening of Fun, carol singing at Chislehurst Station (most effective at Christmas), all sorts of recycling, cake sales and more, but there is still more to be done.  

I know what you're thinking... how can I support this amazing adventure?!

There are a number of very simple things you can do to help our fundraising:

1 - Buy things online? Sign up for Easyfundraising and choose 'Girlguiding LaSER - 1st Chislehurst Guide Unit', then every time you buy something online, do so through Easyfundraising and generate a donation for us at no cost to you.  Watch this video to see how it works.  If you run a group and haven't got an easyfundraising account, use this referral link to set one up for your group.

2 - Browsing online? Use Easysearch as your search engine.

3 - Shop at the Co-op? We have been chosen as one of the local causes for the Co-op in Chislehurst - if you live within 15 miles of Chislehurst you can choose 1st Chislehurst Guides as your cause if you have a Co-op card - order one here and choose your cause online.  Tweet about it using #TheCoopWay

4 - Brownie / Guide / Ranger Leader? Adult group or Trefoil Guild member?

Are you a Brownie / Guide / Ranger Leader, or do you have a group of friends who are involved with Guiding, or part of the Trefoil Guild? Take part in the epic Acts of Kindness London Challenge, downloadable here, then send off to receive your fantastic badge for just £2 (full details in the Challenge).

5 - Received a lot of Christmas cards? Work in a complaints department?

Please cut used stamps neatly off envelopes, divide into GB and non-GB, then post them to '1st Chislehurst Guides', 59 Mitre Copse, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, Hants S050 8QE.

6 - Maybe you just want to make a donation? 

E-mail helenbbryant@gmail.com for details of how to do this.   

We are very excited about our Community Fundraising Day on Sunday 23rd December, when our family unit (3rd Chislehurst Rainbows, 1st Chislehurst Brownies, 1st Chislehurst Guides, Blizzard Rangers) will be bag-packing in Chislehurst Sainsbury's from 10am - 3.45pm, then carol singing at the Co-op on Belmont Lane, Chislehurst from 4pm.  Come and say hello.

We're going to be blogging our way through the run-up to our adventure and during the adventure itself, so do keep reading!