Become a volunteerSeptember 2019, Girlguiding members from all over the United Kingdom made their journey down into the depths of Sussex for a weekend. A weekend full of adventure and surprise. No one knew what to expect from it, this weekend was Go for GOLD.
Go for GOLD is a selection weekend held every year for those in Girlguiding who wish to be considered for GOLD, which stands for Guiding Overseas Linked with Development. The trip itself is a three-week-long volunteer project in a place such as Rwanda, Estonia, Peru or Zambia.
I know that people want to know everything about the weekend but that’s the fun of it; a weekend shrouded in secrecy and surprise. But don’t let that put you off applying at all!
The weekend gave us the opportunity to connect with other members our own age, and the chance to learn what opportunities are available for the 18 – 30s in other areas of the country. We had the chance to share our own ideas around Guiding and how we would like Girlguiding to develop. Over the weekend we also learnt new skills, had plenty of laughs and shared campfire songs and different guiding games to take back to all our units.
I think many felt comfortable throughout the process, it certainly didn’t feel like a formal interview process like you may have for a job (mine consisted of maths and English exam before being allowed to go face to face with my manager). We worked in different groups and were mixed up repeatedly which allowed us to get to know more people. We also had the opportunity to talk to members of the GOLD selection team and learn about the projects they had been on.
Go for GOLD has been a fantastic opportunity! Currently, we are all waiting to hear back from the weekend as to whether we have been selected or not for a project.
I am going to end here as I could go on but then I am at greater risk of spoiling the secrets of Go for GOLD which is an integral part of it. I wish I had known about GOLD when I was 18, and would love to raise more awareness about this exciting opportunity. My key advice is don’t worry, be yourself and have fun. I hope some of you apply for Go for GOLD next time round as it really is an experience to remember.
