Meet Mercedes Ramacieri, a passionate environmentalist and a proud member of the Association of Argentine Guides. Her journey as a Girl Guide began when she was just eleven years old, and it opened the doors to a world of learning experiences that have shaped her into the strong, confident, and capable woman she is today.
Growing up in a community of women who led change and supported one another, Mercedes was inspired to pursue her passion for environmental science, leading her to study for a Bachelor of Environmental Science at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). She even went on to complete a Master of Metropolitan Environmental Management at the same university while working at the Observatory of Urban Hygiene of Buenos Aires City as a researcher and technical assistant. She is also a consultant in environmental awareness and waste projects for the public and private sectors.
Mercedes is a member of the National Environmental Committee of her Member Organisation and an Advocacy Champion for the Girl-Led Action On Climate Change (GLACC) programme. She is passionate about leadership for sustainable change, environmental sciences, and climate action, and she credits her time as a Girl Guide for igniting this passion within her.
Mercedes' Girl Guiding journey has equipped her with a range of skills that have proven useful in her personal and professional life. She learned the importance of activity planning, leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and effective communication with people of all ages. Her experience as a Guide Leader of a group of 5-6-year-old girls taught her the value of storytelling, short and clear messaging, and the importance of learning by doing. The camps she attended helped her develop her problem-solving skills, and the events she organized taught her to evaluate experiences in order to make continuous improvements.
The GLACC Programme brought together two passions of hers like never before! Guiding has been her way of life since she was just 11 years old while caring for the environment has been her calling. As an Advocacy Mentor for her MO, she is absolutely committed to carrying out local girl-led advocacy campaigns that empower young women to have a say in shaping their own futures. And let me tell you, she doesn't just talk the talk - she walks the walk! Through her role, she's determined to reach out to even more girls and help them find their own voice. So that they can speak up and make their voices heard!
Mercedes has been involved in several projects for WAGGGS, including the recent GLACC delegation to COP27 in Egypt.
In 2022 I had the opportunity to travel to Egypt as part of the GLACC delegation to COP27, held by the UNFCCC. Our main objectives were to bring the voice of girls and young women to the most important climate change negotiation event of the year. It was a great personal challenge and a very enriching professional experience. For me it was a dream to be able to participate in a COP and to have the possibility to talk to decision-makers, to meet other women's movements with similar ideals to WAGGGS and to discuss in a group. Every day during my stay at COP27 I had a reason to get excited and feel proud to be a Guide, and I came back even more involved in making climate change with gender perspective visible.
Being part of GLACC allows me to create new contacts, increase my understanding of new environmental issues, contribute to my professional training and particularly encourages me to advocate. Advocacy means speaking out to influence people in positions of power, which is a necessary tool for environmental activism. That is why I would love to see more women join the WAGGGS volunteer network to tap into their potential and learn valuable skills for their profession. I'm grateful for all the opportunities that the movement has given me and I hope that Guiding will transform the lives of more women every year
