The Olave Baden-Powell Society 2024
A Year of Impact
OB-PS throughout the year
40 Years of Support
- 2024 saw 40 years of OB-PS supporting WAGGGS’ mission to build a brighter future for girls and young women across the world.
- Over the past year, OB-PS has grown to include 1,850 members across 64 countries, continuously evolving to meet the needs of the Girl Guide and Girl Scout Movement.
- Bound by generosity and a shared vision, let us reflect on the incredible impact we have made together!
Money Raised
- Giving Day - June 2024
- 86% of all Giving Day donations were made by OB-PS Members.
- £175,944 raised in total by OB-PS Members alone.
Total OB-PS income approx. £866,000 by end of December 2024.
OB-PS Impact
Global Community
- Many OB-PS Members have not only visited the World Centres themselves, but have also supported countless girls and young women from all over the world in attending events and seminars at the Centres.
- OB-PS funds have supported a wide range of activities at WAGGGS’ World Centres:
- Supporting volunteers during their placements
- Helping the World Centres host a diverse calendar of events
Pax Lodge
- WAGGGS’ London-based World Centre in the United Kingdom, Pax Lodge, has been running since 1991.
- OB-PS Members have provided young women with much-needed funding to volunteer at the World Centre for six weeks at a time.
- During their time as volunteers, young women have gained practical leadership skills, built confidence through personal and professional growth, made international friends, and grown as responsible global citizens.
Pax Lodge - Volunteers
- Autumn/Winter (2023/24 & 2024/25): 1 Canada, 1 Japan, 2 Australia, 1 Mexico, 1 New Zealand, 2 Venezuela, 1 Azerbaijan, 1 Nigeria, and 1 Malawi.
Spring (2024): 1 Canada, 1 New Zealand, 1 Uganda, 1 Ghana, and 1 Nigeria.
Summer (2024): 1 Mexico, 1 Uganda, 1 Tunisia, and 1 Bangladesh.
April to October 2024: 1 Marketing & Communications volunteer from Argentina.
Volunteering at Pax Lodge has been an incredible journey of learning and growth. Coming from Uganda, my first winter was a shock, but it taught me to adapt and appreciate new experiences. I adjusted to cultural differences, from language and food to mastering household chores I’d never needed before. I also developed multitasking skills, learned to lead programmes, and gained patience working with diverse personalities. The friendships I made were priceless. From the warm welcome of staff to swapping badges with Girl Guides worldwide, every moment was special. This experience has truly enriched my life, and I’m grateful for it all!
Shakira, Uganda – January to June 2024
Our Chalet
- Our Chalet, founded in 1932, is one of two World Centres in the Europe Region, located in Adelboden, Switzerland.
- Like WAGGGS’ other Centres, Our Chalet relies on dedicated volunteers from around the world to keep things running.
- Thanks to OB-PS Members' generosity in 2024, girls and young women from all WAGGGS’ regions joined volunteer leadership placements.
- In 2024, Our Chalet had 53 full-season volunteers from 30 countries.
Our Chalet - Volunteers
- Western Hemisphere: Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, USA, Peru, Argentina, and Chile.
- Asia-Pacific: The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, India, and Bangladesh.
- Africa: Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Zambia.
- Europe: Denmark, UK, Ireland, and Sweden.
- Arab Region: Tunisia.
Kusafiri
- Kusafiri is WAGGGS’ World Centre based in Ghana in the Africa Region.
- The Ghana Girl Guides Association facility has undergone some improvements throughout 2024. This has helped Kusafiri establish its presence as a World Centre in Ghana, thanks in part to OB-PS support.
- Donations have facilitated the construction of additional bathroom and shower cubicles, upgrades to air conditioning units, and official Kusafiri branding.
- The upgrades ensure greater comfort for Girl Guiding and Scouting visitors and encourage more people to attend in the future.
Sangam
- Founded in 1966 in India, Sangam received OB-PS support in 2024 to fund volunteers who live and work at the Centre, delivering its programme.
- These 18- to 30-year-old volunteers gained leadership skills while organising and running events.
- With one to two events per month, Sangam balances leadership and cultural activities. More families, friends, and adults over 30 are joining cultural events, and young people (13+) are returning for leadership programmes.
Nuestra Cabaña
- Founded in 1957, Nuestra Cabaña in Mexico has received vital support in recent years.
- A pledge fund, created to prevent its closure, has been generously supported by OB-PS Members.
- These funds have helped improve security, upgrade lighting, and enhance restrooms, and have also enabled successful programmes and events at the Centre.
Quality Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting
Global Strategy 2024-2029
- As part of the 2024–2029 Global Strategy, WAGGGS is committed to strengthening Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting by developing four key programmes, all with support from OB-PS:
- Growing and Learning Programme
- Safeguarding Capacity Building
- Meaningful Youth Participation
- International Facilitation Training Programme
Leadership and Voice
Global Advocacy Champions 2024
- OB-PS Members helped the 2024 WAGGGS Global Advocacy Champions take part in the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) from 11–22 March 2024:
- Participants joined in-person in New York and virtually
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts advocated for their rights on a global stage - Young women championed gender equality at a key intergovernmental event shaping global policy on women’s rights
• WAGGGS’ advocates showcased the diversity of their countries and cultures.
• Western Hemisphere: Barbados
• Asia-Pacific: The Philippines, Nepal,
• Africa:, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria
• Europe: Ukraine, UK and Portugal
• Arab Region: Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon
Getting Ready for Governance
- OB-PS supported young delegates attending
- WAGGGS World Conference in Cyprus in 2023
- OB-PS will support young delegates attending
- WAGGGS World Conference in Cambodia in 2026.