Note on limitations of the Consultation
- The results of the consultation may not be fully representative of the whole Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement.
- The Member Organisation Survey on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) has a 72% response rate globally. Yet, there were higher engagement in certain regions compared to others.
- The Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Consultation with Youths has a lower global response rate of 37%.
- Responses may not be fully accurate due to differences in understanding of terms used, method of delivery and collection of feedback from each participating unit/troop, and language barriers in countries which do not use any of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) four official languages (Arabic, English, French and Spanish).
- Responses received may be a perception of the individual or group completing the survey and not referring to official data published by their countries. For example, respondents may not be knowledgeable about the most recent situation of gender inequity with regards to Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) careers in their countries.
- Lower response in certain Regions may be due to the following reasons:
- The timeframe of the consultation was around summer holidays in the northern hemisphere. Member Organisations may not have had a chance to promote this opportunity to their members. In some countries, Girl Guides/Girl Scouts were on term break and engagement with members was not possible.
- Some Regions were busy with Regional Conferences during most part of the consultation timeframe.
- There was feedback from one Member Organisation that Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) is not relevant in Girl Guides/Girl Scouts, therefore they decided not to take part.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) in Girl Guides/Girl Scouts is relatively a new topic in some countries. There was feedback from Member Organisations and Girl Guide/Girl Scout leaders that they did not contribute because they lack knowledge in the topic, although the consultation did not require prior knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM). In fact, the consultation aimed to study current understanding and integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) into Girl Guides/Girl Scouts in different countries.
Appreciation
We wish to record our appreciation to those who contributed to the successful implementation and reporting of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Global Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Consultation, with a special mention to:
- Strategic Partnerships team for driving the consultation project
- Imogen Fitzpatrick, Grace Tam, Alice Waweru, Gina Mills, Jenny Giangrande, Amy Jarvis, Rebecca Liss, Harshita Murarka
- Data Analysis team
- Assoc. Prof. Hazel C. Flores Hole (PhD), University of the Andes, Merida, Venezuela (Asociación de Guías Scouts de Venezuela)
- Assoc. Prof. Sri Devi Ravana (PhD), University of Malaya, Malaysia (Girl Guides Association Malaysia)
- Andrea Chakma (Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada)
- Ho Yi Ming (Girl Guides Association Malaysia)
- Ilesanmi Tolulope (The Nigerian Girl Guides Association)
- Troels Forchhammer (Det Danske Spejderkorps (DDS))
- Nasa Zata Dina, University of Malaya, Malaysia (Indonesia)
- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Languages Team for translation of documents, materials and report of the consultation, report launch event and communications, particularly to
- Hazel C. Flores Hole (Asociación de Guías Scouts de Venezuela)
- Mariam Abdullah Al-Hadhri (Sultanate of Oman National Organisation for Scouts and Guides)
- Core Mission team for support in input, volunteer management and the Campfire portal
- Global Programmes team for support in input and implementation, particularly through the YESS Girls Movement
- Membership and Regional team, including Regional Committees of all five World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Regions for promoting the consultation to Member Organisations
- International Operations team and Sangam World Centre volunteers and staff for their work in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Volunteer Placement programme and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Discovery Days
- Member Organisations and Component Associations who took part in the Consultation and promoted to their members
- Volunteers and staff from World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Member Organisations who supported delivery of the Consultation activities and the launch of the report during the two webinars in 2023
- Volunteers and staff in the Planning and Technical teams of the “Explore, Inspire, Lead - Girls as Changemakers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)” webinar series
- Chempaka Emalin Pahamin as venue sponsor for the Technical team of the webinars
- Johnson & Johnson for their partnership and support