Meet Sandy Thomas, a dedicated volunteer from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), who serves as the Lead Volunteer for the WAGGGS Capacity Building team. Sandy leads a team of approximately 100 volunteers, each of whom plays a crucial role in strengthening the capacity of our 153 Member Organisations.
Sandy brings a wealth of experience from her remarkable 42-year career within the Girl Guide and Girl Scout Movement. In her role as the Volunteer Lead for the WAGGGS Capacity Building team, she thrives on the challenge of finding the right volunteers whose skills, experiences, cultures, and languages align with the support needed by our Member Organisations. For Sandy, giving someone the opportunity to engage in such important work is a gift.
One of our incredible volunteers on the Capacity Building team, Tina Cheplick, beautifully captures the essence of volunteering for WAGGGS:
“My work with the Capacity Building team has been personally inspiring and uplifting as well as satisfying work for a great cause. I am humbled and motivated by meeting women leaders from large and small Member Organizations and seeing how they are striving in their own cultures to make the world a better place for girls. It is a joy to take on a project with this team of skilled, dedicated volunteers—across languages and cultures. Our various Girl Guide and Girl Scout experiences have taught us how to plan and get things done! I consider volunteering for WAGGGS a blessing."
For many, like Tina and Sandy, the Girl Guide and Girl Scout Movement have played a transformative role in their lives. As Sandy shares:
"My Dad died of a heart attack when I was 14. I was a lost little girl. Our Movement filled the hole left by his death. I have dedicated my career and my life to give back to this global Movement so other girls might find their path…their voice in making their world a better place. Now that I am retired, the organisation has given me the opportunity to continue this passion. I will continue to give my time and dollars to this Movement that continues to be the foundation for who I am and what I stand for."
These are the incredible individuals who are at the heart of the WAGGGS movement, making a positive impact on the lives of girls and young women worldwide. 💪🤝💙 #IDV23 #HelpingOthersHelp #IVMDAY23 #VolunteerManagers #WAGGGS