“We Discover, We Grow” – The Next Stage

Today was the final day of the “We Discover, We Grow” exhibition I organised at Peterborough Museum. I’ve had lots of positive feedback over the course of the exhibition, and the girls who came to our activity day had a good time doing the trail and exploring the galleries. And now I want to take the project to its next stage – the photos might be up in a physical space anymore, but I want to share the images further through this blog.

Firstly, I have to say thank you to Diane and Deb who provided me with photographs. I also need to say thanks to my partner, Elizabeth, who wrote the majority of the labels and hand-out, my sister who took photos at our event, and my Mum for dropping things off and picking things up. And then there are the thanks to the museum staff who wrote us a great trail and for giving us the opportunity to display in the space in the first place. 

So now you can see the 18 images below, and the captions that accompanied them on the gallery walls. If these images motivate you to volunteer with Girlguiding, please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk. 

Energising!

This was the beginning of my journey that brought me to the United Nations. I met amazing people from around the world.

Subject: Young Women’s World Forum, 2010

Photographer: Ellen Pringle

Healthy Living

I conducted sessions on Asthma and Diabetes myth busting. The girls did a great job working together to learn new skills like the first aid shown here.

Subject: Activity Day, St Neots, 2011

Photographer: Pippa Gardner

Learning

At Minivate, girls ages 12 and over participate in skills, advocacy and outdoor activities – here they are learning sign language. Meeting all these young women teaches me so much about myself and about the world.

Subject: Minivate, Gilwell Park, 2011

Photographer: Sarah Sprigg

Fun!

I organised a music festival to celebrate our centenary. It was a hot weekend, so this activity allowed everyone to cool off whilst learning to work together to build rafts.

Subject: Gig in a Field, 2010

Photographer: Lauren Gardner

Healthy Relationships

Having been in a bad relationship, Guiding gave me the confidence to build new, healthy relationships and face new challenges. That, along with the taste for travel, meant I could take on the challenge of moving to a different country to be with my current partner.

Subject: Flowers from photographer’s partner, USA, 2013

Photographer: Pippa Gardner

Growing Audience

I spoke to 600 people and on a live webcast to launch a global campaign to end violence against women and girls. I want to bring this subject and solutions to other young women around the world and volunteer writing blogs and running social media.

Subject: WAGGGS World Conference, Edinburgh, 2011

Photographer: Becky Tompkinson

World Wide Family

I was inspired to see girls from all over the world working, having fun and learning together.

Subject: Centenary Camp, Harewood House, Leeds 2010

Photographer: Diane Card

Inspiring Curiosity

We give girls the opportunity to find out about the world around, and that can sometimes be found in their own backyards! These girls loved hunting and finding the different colours of nature in the grounds of Flag Fen.

Subject: Flag Fen, 2010

Photographer: Viv Hempsell

Nature Up Close

Many of the girls had never been this close to birds before, and they loved being able to both see and touch them.

Subject: Ramsey Rapture Foundation, 2007

Photographer: Diane Card

Love of the land

Our countryside inspires me with its scale of beauty and tranquility. Its awe inspiring.

Subject: Diane Card, 2010

Photographer: Diane’s husband

The Next Generation

I have had the privilege of helping to guide these Brownies on their way, yet they have helped to guide me too. They are such fun to be with and are constantly amazing you with what they say and do.

Subject: Brookside Brownies, 2011

Photographer: Diane Card

Lend A Hand

The Brownies, including Amelia, enjoy helping other people by raising money for charities. Amelia has developed both her confidence and abilities by taking part in the unit.

Subject: Amelia at Children in Need, Brookside Methodist Church, 2011

Photographer: Diane Card

Transformative Influence

 

Through Guiding, I saw this young lady develop personal skills and a sense of self worth that school was not able to provide. She won a national photography competition.

Subject: Winner with Chief Guide, 2009.

Photographer: Deb Sutton

The Power of Youth

I love seeing the journey made from girls to confident young women who take charge of their own events. It reminds me of my own journey.

Subject: Minivate, Milton Keynes 2009

Photographer: Deb Sutton

Pride of Place

For all who volunteer in their community (not just in Girlguiding) often over generations – they have shaped the modern world as well as the personal future of so many young people. Getting the Freedom of the City marked that.

Subject: Freedom of the City, Peterborough 2010

Photographer: Deb Sutton

Spiritual Growth

Nature, particularly fire and flame, always invoke a sense of spirituality within me, despite having no formal faith. The quiet times we spend alongside the natural world give me the chance to reflect in my own personal sense of purpose, values and direction.

Subject: Golden Jubilee Beacon Lighting, 2012

Photographer: Deb Sutton

Freedom in Safe Spaces

We have always given girls and young women a place to try new things and be themselves. As an only child, that freedom to explore within safe spaces was vital in my own development. 

Subject: Starburst for Brownies, 2010

Photographer: Deb Sutton

Ultimate Adventure

This was the culmination of my own confidence in gaining the skills to take girls and young women on residential experiences around the world. This photo is a constant reminder not only of the adventures I’ve shared, but also of the worldwide community of scouts and guides in which we belong. We have the power to change the world, one young person at a time.

Subject: Uzbekistan, 2010

Photographer: Deb Sutton