Lending a hand: Supporting refugees
As Canadians prepare to welcome refugees fleeing from conflict-affected countries such as Syria, many Girl Guides of Canada–Guides du Canada (GGC) members are considering how best to lend a hand. There are many ways girls, Guiders and units can make a significant difference, including:
- Connecting with local refugee settlement groups and social service agencies to see what assistance new families might need. This may include things such as food, clothing, and books and school supplies.
- Welcoming girls and women arriving in their communities into Girl Guide units.
- Participating in Girl Guide programming that focuses on building understanding and empathy, a positive global perspective, and making a difference in the world.
Globally, our World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) sisters have been very active in supporting a large number of refugees.
Their actions include:
- Providing immediate support to refugees in shelters across Europe.
- Providing supplies to refugee camps and settlements in Kuwait and running Girl Guides and Girl Scout units in refugee camps in Kenya, the Central African Republic and Lebanon.
- Working with displaced communities in the longer term to support their integration into their communities.
(WAGGGS statement - Living the promise: Girl Guides and Girl Scouts supporting refugee children)
Please keep in mind that members are not permitted to fundraise for other organizations or charities while representing themselves as members of GGC; however, there is much we can do to welcome people to our communities and families, and ease their transition to a new life.
Chief Commissioner
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International Commissioner |