Local girls Lucy Barnes, Zoe Pentin and Tianah Hambleton from the Merimbula Girl Guides and Sofie Van Haperen and Taylor Williamson from Bega Girl Guides had the opportunity to represent the south east region at a special event “Girls in the House” on Wednesday, September 6 at Parliament House.
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The event was to introduce the international Voices Against Violence program to Parliament, a partnership between UN Women and Girl Guides all over the world that aims to develop a global community committed to ending violence against women and girls.
Voices against Violence (VAV) is a non-formal learning program for boys and girls that has been developed by UN Women and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The initiative is designed to help young people learn to talk about violence, understand its root causes, recognise their rights and develop the skills and confidence to access those rights for themselves and others.
The program is part of a suite of four pillars that UN Women and WAGGGS have collaborated on to take action to address and stop violence towards women and girls. These pillars are: raising awareness, learning (voices against violence), speaking out, contributing to research and policy and taking action.
The Girl Guides also launched their Getting into Governance program, designed to develop governance leadership skills in girls aged 16 to 24.
They met with many MPs including Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly and this was followed by a special meeting with the Prime Minister before attending question time.
The girls said it was a great day and a privilege to be part of the Girl Guides Australia movement.
Merimbula Guides meet at the Merimbula Guide and Scout Hall, Main Street Merimbula on Thursday nights at 5.30-7pm and Bega Girl Guides meet at the Guide Hall, Spindler Street Bega on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm.