World Thinking Day
World Thinking Day is one of the most significant dates in our guiding calendar. On the day, Guides and Girl Scouts everywhere think of each other and of their commitment to international friendship and understanding.
It is celebrated each year on 22 February, which was the birthday of both Robert Baden-Powell and his wife, the former World Chief Guide, Olave Baden-Powell.
As well as learning about guiding around the world, World Thinking Day is a great time to raise money for the WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) World Thinking Day Fund, which supports and grows guiding across the world.
How did World Thinking Day begin?
22 February marks the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout and Guide Movement, and his wife Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.
It was first decided to mark this special day in 1926 at an international Girl Guide and Girl Scout conference in the USA, and the 22 February remains a chance for all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to think of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their 'sisters' all around the world.
Later, in 1932, it was decided that as well as giving warm wishes to other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, girls could show their appreciation and friendship by donating a small amount to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Olave Baden-Powell wrote to all members to ask them to donate just a penny (worth about a loaf of bread in those days) to help fund guiding throughout the world. This is now known as the World Thinking Day Fund.
World Thinking Day today
World Thinking Day is more vibrant and exciting than ever, with opportunities all around the world for girls and young women to get involved with - and not only on 22 February!
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) currently have Global Action Themes for each World Thinking Day year. These themes are based on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and will last until 2015.
2011’s theme is girls worldwide say 'empowering girls will change our world'. We want to ensure fairness and equality for women all over the world, and to empower women to take on decision-making roles in their communities.
In the UK, we celebrate World Thinking Day in many different ways, from small events taking place in a unit, all the way up to national events like 2010’s One World One Beat.
