Two Horowhenua College students have travelled through the ranks of the Girl Guide movement and have now received their Queen’s Guide Awards.
Sarah Benseman and Kylie Smith have grown up side-by-side from the age of 7 years old when Kylie first joined the movement. Since then they have perservered through the ranks and are now qualified leaders.
The two girls recently ran an advocacy project in the community to raise awareness about people who struggle in times of need. This project was the last criteria they needed to complete in order to gain their Queen’s Guide Award and graduate into leadership positions.
They chose the Levin Combined Church Foodbank as their project. Kylie Smith said the Levin Foodbank was a very worthy choice for their advocacy project. “We knew there were a lot of people struggling to feed their families”. The girls raised awareness and also funds for the foodbank, presenting the Salvation Army with a $70 food voucher.
Kylie said being involved in Girl Guides was a positive decision that had given her valuable life skills. “Guiding is about being involved in the community, it’s an experience I believe every girl should have. I have learnt so much for example setting up a tent in the wind and rain and feeding lots of hungry girls. On a deeper level I’ve gained leadership skills, like how to engage people. The wide range of cultures that I have experienced through being involved in guiding has ignited in me an interest in culture and a desire to travel. I’m looking forward to moving into a leadership role within the Girl Guide movement while helping other girls learn the same valuable skills I’ve learnt.”
Kylie said her passion for helping people and desire to travel had directed her to one of two professions. “I would like to be an internatonal air hostess or a vet nurse but, whatever it is, I am doing I want it to be helping people”
Article courtesy of the Horowhenua Chronicle