International Women’s Day is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action to accelerate gender equality.

This year, the theme selected by the UN for International Women’s Day (March 8) is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world on the way to the Generation Equality Forum” (visit the UN women website: https://www.unwomen.org)

And from the campaign for International Women’s Day 2021 the theme ‘Choose to challenge’ has been chosen. A challenged world is an alert world. And from the challenge comes change. Using the hashtag #ChooseToChallenge we can follow and support this initiative.

In Scouting, some women challenged the social barriers of that time and took initiatives to bring “the big game” to girls, thus creating Girl Guides and Guirl Scout.

Long before the famous Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 there were already women and girls leading the way for future generations.

Worldwide we have as references:

  • Agnes Smyth Baden-Powell who, together with her brother Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, founded the Girl Guides youth movement.
  • Olave Saint Claire Soames, also known as Olave Baden Powell or Lady Olave. She, who in addition to being the wife of our founder, was also the world director of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGSS).
  • Vera Barclay – She was not only one of the first Lady Scoutmasters, but also the first woman to hold a position in the male world of the first Scout Headquarters. She developed a varied program for the Pack and encouraged other women to participate.

Also, Women such as Maria Abrisqueta, Carmen de Pfister, Kathy de Phelps, Elise Hermine von Hopffgarten, Juliette ‘Daisy’ Gordon Low, Olga Malkowska, Antoinette Butte, Nair Fernández Blanco de Gowland, Evelyn Margaret Bourchier, Victoria Caviedes, Irene Morales, Sara Vásquez, Mary Malcolmson, Popelka Biliánová, Vlasta Koseová, Vivian Bose, Annie Besant, Madan Mohan were some that promoted Guiding in countries like Spain, Venezuela, Germany, USA, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Poland, France, Canada, Czech Republic, India…

In our federation many women have been leaders of Groups, Associations or Councils, such as Amalia Boto, Verónica Coronel, Tatiana Matus, Elizabeth García, Julie Bryceson, Sandra Orebi, Silvana Silva, Neelam Kashyap, Victoria Adagba, Anchal Bansal, Asha Saraswat among other.

In each, Association, Group there is a woman who has made a difference. Can you tell us which women have made a mark on your Scout / Guiding life? We would love to hear your Guiding and Scouting stories!