Yeoh (second from left) with GGAM members (from left) Lieesha Gunasegaran, Ding Mei Hui and Nurin Zahrra Hilmy Amirul Hilmy holding boxes of the Girl Guide Cookies that will be sold to raise funds for the association. — ART CHEN/The Star
GIRL Guides Association Malaysia (GGAM) is continuing the sale of its Girl Guides Cookies with a two-pronged purpose: to fund branch programmes and to send young members to international centres to develop potential leaders.
The campaign, in partnership with local brand Julie’s Biscuits, aims to sell 20,000 boxes of biscuits through GGAM’s 18 branches nationwide to raise funds for their activities and programmes.
The boxes are priced at RM20 each, just like last year.
The cookies come in a special packaging featuring two Girl Guides and a “thank you” message.
“We raised RM500,000 from last year’s cookie sales and we are targeting a similar amount this year,” said GGAM chief commissioner Datuk Yeoh Soo Keng.
“In addition, some of the funds raised will go towards sending 18 girls to three World Girl Guides Centres in Mexico, Switzerland and the UK, as an incentive for outstanding talents under the Young Women Advocacy Group programme.”
Yeoh said this during the launch of Girl Guides Cookies and Young Women Advocacy Group programme held in conjunction with GGAM’s 109th anniversary.
The launch held at Wisma Pandu Puteri Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, was attended by GGAM president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
In her speech, Dr Wan Azizah linked the baking process as a metaphor for the holistic development of young women.
“The secret to excellent cookies lies in adhering to the right recipe – selecting the correct ingredients and using them in the right proportion. The same is true for successfully shaping the next generation of Girl Guides,” she explained.
“I hope that the Young Women Advocacy Group programme will create a space for our teenage girls to speak up and advocate for issues that are close to their hearts.”
Meanwhile, Yeoh said the programme hoped to amplify the voices of young women, encourage them to speak up, share their aspirations and shape the future with their ideas and energy.
“Over the years, the Girl Guides movement has nurtured confidence and discipline, and also created a safe and empowering space for young women to find their voices, to live with compassion and to serve their purpose.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to the global mission of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) – to enable girls to develop their fullest potential and be a responsible citizen.”
Yeoh added the Girl Guides Cookies project also aimed to impart values on teamwork, creativity and entrepreneurship in every girl.
GGAM national honorary secretary Assoc Prof Dr Janice Nga said that the Young Women Advocacy Group is a structured, online-based programme that will be open to all GGAM members.
“It will have seven modules to be implemented next year, including on topics such as mental health, cybersecurity and scams, child marriage and bullying,” she said, adding that the programme is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“From there, a pool of girls with public speaking talent will be groomed as potential leaders and, as an incentive, be rewarded with a visit to the three international World Girl Guides Centres.”
Nga said the ultimate goal is to have girls confident enough to represent and speak on issues that affect them at the United Nations stage.
“The selection of candidates for the incentive trip will be fair and just.
“It will also be open to those from B40 and marginalised groups, such as Orang Asli communities,” said the Universiti Malaysia Sabah lecturer who oversees the programme.
The event included a choral speaking performance and rock-and-roll-theme dance by GGAM members, a cultural dance by the Lestari Seni group as well as a medley of songs presented by visually impaired singer Godfrey Ooi and friends.
For details, visit GGAM’s social media platforms.
