The
Founder of the Boy Scouts & Girl Guide / Girl Scout Movements was
Robert Baden-Powell, First Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell, OM, known universally
as B-P.
The Boy Scout Movement was officially founded in 1908.
In 1909, a Boy Scout rally was held at Crystal Palace in London, and Baden-Powell was taken aback when a number of girls attended, proclaiming themselves to be girl Scouts. Baden-Powell invited his sister, Agnes, as the girls' leader and chose the name Girl Guides after the famous corps of guides in India who were "distinguished for their general handiness & resourcefulness under difficulties, and their keenness & courage".
Baden-Powell felt that the Movement for girls should be run by women, so in 1910 he asked his elderly sister Agnes to undertake the work of adapting his book of Scouting for Boys, for use with girls. That year the Guide Movement was formally founded, with the establishment of the Girl Guides Association.
In
1910, Baden-Powell, now Sir Robert Baden-Powell, retired from his army
career and devoted himself to Scouting and to the beginning of Guiding.
He attended camps, rallies and jamborees all over the world, and it was
during a world tour in 1912 that he met Olave Soames, his future wife.
After a brief courtship, the couple were engaged and married that same
year.
Olave Baden-Powell accompanied her husband on visits and tours, and soon became actively involved in the Guide and Scout Movement. In 1919, she formed the International Council to provide this essential link. The first International Conference was held in England in 1920.
In 1924, the first World Camp, combined with the Third International Conference , took place at Foxlease in the United Kingdom.
In the Fifth International Conference in Hungary in 1928, Conference delegates from 26 countries finally decided that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts should be established, with a World Bureau as its secretariat.
Olave Baden-Powell was elected World Chief Guide in 1930.
Guiding Movement continues to thrive and grow. Nearly ten million girls and young women are members, in 140 Member Organizations worldwide.
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Hong Kong Girl Guides' songs
----The World Song (世界歌)
Our way is clear as we march on, and see!
our flag on high is never furled throughout the world for hope shall never die!
We must unite for what is right in friendship true and strong ,
until the earth, in its rebirth
Shall sing our song! Shall sing our song!
----Taps(女童軍散會歌)
Day is done, Gone the Sun, From the seas
From the hills, From the sky; All is well,
Safely rest, God is nigh.
Thanks and praise For our days' Neath the
sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky; As
we go, This we know, God is nigh.
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Our Symbol
The shape of Hong Kong Girl Guides Association's Symbol is based on the trefoil. Its notched edges recall the distinctive leaves of Bauhinia blakeana, Hong Kong's flower. The internal form of the symbol is a stylised version of the Chinese character Kwong meaning a ray of light of guiding beacon, a concept especially appropriate to the spirit of Guiding. When used in colour, the symbol will be mainly in mauve which reflects the Bauhinia blossom's colour along with red which is considered particularly auspicious by the Chinese.