Since its foundation, the Malta Girl Guides’ mission has been to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens. Claire Caruana interviews Malta Girl Guides Chief Commissioner Marjoe Abela about the guiding experience and how the association celebrates International Women’s Day.

Marjoe Abela grew up in the world of guiding: she joined the Malta Girl Guides as a Brownie at the age of six and remained active long after her childhood years.

As a leader, she was exposed to a number of experiences and has been involved in a number of national projects. Today, at 42, Abela is the Malta Girl Guides Chief Commissioner, a position she has held since 2011.

The Guides offer a non-formal educational programme where girls can express their creativity and voice their opinions.

“Girls are encouraged to speak out and take action on issues that matter to them from a very young age,” says Abela.

“When our members enrol, at any age, they make a promise ‘to do their best’ to be faithful to their beliefs, act as responsible citizens and be of service to others. These basic principles of guiding instil in our members the values of commitment, responsibility, honesty, respect, altruism, self-esteem and a sense of duty to make the world a better place.”

The association is divided into different sections: Dolphins (aged 4 to 7); Brownies (7 to 10); Guides (10 to 13); Rangers (13 to 16); Senior Rangers (16 to 18); and Adult Volunteers (18+).

Abela’s role sees her leading the operation strategies of the association, making sure both leaders and girls receive adequate training and quality programmes. She is also responsible for ensuring that the Malta Girl Guides is well represented in consultation on policymaking with government entities, the National Council for Women, as well as the Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Żgħażagħ.

While she regards all this as an important part of her role, she finds that encouraging girls to pursue their talents is even more fulfilling.

“Perhaps the most rewarding part of my role is identifying young girls’ talents and providing them with local and international opportunities to stretch their potential,” admits Abela.

Abela points out that several members became politicians, entrepreneurs and some even lead volunteers in other non-governmental organisations.

She also explains how the Malta Girl Guides offers a safe place for girls of any age where they can be themselves, without any pressure to impress or compete with their peers.

“Living fun experiences together and sharing the same values nurture true friendships. This is what we call being ‘Sisters in Guiding’, which is something that comes out very strongly in the teenage years.”

“The Guiding group becomes a second family and provides members with a safety net, enabling them to face life with confidence.”

Chief Commissioner Marjoe Abela (second from right) and members of the Malta Girl Guides national board during a meeting with the President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who is also the patron of the association.

Abela acknowledges the fact that today’s girls face a good number of struggles. They come from different social backgrounds and are often under pressure to perform well academically. Social media have brought new challenges as many girls strive to maintain a good image online.

The Malta Girl Guides thus opts to take a varied approach to its teaching.

Perhaps the most rewarding part of my role is identifying young girls’ talents and providing them with local and international opportunities to stretch their potential

“Today’s girls have access to knowledge at the tip of their fingers. Their learning experience through the Guides is more holistic and related to a global village rather than to a closed community.”

The Malta Girl Guides, members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (Wagggs), have always empowered girls to take action depending on the relevant issues at the time.

“I remember when I was a Brownie, we used to clean public squares, put dustbins and labels to keep areas clean. At that time, the pre-Xummiemu era, raising awareness to keep public places clean was a relevant issue.

“Today, we do activities to decease the carbon footprint, projects like Free to Be Me, to fight the stereotyping of body image projected by the media; Global Action Theme, to be proactive towards the millennium development goals; iCan Do Science, to address the gender gap in Stem-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers; and Voices Against Violence, which empowers girls to identify different forms of violence, stop the violence early enough and advocate for the victims’ rights and opportunities to start afresh.”

Guiding in Malta has been active for the past 91 years and yet the association still vies to be a relevant movement which empowers girls to make a difference while also enjoying the guiding experience.

Abela admits, however, selling this idea can at times be hard and she identifies it as one of the organisation’s toughest challenges.

“Marketing our programme is hardest. We do not sell a product, we shape up girls to be confident, assertive and value-based leaders in any path they take in life.

“We do not have exams, tournaments or performances to value the quality of the programme. The transformation in our members is gradual and self- progressive,” she says.

Young women are constantly bombarded with mixed messages focusing more on body image rather than on their strengths.

“There’s also the stereotyping of girls’ responsibilities such as having children or taking care of the family, choosing caring careers and being dependent on their parents until they eventually get married,” adds Abela.

Gender gaps in wages and posts in management, politics and Stem areas are some of the inequalities that Abela believes are still very much a reality.

“Policies on paper are a starting point, but society needs to lead by example not only in employment and politics.

“Unfortunately, there are still girls who grow up with low self-esteem. These girls keep their dreams locked up because they either fear failure or they are somehow convinced that their choices are limited.

“Parents need to educate their children from a young age, irrelevant of gender, to share duties and responsibilities at home, to move away from stereotyping and to work hard to achieve their dreams, whatever these may be.”

Abela insists the Malta Girl Guides provide girls and women with training in value-based life skills, leadership and citizenship all year round yet they still believe it’s important to celebrate International Women’s Day.

“On International Women’s Day, we recognise and appreciate the priceless work of our female volunteers. We also join Wagggs in the global action theme ‘Together we can change the world’, as we believe that girls themselves, through good practice, are agents of change.”