After years of hard work and dedication by members of the respective associations, the North District Girl Guides and Pembroke/St Andrews Scouts have a new training centre and headquarters.
The Pembroke site will be a base for over 350 girls and young women who are members of the North District Girl Guides, as well as 45 members of the Pembroke/St Andrews Scouts.
“This new centre will provide space for a variety of fun activities, making new friends and receiving non-formal education in a healthy and safe environment,” Ruth Cauchi, North District Commissioner of the Malta Girl Guides Association, said.
The new site includes a number of facilities which will enable these young people to enjoy activities ranging from gatherings to live-ins to sleepovers – activities that will leave a positive impression on their childhoods, increasing self-development and character formation.
Both the training centre and headquarters are equipped with open spaces that will serve as important tools for the leaders in charge to carry out their activities. These areas include a kitchen, training hall, dormitories, showers, multi-purpose rooms and internal yards.
“Scouts and Girl Guides founder Lord Robert Baden Powell believed that the most important object in guiding and scouting training is to educate, not instruct.
“The best interests of the children and young members of the two associations were the driving force behind this project. To reach this aim, the two buildings have been restored and renovated to be well-equipped,” Ms Cauchi said.
The restoration project was strongly supported by various entities – including the central government, officials from the two associations, private companies and the parents and leaders of the two groups.
“‘The spirit is there in every child, it has to be discovered and brought to light.’ One hundred years ago, Lord Baden Powell had this vision... and these two centres will offer the space for the vision to take root,” Ms Cauchi said.The centre was opened yesterday by Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino and blessed by Pembroke parish priest Fr Rene Vella.