Focus on Friends
the newsletter of
Friends of Asia Pacific WAGGGS
July 2014
FAPW Hong Kong Gathering – 4 to 9 July 2014
In this issue:
The 103 participants in the FAPW Hong Kong Gathering were treated
to great hospitality and a varied program which included a visit to the
Ping Shan Heritage Trail, the Opening Ceremony of the World
Conference followed by the Gala Dinner, a Harbour Cruise, a visit to
Hong Kong Girl Guides HQ, our own Bazaar and a visit to the World
Conference’s World Market.
FAPW Hong Kong Gathering - 1
At the Opening Ceremony of the World Conference we were pleased
to learn of the confirmation of Full Membership of WAGGGS for
Mongolia and for Cook Islands, and Associate Membership for
Myanmar. FAPW members were particularly thrilled to see the Girl
Scout Association of Mongolia achieve Full Membership as Marian
and Dallas Langdon had both worked for many years to assist them.
Dallas Langdon with the Mongolian Girl Scouts delegation and
their certificate of Full Membership of WAGGGS
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FAPW 30% Benefit
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30% Benefit recipient
Girl Guides Australia – Review of
the Olave Program
3
Wish List and Progress
4
FAPW Korea meeting with APR
Committee
5
FAPW – OB-PS Partnership
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Reflections
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Focus on Friends will be
published twice yearly, in
January and July. We welcome
articles from all member
countries of FAPW. Share news
of what your FAPW is doing, how
the 30% benefit is being used by
your national association…….
Deadlines for submission of
articles will be 1 December and
15 June. Send articles to Helen
at [email protected]
Cook Islands Girl Guides delegation with
their certificate of Full Membership of
WAGGGS and the Panda gift they received
during the presentation ceremony.
At the World Conference Gala Dinner we were
entertained with a Lion Dance, Chinese Opera and
drama, Folk Dancing and a performance by the
Korean singing group Uangel Voice.
At our Membership Ceremony 32 new members
and 16 upgrading members received their pins from Dato Dr Juseon Byun. Four members became Major
Donors. A short memorial for Marian Langdon was held on this day. That evening we enjoyed a buffet
dinner and Harbour Cruise, during which the entertainment again included Uangel Voice.
During our visit to Hong Kong Girl Guides HQ we saw some wonderful performances by children playing
traditional Chinese instruments, singing and dancing, a Dragon and Lion Dance and a demonstration
of Marching by the Golden Guides. Many of the children were very young but all were very talented
performers.
Our Bazaar was held at the HQ and raised a total
of HKD 6,740 plus USD 1,495 which, after
conversion, amounts to about USD 2,330. We also
had the opportunity to try our hands at calligraphy
and handicrafts, learn relaxing exercises and try on
Lion and Dragon Dance and Chinese costumes.
After our Farewell Dinner at a Chinese Restaurant, we
visited the World Conference’s World Market which
was divided into the five World Regions plus WAGGGS
and offered a host of different and interesting
products.
FAPW Chairman Susan Locsin with one of the
Lions
Some of the talented young performers at Hong Kong Girl Guides HQ
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FAPW 30% Benefit
For every GBP 6,000 raised by an FAPW country group, GBP 1,800 (30%) will be returned to the
Member Organization of that country for use in an approved project. When notified of eligibility
to receive the 30% Benefit, the Member Organization submits a project proposal to the Asia
Pacific Regional Committee for approval.
Girl Guides Australia - Olave Program Review – a 30% Benefit project
The Olave Program enables young women in Guiding in Australia aged 18 – 30 years to 'Serve, Support,
Succeed'. Participants of the Olave Program are known as ‘Olaves’. The Olave Program allows participants
to engage in opportunities for personal challenge through a flexible network, with a focus on service. It
provides a voice for the young women of Guiding in this age group.
In mid-2013, the National Olave Program Committee
(NOPC) commenced the planning and scoping process for
the first truly comprehensive review of the Olave Program
since it began in 1996. The aim of the review is to ensure
that the Olave Program is relevant, flexible and engaging
for young women in Australian Guiding.
The NOPC has been listening to feedback from Guides,
Olaves and adult members of Guiding from across
National Olave Program Committee
Australia via a variety of means, including:
 Community consultation website, for members to share their comments and stories;
 Online survey open to all members;
 Face-to-face focus groups held in each state;
 Online discussion questions for those unable to attend a focus group;
 Release of an infographic to illustrate some initial feedback received; and
 Follow-up strategic objectives survey to test the direction of the new Olave Program.
The NOPC has investigated what types of opportunities are available to
young women in other service organisations in Australia, as well as in
other WAGGGS member organisations around the world. A history of the
Olave Program was compiled in order to understand how it has grown and
developed over time. The services of an external consultant were used to
assist with data collation and analysis.
Olave Program
Focus Groups
The next steps include the preparation of a report to
set out the findings of the research and feedback, and
then working to implement the recommendations to improve the Olave Program and the experience of
young women in Guiding in Australia.
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Girl Guides Australia’s Olave Program thanks Friends of Asia-Pacific WAGGGS for their support in the form
of the 30% Benefit, which will go towards creating the necessary resources to support and supplement
the revitalised Olave Program in Australia.
You can read more about the Olave Program Review, and
keep in touch with its progress, at http://girlguidesau.engagementhq.com/projects/olave-program-review
Wish list for some of our Asia Pacific Region member organizations
If you can help with a donation towards funding of any of these projects, in part or in full, please contact
Morwenna Moseley at [email protected] for instructions for transmitting the funds. Please
specify the project or projects for which you would like the donation to be used.
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Fiji - a van: 9 seater Hyundai -USD 28,396.50 or 12 seater Mazda - USD 23,233.50
Fiji - laptop Satelite Pro C850 (Toshiba) - USD 1,027.44
Fiji - LCD projector Acer X1163 – USD 851.90
Fiji – Projection Screen with Tripod Stand – USD 350.05
Pacific Islands— donations are needed to assist in printing of the Pacific handbooks and
production of the badges (approx. GBP2000)
Kiribati, Tonga, India and Cambodia — a variety of office equipment such as laptops and printers.
Cook Islands, Tonga — need funds to prepare start up kits for units
Myanmar - 10,000 cloth World badges for Myanmar Girl Guides: approx. USD 1,600
Myanmar - 10,000 cloth Myanmar Girl Guides badges: approx. USD 1,600
Myanmar Girl Guide uniforms @ approx. USD 25 per girl.
Wish List Progress
Cambodia: Mr and Mrs Chen Chin-Chu of Taiwan and Mrs Masako Kajiura, Mrs Kumiko Maruyama of
Japan and three of their Boy Scout friends in Japan and Hong Kong very generously donated USD 3,000 to
enable the purchase of ten computers to equip a Computer Classroom for Girl Guides Association of
Cambodia.
Myanmar: A small number of Girl Guide Units and
individual members in North Pacific Coast Region of
Girl Guides Australia, NSW decided that, as an
International Service Project, they would help raise
funds to buy uniforms for Myanmar Girl Guides. The
girls held Myanmar and Asia Pacific nights, baked
cakes and cookies to sell at cake stalls, made loom
band bracelets and donated book for sale at a ‘bring
and buy’ sleepover, held sausage sizzles, donated
their pocket money, looked after canoes and
kayaks during a community canoeing event and
participated in a variety of other activities.
They raised a total of AUD 1,750.
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Helen Hargreaves of North Pacific Coast Girl
Guides Australia, NSW presented the gift to
the Myanmar delegation.
FAPW Korea
During the Partnership Visit of the Asia Pacific Regional Committee in Seoul in March, Dr Juseon Byun,
Founder of FAPW and KyungOk Kim, National President of Girl Scouts of Korea invited Mary McPhail,
Chief Executive of WAGGGS, Low Lih Jeng, Chairman and the APR Committee to a dinner to meet with
members of FAPW Korea.
Everyone had a great time with songs and laughter and delicious food at a wonderful Korean restaurant.
It was a memorable time with a feeling of friendship – a relationship that will continue into the future.
Dates for your diary
FAPW Australia 2nd Gathering, Melbourne - 30 November to 4 December 2014
FAPW Taiwan 15th Anniversary Celebration to be held in March 2015
FAPW 5th General Assembly to be held in Brunei in April 2017
FAPW – OB-PS Partnership
A new partnership between FAPW and the Olave Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS) enables donors to
become a FAPW Major Donor and a member of OB-PS on the same donation scheme.
Membership of the OB-PS requires a lump sum donation of GBP 6,000 or six annual instalments of GBP
1,000. Donors now have the option to direct the first GBP 1,000 to FAPW and by so doing, becoming a
Major Donor member. By pledging a lump sum or 5 subsequent donations amounting to GBP 5,000, the
donor becomes a member of the OB-PS. FAPW members who are already Major Donors may become
members of the OB-PS by paying the balance of GBP 5,000 to the OB-PS.
The option to direct the first GBP 1,000 directly benefits the Asia Pacific Region through FAPW, while the
subsequent donations benefit WAGGGS worldwide through the OB-PS
The Pledge Form may be downloaded from www.ob-ps.org and from asia.wagggs.org.
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Reflections
Many participants at the Hong Kong Gathering asked for a copy of the Reflections presented by Australia.
Liz Butson has kindly provided it.
Colours – Native American Indian Legend
Participants are given a bead of each colour of the rainbow and a 20cm cord onto which to thread them
as each colour part is read.
1st Narrator: Once upon a time, the colours of the world started to quarrel: all claimed that they were the
best, the most important, the most useful, the favourite. RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out:
RED: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the colour of danger and of bravery. I
am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the
moon. I am the colour of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
Narrator: ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:
ORANGE: "I am the colour of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the
needs of human life. I carry the most vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and paw
paws. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking
that no one gives another thought to any of you."
Narrator: YELLOW chuckled:
YELLOW: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow,
the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to
smile. Without me, there would be no fun."
Narrator: GREEN said:
GREEN : "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees,
leaves - without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the
majority."
Narrator: BLUE interrupted:
BLUE: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis
of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity.
Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Narator: INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
INDIGO: "Think of me. I am the colour of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become
superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and
contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
(Reflections continued on next page)
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(Reflections continued from page 6)
Narrator: VIOLET rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp:
VIOLET: "I am the colour of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs and bishops have always chosen me for I am
the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me - they listen and obey."
2nd Narrator: And so the colours went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their
quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning, thunder
rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colours crouched down in fear, drawing
close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamour, Rain began to speak: "You foolish colours, fighting amongst yourselves, each
trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and
different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colours united and joined hands. The Rain continued: "From now on, when it
rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of colour as a reminder that you can all live in
peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to...
appreciate one another.
The Making of Friends
- Edgar A Guest
Life is sweet because of the friends we have made
And the things which in common we share;
We want to live on, not because of ourselves
But because of the ones who would care.
It’s living and doing for somebody else
On that all of life’s splendour depends,
And the joy of it all, when we count it all up,
Is found in the making of friends.
Songs sung during Reflections were “We Change the World” by Melinda Caroll, words and music in many
GSUSA song books and also on the internet
and “Imagine the Impact” by Judy Rogers and available from Girl Guides Australia, Qld on the CD “Catch
the Spirit”.
Many thanks to
Miranda Cummings, National Olave Program Manager, Girl Guides Australia
Sun Kyo Jung, FAPW Korea, Working Group FAPW
Liz Butson, FAPW Australia
for articles, information and photos
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