Holding Hands in Girls Scouts

Holding Hands in Girls Scouts
My two daughters then five and seven years old in 1998 were fortunate enough to be able to join 'Girls Scouts' program held at a multinational company's compound in Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia.
An hourly meeting of once a week for almost 5 years was enough to equip them with many skills that other girls at their age were deprived of. From Daisy's baked cookie's day to Brownie's exploring day to junior's environment day, to Cadet's swimming day, those were some of the team activities of 'girls scouts' program.
A camp out twice year in the desert and at the beach with marshmallow camp fire was a thrilling experience. International events that start with a tour of booths of different countries and end up with tasting dishes from various cultures was a social lesson that no teacher can give and no classroom can hold.
Learning the girls' scouts honor and holding hands was a promise that gave girls the basis for shared values and beliefs based on ethics and virtue. Planting a tree, giving a helping hand for those in need, ends up with a badge for each activity. A Collection of many badges to be hand stitched on a sash reflects an achievement of many life skills. Recognition would be given to those girls who complete a big number of activities or contribute to a good cause.
The concept of transferring a structured program of activities that end up tangibly with received badges through learning by fun setting is what makes girls scouts an amazing program.
This had inspired me to write a booklet in Arabic to initiate a set of activities for girls, as only boys get the choice of joining a boys' scouts program in Saudi Arabia. Such booklet aims at developing social skills, life skills and community service based on universal code of behavior. The activities I developed end up with the girl receiving a sticker to be placed on a special 'achieved skill folder'. My hope was to introduce the girls to different skills necessary to set a launch for a confident step into the world. The booklet I have developed remains a dream to get into the mainstream elementary aged school girls in Saudi Arabia.
The Girls' Scouts had given a helping hand to many girls and was extended to mothers who were part of it.