9th Asia Pacific Conference - Malaysia

Sunday 3 June

The Australian Contingent comprises Lynne Price, Chief Commissioner, Jo Lees, International Manager, Prue Carpenter, Luisa Simeonidis and Kate Reade. So far they have enjoyed catching up with old friends from all around the Region. There are 22 countries represented, members of the World Board, the AP Committee and Staff and Sally Thornton, Sangam Centre Manager. Seven countries are represented at the Friends of the AP Region gathering.

Monday 4 June

Today began with Reflections conducted by the members of Sri Lanka. This was followed by role call when each Member Organisation present talked about the symbolic meaning of the piece of fabric that they brought and which represented something of their country.

The Keynote Speaker was YBhg Datin Paduka Marina Mhathir who developed a TV program for young women – 3R – Respect, Relax and Respond, which deals with issues such as health, career, information technology, relationships and sexuality.

Following lunch the nominees for the positions on the Asia Pacific Regional committee Members were presented including our own June Cameron who has nominated for a second three year term. We then had the opportunity to review our cluster Groups, the evaluations of previous Partnership Visits were presented, and finally Member Organisations were asked to share any outcomes of the November Strategic Leadership Workshop in Cambodia and any strategies that have been introduced in their countries since then.

Tuesday 5 June

The reflections presented by Korea today were moving and inspirational. All participants contributed to the prayer board with the theme “Many But One”.

The Asia Pacific Committee presented their Triennial Report addressing their three goals of the region; being Leadership Development; Strong and Growing Membership; and Voice of Girls and Young Women. Dr Christina Lim Yuson, Chairman of the Committee explained the financial allocations for each goal. Elspeth Henderson, Chair of the World Board then introduced Mary McPhail the new Chief Executive of WAGGGS. Together they spoke about WAGGGS initiatives and future plans.

After lunch the AP Committee introduced sessions related to Membership and Leadership Development. Criteria for Associate and full membership were explained including the reasons for suspensions and cancellation of membership. WAGGGS is currently working towards developing a WAGGGS Leadership Development Program (WLDP).

In the evening the Friends of the AP Committee hosted the presentation and Membership Ceremony with the special guest being the sister in-law of Princess Azizah of Malaysia, the Patron of the Friends of the AP Committee. All participants and the Friends looked stunning in the kaleidoscope colour of national dress. The Bazaar that was held following this to support the AP Region proved to be lots of fun, equal to any market in any city. The Australian team with the assistance of Vicki Callaway, the Asia Pacific Chair of the Friends of Sangam, raised over US$300 thanks to the contributions of many Guiding friends from all over Australia.

Wednesday 6 June

We started the day’s sessions focusing on Goal 3 of the Asia Pacific Operational Plan – The Voice of Girls and Young Women: Building a Better World. Sally Thornton, Sangam World Centre Manager and Mary McPhail, the Chief Executive of WAGGGS introduced us to some of the key aspects of advocacy (which is the aim of Goal 3) and how to develop a project using advocacy to communicate your message to the community, media and legislatures. Our movement’s first advocates were the girls who marched behind the boys at the 1909 Crystal Palace Rally.

Mary shared here wisdom on the subject of advocacy due to her extensive experience attained working as an advocate (or lobbyist) in Brussels. Mary informed the Conference that to start advocating, you first needed the ‘what’ – What are you interested in? What do you want to happen? She followed this question up with the suggestion of examining the who, where, when and how of the issue. Team Australia then had a chance to network with other organizations to develop an advocacy project plan about adolescent health following Mary’s pointers. This fits in with the WAGGGS campaign “Girls Worldwide Say” followed by the seven key statements. The surprise of the session was the advocacy plan of a group of young Guides from Singapore and Malaysia who were visiting the Conference. Their plan was based on smoking and was both achievable and relevant. This clearly showed to all that the voice of girls and young women as advocates should be allowed to shine.

“Who Wants to be a Regionaire”

In true Guide style, we were introduced to the importance of the Asia Pacific Operational Plan, not through a lecture, but through a game show hosted by Australia’s own June Cameron (member of the Asia Pacific Regional Committee). With Lifelines, 50/50 and the opportunity to ask a vocal ‘audience’ – the Asia Pacific Committee contestants outlined issues in the Operational Plan that the delegates would go on to consider later in the session. The serious work was then to follow with all countries asked to contribute to the Operational Plan.

Our day was rounded off with a dinner hosted by the Malaysian Minister for Tourism, and a performance by Malaysian dancers.

Kate and Luisa in Malaysia

Thursday 7 June

This morning we started with reflections by the delegates from the Solomon Islands, who shared with us the effects of the recent natural disasters and the political climate on Guiding.

For our first morning session we worked in groups to identify each Member Organisation(MO)'s strategic partnerships and alliances. Together with Thailand, Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands we looked at the positives of the current alliances and the not so positives and concluding with our ‘top tip’ for an effective and useful partnership. Some of the partnerships the four countries discussed were with UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, VIDA, Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development, WOSM and Bakers Delight and Sony were also mentioned as some of Australia’s most recent successful partnerships.

The Rebecca Chee hosted a talk show with Elspeth Henderson, Chair of the WAGGGS Board, Mariko Asano AP Committee member and Cristina Lim-Yuson the AP Committee Chairman to discuss the past and current relations between WAGGGS and WOSM. The delegates were then grouped according to how Guiding is delivered – either through community-based, school-based and/or Scout and Guide National Organisation (SAGNO), to discuss the current relationship between each MO and Scouting.

After lunch we divided into groups to workshop the “Stepping Stones” topics: Fund Development; Accessing the WAGGGS website and Selling Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. The second part of the afternoon focused on the remaining Stepping Stone topics: Risk Management; WAGGGS ECOSOC Partnership and Leading Teams to Deliver Quality Guiding.

Once again we were impressed by the sheer opulence and grandeur of the venue and the food after last tonight’s banquet which was hosted by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia. The night was topped off with an evening of discoveries and interactive displays and presentations by the Olave Baden-Powell Society, World Centres, Tsunami Projects by Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association and other invited organisations.

Jo and Luisa

Friday 8 June

The final day of the Conference began with reflections by Malaysia on the theme ‘Many But One’. We were reminded that although we are many diverse organisations we are united with one Promise, one mission, one vision and one goal.

Dr Nik Safiah Karim, the Vice President (Central Zone) of the National Council of Women’s organisations Malaysia, spoke about the best practices of NGO’s. Five young leaders from Member Organisations were invited to speak on an activity of interest to their organisation. On behalf of Australia Kate introduced the concept of the Year of the Outdoors and the Brownsea Island camps.

During the afternoon, the Asia Pacific Operational Plan for 2008 – 2011 was accepted in principle. Pakistan requested that the Member Organisations discuss possible future action by WAGGGS in relation to “indiscriminate killing of innocent unarmed civilians especially women and girls, taking place across the world today”. Further, to that action they requested an additional key statement be adopted, “Girls Worldwide Say, Peace For All”. This was strongly supported and Pakistan was asked to put forward a recommendation to the World Conference in 2008. The Maldives bid for the right to host the next Asia Pacific Conference in 2010 and were successful. The beauty of the country and fabulous facilities shown made it appear that the next conference would be a great success already.

The six candidates for the Asia Pacific committee were accepted and they are Nighat Arshad , Mariko Asano, Normala Baharudin, June Cameron, Ruchira Harshanee Jayasing and Febe Mal Patt. It was announced that June Cameron of Guides Australia will be Chairman for the Asia Pacific Committee for the next three years.

The retiring Committee members were presented with flowers and gifts and acknowledgements and certificates were given to 11 countries that recorded an increase in membership over the previous three years, the most outstanding being Sri Lanka with an increase of 60%. Following dinner by the pool, a campfire was held and gifts presented by the Member Organisations to the host country, Malaysia.

Thank you to Guides Australia for this wonderful opportunity. We look forward to sharing with you the directions of the Asia Pacific Region in the coming months.

Signing off from Kuala Lumpur,Lynne, Jo, Prue, Luisa and Kate