H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Chairperson of the UAE Girl Guides, UAEGG, has called on government bodies, private institutions and the local community to support the scout and guide movement in the UAE.

Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi made the statement during a meeting with a delegation from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts’, WAGGGS, Arab Region, where she highlighted the UAE’s efforts to support the scout and guide movement in the Arab world. Sheikha Jawaher underscored the UAE’s significant contribution to strengthening channels of effective communication with various scout movements across the world and also reiterated the plans set by the UAEGG to intensify its efforts in promoting the potential of young girls in the UAE.

"We cannot speak about the impressive effect of the scout and guide movement in the UAE without talking about the highly qualified and inspiring young Emiratis who are leading major organisations and developing official policies to be adopted by numerous sectors in the country. The scout and guide movement has succeeded in qualifying and graduating dynamic independent personalities equipped with the knowledge and skills to turn the UAE’s aspirations and hopes into tangible realities," said Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi.

She continued, "We all need to support and strengthen the role of the UAE’s Girl Guides and should be inspired by the assistance extended by our leaders for this movement ever since it was established in Sharjah in 1973. Since its inception, the movement has spread to other emirates and resulted in hundreds of well-trained girls graduating annually imbued with noble values and able to utilise the skills they have acquired for the good of the country."

On the sidelines of their visit, the WAGGGS Arab Region delegation conducted several meetings with UAEGG representatives at the headquarters of Sharjah Girl Guides and Ras al-Khaimah Girl Guides, with discussing the future of their joint relations and highlighting projects for the development of the scout sector.

During the meetings, they discussed a number of recommendations to advance the Arab guide movement, including the creation of a reference body to monitor regional developments and the establishment of a mechanism that would enable girl guides associations in the Arab region to remain updated on the latest developments on the global stage. They also recommended formulating policies to prepare guiding leaders and to provide them with training courses that would keep participants abreast of technological advances and scientific progress.

During their visit, the WAGGG delegation met with Sheikha Hana bint Juma Al Majid, Wife of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah. They exchanged talks the significance behind joint action to upgrade Arab guides and the immense efforts being spearheaded by the UAE in support of the movement.

Mariam Al Rumaithi, Deputy Chairperson of the UAEGG Association, briefed the visiting delegation on the history of UAEGG and her outlook on the future of the guides movement in the UAE. She referred to the recent restructuring of UAEGG’s Board of Directors, a resolution that stemmed from Sheikha Jawaher’s firm belief in the essential role of the movement in nurturing, training and qualifying Emirati girls to be at the forefront of the country’s comprehensive development.

Raeda Bader, Chair of the Arab Regional Committee, gave an overall review of the latest developments in WAGGGS and WAGGGS Arab Region, with a focus on their messages and vision, as well as on their strategic plans for the years 2015–2017 and their plans for the years 2018-2020. She also discussed the organisations’ sustainable development goals and highlighted the 154 countries where girl guides and girl scouts are expected to be active by 2020.

The meeting was also attended by Najat Bakhit Hadid, Deputy Chairperson of WAGGGS Arab Region Committee; Hind Al Houli, Chairperson of the GCC’s Girl Guides Committee; Professor Al Anoud Al Warshow, UAEGG Board member; Reem BinKaram, UAEGG Board member; Sheikha Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Manager of Sharjah Girl Guides, and Badria Al Junaibi, Director of Abu Dhabi Girl Guides.