WAGGGS
Norway

Guiding was brought to Ukraine by the representatives of the Guides and Scouts of Norway (two Norwegian organisations: the Norwegian Guide and Scout Association and the YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway). In 1992 Norway was officially assigned by WAGGGS as a link-country for Ukraine.

Norwegian guides devoted lots of their efforts to the process of establishing of the Association of Ukrainian Guides. They have made visits to Ukraine; organised meetings with the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sport; they have searched for active girls and women around Ukraine; provided necessary trainings. Norwegian organisations have given substantial financial support for maintaining the office and staff, conducting meetings, trainings, camps, other events, publishing manuals and leaflets, etc. But the most important – they have shared their experience and best practices, have helped to organise first guide camps, have provided methodical assistance for development of programmes and trainings, consultations for the National Board on the organisational management.

Just because of that huge work done, Association of Ukrainian Guides was established (1996) and became the associate member of WAGGGS (1999).

And since then the partnership continues.

With the support of the YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway girls from Ukraine participated in the Norwegian camps in 2002 and 2006, a study tour to Norway was organised for the National Board members in 2005, several meetings were organised in Ukraine in order to discuss the perspectives of cooperation. In 2000-2001 the joint Badge Programme was developed and introduced in both countries, with the aim to give the opportunity to the members to learn more about each other’s history, culture, traditions, guiding activities.

Since 2008 new negotiations started. On the 3rd-7th of January 2008 in Kiev the seminar was conducted for participants from the Association of Ukrainian Guides, the YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway, YMCA-Ukraine. Participants presented their guiding and scouting experience and discussed the plans of cooperation for the nearest year. There was also a special meeting for Solvor Nygård (International Commissioner for YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway), Anna Prytysk (International Commissioner for the Association of Ukrainian Guides) and Ksenia Sazonova (representative of the Norwegian Guide and Scout Association).

We are looking forward to developing the further cooperation :)