Portugal

Promise:

Promessa da Guia

Prometo sob minha honra e com a ajuda de Deus, fazer o possível por:
Cumprir os meus deveres para com Deus e a Pátria,
Ajudar o próximo em todas as ocasiões e Obedecer à Lei das Guias.

Guide Promise

I promise, on my honour and with God’s help, to do my best:
To do my duty to God and country,
To help other people at all times, and
Obey the Guide Law.

Promessa da Avezinha

Prometo fazer o possível por:
Cumprir os meus deveres para com Deus e a Pátria,
Ajudar sempre o próximo, especialmente todos em minha casa.

Little Bird Promise

I promise to do my best:
To do my duty to God and country,
To help others, especially those at home.

Law:

Lei da Guia

1. O sentimento de honra da Guia é sagrado, a sua palavra merece toda a confiança.
2. A Guia é leal.
3. A Guia é útil e pratica diáriamente uma Boa Acção.
4. A Guia é amiga de todos e irmã de todas as Guias.
5. A Guia é atenciosa e delicada.
6. A Guia vê a obra de Deus na natureza e protege as plantas e os animais.
7. A Guia é obediente.
8. A Guia tem sempre boa disposição de espírito.
9. A Guia é económica, amiga do arranjo e da ordem e respeitadora do bem alheio.
10. A Guia é pura em pensamentos, palavras e acções.

Guide Law

1. A Guide’s honour is sacred, and her word worthy of complete trust.
2. A Guide is loyal.
3. A Guide is useful and does a good deed every day.
4. A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other Guide.
5. A Guide is kind and courteous.
6. A Guide sees the hand of God in nature and protects plants and animals.
7. A Guide is obedient.
8. A Guide is always cheerful.
9. A Guide is thrifty, likes good order and respects the property of others.
10. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.

Lei da Avezinha

A Avezinha é obediente.
A Avezinha anda sempre limpa e arranjada.
A Avezinha é alegre.
A Avezinha diz sempre a verdade.

Little Bird Law

A Little Bird is obedient.
A Little Bird is always clean and tidy.
A Little Bird is cheerful.
A Little Bird always tells the truth.

Motto:

Divisa da Guia - Sempre Alerta

Guide Motto - Be Prepared

Divisa da Avezinha - A Avezinha ajuda sempre

Brownie Motto - A Little Bird always helps

Age groups:

Guia Moinho -Windmill Guide 17-21

Guia Caravela -Caravelle Guide 14-17

Guia Aventura -Adventure Guide 10-14

Avezinha -Little Bird 6-10

Development of the movement:

Guiding in Portugal began in 1920’s decade, when the first companies were started in Oporto. The Movement later spread to Lisbon and in 1931 Brownie packs and Guide units were established on the Island of Madeira.

The Association became a recognized national Movement in 1934, but by 1937 all Guiding activities had been suspended because of political unrest. Only the Island of Madeira was able to keep the flame alive, which helped the Association resume activities in 1954. In 1960, the Association received the Girl Guides World Chief and in 1975, during the 22^nd World Conference in England, became an effective member of WAGGGS.

Programme:

The programme is common to all age groups and is adapted to suit the level of the girls’ development, and the needs of the different districts.

Relationship to society:

The Association’s work with the community has included, in the past years: collecting goods for the Portuguese speaking young African countries (Angola, Mozambique and São Tomé e Príncipe); co-operating with institutions for underprivileged social groups in Portugal; organizing help and entertainment programmes for hospitals, old people’s homes and orphanages; co-operating with Amnesty International on the Portuguese campaign for Kosovo; among others. Our current projects is “Vamos Utopiar” (Let’s go Utopian) a project funded by the EQUAL initiative, which aims the promotion of equality and prevention of ethnic and racial discrimination.

The Windmill Patrol, Poney, received the Olave Award for its work with refugees from Bosnia in 1992.

Training:

In order to meet the need for new leaders, the Association has training as a priority. The national level works directly with the district teams, through training camps and weekend training courses and an annual training event. The district teams also organize several training meetings and weekends for their unit leaders.

In 1998, the Training Scheme for Leaders of the Associação Guias de Portugal was recognized by WAGGGS.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities:

Camping is a common activity among members of the Association.

In 1990 Guides were involved in an environmental project, Protection of Nature, which focused on the protection and maintenance of protected areas.

Another important environmental activity is the Clean Up the World campaign, that was introduced in Portugal by the Guides Association in 1994, and still remains as an annual activity.

Since 2005, another national project was launched: “Acção Saca-Rolhas” (Corkscrew Action) - collecting corks (one of the most important natural resource in Portugal) so that they can subsequently be sold for recycling. Those profits are delivered to a charity organization.

Communications and co-operation:

Members attend international gatherings, seminars and camping’s abroad whenever possible, and maintains contact with other Girl Guides/Girl Scouts through participation in Jamborees-on-the-Air, foreign Girl Guides/Girl Scouts in national camping’s participation and welcome hospitality.

The Association, between 1997 and 1999, started a project aiming to implement Girl Guiding in Mozambique. The project has been suspended due to several external and internal factors but, never the less, the Association maintains in the Agenda the resume of the contacts made and the re-start of the Project.

Between 2009 and 2010, the Association launched a national project - “Ter Mãos Grandes para Ajudar” (Helping Hands) - that aims to work on the accomplishment of Millennium Development Goals on a close cooperation with Portuguese speaking countries (Mozambique, Angola and East Timor). The project is based on cookies selling witch profits accrue to a Portuguese NGO responsible for the implementation of several structures and equipments on those countries.

The Association publicizes its work through displays at conference and fairs as well as through its magazine, “O Trevo”, (The Trefoil), the annual agenda, and PR activities.

The Association co-operates with the Portuguese Scout Federation, is a member of the Youth Consultative Council and has links with other Portuguese NGOs. The Association is also a close partner to CIG – Governmental Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality and ACIDI - High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue.

Projects

• Corkscrew Project
• Let's Dream
• 75th Anniversary