Our delegation

Aneke Uchechukwu Dorathy, Nigeria

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout? 

I have been a Girl Guide for 16 years.

Why are you going to Rio+20?

As one of the delegates representing Nigeria Girl Guides, I hope to participate actively in the events of this UN conference and help in actualizing the objectives of same.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to? 

I was in youth forum at TOGO in 2006 and centenary camp at ABUJA, Nigeria, in 2011.

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

To my fellow delegates, I say "lets join hands to make it a conference of a kind"

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

Bearing in mind the background of this conference, especially as it concerns accelerating ecosystem degradation and an increasing number of climate induced extreme weather events, I hope to make meaningful inputs in the conference as a professional in geology and exploration geophysics.

Stephanie Avari, Brazil

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout? 

15 years, since i was nine years old.

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I am going to Rio to help not only our organisation, but also many other people to make a change in the World, by sharing my experience with guides and scouts form all over the globe on this conference, and taking a step forward to a greener future with our guiding sisters.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to? 

Volunteer at Sangam World Centre

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Our generation has been more affected by climate and ecological changes than any other. It is up to us to change our habits, and create the effect that is going to impact and change the perspective of future generations, raising awareness and creating solutions.

We, as a member of a girls' and young women's association, are a part of the solution, helping girls to develop their potential all around the earth, and being leaders for a greener future.

We all must be a part of the change we want to see.

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

My background with feminist organizations other then WAGGGS, especially who are also dealing with women issues on a environmental friendly perspective, gave me knowledge and will to participate in this amazing conference.  

My experience in Girl Guiding, as well as in volunteering with women outside of WAGGGS, has been a part of my life and a passion for many years and volunteering at Sangam gave me the tools to spread not only our mission, but the guiding commitment in making the world a better place for girls and young women.
In addition to give inputs to the resolutions and also to the importance of the Global Action Themes that WAGGGS has been working, and how that affects and benefits young girls around the globe, a facilitator position at a world centre gave me the manners to present youth issues as well as lobbying with other delegations.

Stephanie Kobori Belck, Brazil

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I have been a Girl Guide for six years now.

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I'm going to Rio to express the voice of millions of young citizens that are the changing the world with their everyday actions and looking for a better place to live. Taking part in the event that basically established the basis of discussions regarding evironmental and now sustainable issues is an interesting way to learn, discuss and propose new ideas and solutions for those issues. Furthermore, I believe this experience goes deeper because I will have the possibility to bring what I have learned to friends, family and community afterwards.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

2011- World Scout Jamboree in Sweden, as International Staff Team

2007 - World Scout Jamboree in England, as a Participant

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

I think every Girl Guide and Girl Scout should be very proud of themselves on the first place, because if it weren't for their actions, WAGGGS wouldn't have a stand and even take part in such important event. In other words, it is thanks to all small everyday actions every Girl Guide and Girl Scout has done so far, and thanks to the will of changing society into better, that has put together a Delegation to attend to Rio+20 Earth Summit. So my message is: Thank you, to all of you who fight for a better world in which people have more respect, equality and tolerance for each other and to the environment they live in!

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

Sustainablity has become a rather common subject some could say. But I have studied it since 2008 more deeply in different areas of knowledge, like ecology, chemestry, geography and sociology. At first, I got in touch with the concept of sustainability at school, in a geography class, and since then, for personal interest as well, I have looked into it more deeply and searched for more details reagrding what could be done to have a more sustainable world.

As for negotioations and discussions, I have taken part in Model United Nations Conferences for the past four years, three in Brazil and one in the United States. To be putting this modeling into practice in a real UN Conference is very exciting, and I think I am prepared to debate opinions and learn a lot from different points of view.

Hilary Clauson, Canada

In twenty years of Girl Guides, I have been offered many invaluable opportunities, including leading a group of Canadian Girl Guides on a volunteer trip to Ecuador, attending a Discover Your Potential seminar at Sangam World Centre, and visiting Pax Lodge. I look forward to my next international Girl Guiding adventure: joining the WAGGGS delegation toRio+20!

The Rio+20 UN conference on Sustainable Development is an unprecedented opportunity for me to advocate for the issues I am passionate about and observe and influence United Nations’ processes from the inside.

Through study (Malawi, Ghana, South Africa, UK) and volunteerism (India, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland, Ecuador) I have witnessed and explored the dynamics of poverty and hunger. In visiting Nairobi and Mumbai slums, Cape Town townships, refugee camps in Ghana and Malawi, and rural communities in Kenya and Ecuador, I have seen: the impacts of international aid; NGO, business, and government initiatives; the debilitating nature of hunger and poverty; and above all the ingenuity and perseverance of the poor.

Following completion of a Masters in African Studies at Oxford University (2010), I began my career with the Canadian government, working in four departments over two years and gaining a broad understanding of salient policy issues and government processes. 

I believe that Girl Guides and Girl Scouts can and must have a powerful voice in the international arena because of the magnitude of the challenges our world faces and the ability of young women to chart a better way for future generations.

Phillipa Gardner, UK

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I’ve been involved with Girlguiding UK since I was five. 16 years later I’m still here!

Why are you going to Rio+20?

Two years ago WAGGGS inspired me to advocate for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. I’m going to Rio to make sure the voice of girls and young women is heard in the creation of what will replace them after 2015.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

I attended the Young Women’s World Forum in 2010 as a UK delegate, and I went back in 2011 to speak about the project I set up as a result. I participated in the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York in both 2011 and 2012 and I’m looking forward to using this experience in Rio!

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Speak out and you can create the future you want to see!

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I’m currently studying for a Master’s degree in Museum Studies and my particular interest is in the area of gender equality. I hope to bring my experience from advocating on this area at the Commission on the Status of Women, to provide a gender dimension to our lobbying in Rio. My course has taught me a lot about communications and exhibitions and I’ll use this to effectively get across the views of girls and young women during the conference.

Jane Harris, Australia

My name is Jane Harris, I am 21 years old and I have been a Girl Guide for 16 years. I am going to Rio to share in the development of practical solutions to sustainability challenges.

Since Australia has many complex sustainability issues, I would like to learn from the ideas shared at this conference to shape the future of advocacy programs in Girl Guides Australia. With the combination of such powerful ideas, I hope that Girl Guides can really take action for a better world. This forum is a chance for us to share challenges and opportunities as a global community and work towards MDG 8 - developing partnerships for sustainable development.

In 2010 I was the Australian delegate at the inaugural G(irls)20 Summit in Canada. The summit drew together 21 delegates aged 18-20: one girl from each G20 country and one from the African Union.  The girls met to discuss and promote tangible, scalable solutions to help meet the UN Millennium Development Goals, and put girls and women front and centre with the G20 leaders. We produced a communiqué which was distributed to all G20 leaders before the G20 Economic Summit.  

Within Girl Guiding, I was part of the WAGGGS delegation to the UN DPI/NGO Conference on Global Health in 2010.

My fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, I encourage you to strive to have your voice heard in your community. We are 10 million girls and women with over 100 years experience - people will listen when we speak.  You need to find the community where you can make a difference. We belong to many communities: local, national, global, Guiding, online and the community of women worldwide. Our voice is strong and together we can influence others to take decisions that improve our lives and the lives of others.

I am a Leader of Junior Guides aged 7 to 10 in Sydney. I am on a national committee for the review of our Promise and Law and I have just finished a term representing our organisation on the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition Policy Advisory Council. When not Girl Guiding, I am in my fourth year of full time study for a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, with majors in Commercial Law, Accounting and Classics. I am training as an accountant and work with a small firm in Sydney.

Maria Nitzsch Hastrup, Denmark

Maria's blog: Pigespejder i Rio

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I have been a Girl Guide in The Green Girl Guides of Denmark for 18 years. 

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I am going to Rio because I am very interested in sustainable development and the role we as young women can - and must - play. 

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

Rio +20 will be my first international WAGGGS event. 

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

As Girl Guides and Girl Scouts one of our main purposes is to build self-confidence in girls. As a part of this we must give girls and women all over the world a voice in decision making - both locally and in a global context. It is important for us and the rest of the world to understand the importance of empowerment of girls and women in the making of a better world. 

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I am studying a master in African Studies and been working a lot with development projects, mostly in Africa but also in Central America. I therefor have a lot of knowledge (both theoretical and practical) on development. In many aspects my focus has been on empowerment of girls as a mean of development.  

Lisa Höllbacher, Austria

No information available

Allison Hooper, Australia

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I have been in Girl Guides for nearly 20 years, starting as a Brownie, working my way through and I am now a leader of youth. 

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I want to influence governments to make the right decision and work towards providing a sustainable planet for future generations. 

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

My first overseas adventure with Girl Guides was at a jamboree in Finland in 2004, when I was living there for 12 months as a Rotary youth exchange student. I was a WAGGGS youth delegate to COP15, the UN Conference on Climate Change in Denmark in 2009, and an Observer for Girl Guides Australia at the 34^th WAGGGS World Conference in the UK last year. I also attended the 8^th Commonwealth Youth Forum in Australia last year as an Australian delegate. This event was held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

‘Look wide, and even when you think you are looking wide, look wider still’ (Lord Baden Powell).  There are always opportunities to advocate and take action for a better world – we just need to go out there and find them, no matter how big or small!

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

When I’m not Girl Guiding I am a senior town planner for my state government, ensuring sustainable planning and development practices occur in the Top End of the Northern Territory. It’s a challenging role as it requires balancing a sensitive tropical bush environment with the needs of an increasing population and growing industry investment.  I have a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning, and later this year hope to begin a Masters of Environmental and Business Management.

Bruna do Amaral Leonardelli, Brazil

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I have been a Girl Guide for 11 years. 

Why are you going to Rio+20?

We, as women and youth, are having a big opportunity to effectively change our world, by discussing solutions that will provide a better life quality, end poverty, green economy, gender equality... I'm going to make sure that WAGGGS' message will be heard, increasing and stimulating non-formal education of a way to ensure a better place to live, with more love, values and global consciousness.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

Internacional Event of Friendship - Nuestra Cabaña, 2009 

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Together we stay, divided we fall. Let's join our hands and minds around the world, to make sure that all we ARE the voice of those who can't speak. Let's speak up, be heard. We can't change any if we remain doing the same things. And, finally, let's make through non-formal education, our most strong power to change our world! 

Darlene Sly McKechnie, Canada

Darlene's blog: Guiding Road to Rio

I am Darlene Sly McKechnie from Canada, and I am thrilled to be a part of the WAGGGS delegation to Rio+20.

I have been in Girl Guiding for 22 years holding various roles and am currently a Pathfinder leader.  I have a degree in Political Science from Queen’s University and am a member of the taskforce for the Rio+20 stakeholder Major Group for Children and Youth working to draft the sustainable development goals to be included in the outcome document for Rio.

I have worked with international groups as a summer volunteer at Our Cabaña, and as a delegate to "E-ducation without borders" in the U.A.E. I enjoy meeting and working with people from different cultures and backgrounds and spent a year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student to New Zealand. Outside of Girl Guiding, my day job is spent as a pilot for Air Canada. I am honoured to be able to serve WAGGGS in this capacity through my passion for sustainable development and U.N. processes and am so excited to be working with such an amazing group of women on this delegation.

Grace Olarubofin, Nigeria

No information available

Beatrice Omweri, Kenya

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I have been in Girl Guiding for 10 years since I was in high school.

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I am going to Rio to be part of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) and to represent girls and young women on issues that affect them to realize reduction of poverty and saving our planet.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

I have been to the 17^th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in South Africa which was last year as WAGGGS Youth Delegate and the 26^th session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum which was held here in Kenya.

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

As Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, we have always been part of sustainable development projects in environment conservation and poverty eradication and we should go on with them in any little or big way. This is our only planet and we should take care of it.

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I am a holder of a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and I am currently working in the University Of Nairobi. I got an interest in environmental conservation when I was in high school through Guiding and in the little ways, we used to plant trees and pick up litter in school and neighboring places. Since then, I have been involved in environment conservation, advocacy and last year, as Kenya Girl Guides, we got to 100 plant trees in honor of the late Prof Wangari Maathai which gave me an idea of my current project “Trees with a Purpose” involving planting of trees in schools, training of young people in Permaculture gardening and promoting the use of WAGGGS badge curriculum in schools and institutions of higher learning.

Miriam Otieno, Kenya

No information available

Julianes Pacheco, Brazil

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

16 years

Why are you going to Rio+20?

Because it's a great experience wich will bring me much knowledge. Besides i will learn more about Sustainable Development and be able to pass all my learning for the Girl Guides of my state and country. And i want to know new people from around the World and change ideas.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

Juliette Low Seminar - 2007: Sangam

Young Women's World Forum - 2011: Our Chalet

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

I would say that I will do my best possible in the UN conference to represent very well all the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of the world. I am very happy and proud to be able to represent them and be part of this work so beautiful. Thank you for this opportunity.

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I believe my experience in international activities can help a lot in my performance in the UN Conference. Last year I participated in the YWWF at Our Chalet and had the honor ofknowing and working with very strong and intelligent women whom I learned a lot. 

Sharing experiences is the best way to develop ourselves in any subject. So my expectations for this conference are the best I am very confident.

Mirna Fernández Pradel, Bolivia

Mirna's blog: Ecotopía Fractal

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I’ve been a Guide since I was 6 years old.

Why are you going to Rio+20?

Because WAGGGS has given me the wonderful opportunity to add my enthusiasm to the efforts of youth and civil society to promote an effective dialogue in Rio+20 that can set the basis of a better future.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

• Líderes en Acción II, “descubre tu potencial” Our Cabaña, 2007
• COP 15 Climate Change Conference, 2009 (WAGGGS delegate)
• World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. Tiquipaya, Bolivia. 2010 (University delegate)
• International Youth Congress on Biodiversity – COP 10 Organization. Nagoya, Japan. 2010 (Youth delegate)

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts          

We can’t wait the world leaders decide our future, we must start the change! Guides and Scouts can make the difference because we know how to “leave the world a little better than we found it”.

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I am studying the last year on Fine Arts and making my thesis on Environmental Engineering on the study of traditional knowledge to recover peat bugs that provide key ecosystem services at the time they support the economy of two Bolivian Andes communities.  Since the COP 15 I have joined environmental groups as Reacción Climática, Let’s Save Madidi and 350 Bolivia.

Priyanthi Hemamali Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?  

I have been a Girl Guide since 1969

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I found the theme interesting and provoking. At present the Girl Guides Association keenly working on WAGGGS theme, on Environmental issues. I am looking forward  to participate so that I can implement what I gathered from the conference  further to improve the programmes for the future.

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

• 1976: Todays Girl - Sangam
• 1987: Training on Early Child Hood in Delhi - sponsor by UNICEF
• 1981/83: UN Volunteer - Indonesia
• 1996: Planning Meeting at Sangam
• 1997: Resource personal at the Community Development Training - Sangam
• 2003: Girl Child Programme in Pakistan
• 2007: Family Planning Annual meeting – Thailand
• 2007: 5^th Helen Storrow Seminar on Aids at Our Chalet

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I have been creating Planning and implementing Programmes for my Organisation from the year 1996 as the chairman for six years and though my position has changed, I still find funds and carry out the programmes for the Children, Youth and the Community. We have been educating the students and community on 3R Project, water safety and addressing the climate changes. 

I did forward a solution for the world water forum and it was selected as a sustainable community project. 

Emily Rodriguez, USA

Emily's blog: Girl Scouts and Environment

How long you have been a Girl Guide or Girl Scout?

I have been a Girl Scout for 18 years. I am 23 years old and joined Girl Scout Daisies when I was in kindergarten. I am currently a Scout leader for Challenger Scouts (age 14-18) in Sweden. 

Why are you going to Rio+20?

I am going to Rio to speak out for girls, young women, and future generations around the world.  Girls and young women are impacted by climate change but are also agents of change in sustainable developments in their households, communities, and countries. 

What other international and WAGGGS events have you been to?

I participated in WAGGGS youth delegations to UN climate change conferences in 2009 and 2010 in Copenhagen (COP15) and Cancun (COP16). In March 2012, I participated in a WAGGGS Leadership Development Programme called 'Young Women Leading for a Greener Future' in India. I volunteered at the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden in 2011. I interned for an international organization called Earth Child Institute in 2011, and I participated in workshops and side-events related to youth and the environment at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2011. I have enjoyed meeting and working together with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from all over the world at international events.

Your message to your fellow Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

My message to other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is to find something that you are passionate about and to take action on the issue. The environment is a topic area that I am passionate about. I am excited to see what the WAGGGS delegation can do to make an impact on sustainable development at the UN-level in Rio!

Your background and work experience as relevant to Rio+20

I am studying MSc in Sustainable Development in Linköping, Sweden. For my undergraduate studies, I majored in sociology and environmental studies. I helped create the Girl Scouts Forever Green campaign as an intern at Girl Scouts USA national headquarters in 2009. Girl Scouts Forever Green addresses MDG7, and the mission of the project is for girls to lead environmental projects to improve the environment and to protect natural resources.