Geography project part 2- our chalet, guiding in switzerland

Our Chalet

Our chalet is an International Guide and Scout centre, open to overnight guests and day visitors since 1932. The aim of the centre is to be an international home, where everybody can find Challenge, Adventure and Peace for the soul while having fun and living the international friendship.

It is the oldest of the 4 world centres

How it all began:

In 1929, the World Committee of WAGGGS met in Holland and decided that a World Centre should be built, Immediately Helen Storrow, a Girl Scout leader from the USA, said she would donate the money for the construction and the first four years of operation of the centre, as long as it was built in Switzerland. The World Committee agreed and appointed a Swiss Scout, Ida Von Herrenschwand, to help Mrs Storrow find the perfect location for the new World Centre.

They found the perfect spot high up on top of a hill in Adelboden, Three months later, the concrete basement was built and the wood for the rest of the house was cut; on 21 December 1931 the roof was put on. Mrs Storrow came back in May 1932 to see the completed Chalet. On 31 July 1932, Our Chalet was formally opened by the first World Chief Guide, Olave Baden-Powell, and Mrs Helen Storrow.

Guiding in Switzerland

Between 1913 and 1916 nine groups of Girl Guides were formed independently in different parts of Switzerland. In 1919 these groups joined together to become one Association, the Fédération des Eclaireuses Suisses (FESes). A major change took place in 1987 when the Fédération des Eclaireuses Suisses and the Scout Association, Fédération des Eclaireurs Suisses, merged together to become the Mouvement Scout de Suisse (Swiss Guide and Scout Movement).

Swiss promise

I promise to do my best to live according to the Scout Law.  I ask God and my friends to help me to do so.

Swiss law

Girl Guides, we wish:

To be true/truthful.

To listen to and respect others.

To be thoughtful and helpful.

To share.

To choose to the best of our abilities and to commit ourselves.

To protect nature and to respect life.

To face difficulties with confidence.

To rejoice in all that is beautiful.

Swiss motto

Be Prepared

image from here 

english book review- the old man and the sea

                        ‘The old man and the sea’ by Earnest Hemmingway, is a novel about an old fisherman named Santiago, and his struggles as he fails to catch fish for eighty four days. Many parts of the novel impressed me; however the story was weak and lacked excitement.

                        The relationship seen between Santiago and Manolin was the aspect of the novel that most impressed me. Manolin fished with Santiago for a long time, however was made to move to a more successful fishing boat due to Santiago’s bad luck.  Manolin nevertheless continues to visit Santiago and to help him in whatever ways he can. This shows that their bond was strong and that Manolin was very much dedicated to the relationship. Much of the beginning and end of the novel centres around their relationship and dialogue between them.

                        The character of Santiago is also very strong and impressive. In the beginning of the novel, he has gone eighty four days without catching a thing, but he kept fishing and did not give up, I admired his persistence and commitment. I took great pity on Santiago, due to his immense bad luck, first of not catching a fish for eighty four days and then losing the marlin to the sharks.

                        One of the main themes in the novel was struggle, centring around the suffering of Santiago. He refused defeat by travelling out further than the other fishermen, in hope of catching a huge fish. This wish comes true, but even when he does hook a huge marlin; he struggles for three days to haul him in. Pride and bravery are also key themes in the novel.

There was a huge lack of characters in the novel, with only two

Main characters. This added to the weakness and perhaps tedious nature of the novel. I felt more characters were definitely needed.

                        I also found the language of the novel quite monotonous, I thought it was overly formal with no use of colloquial phrases or abbreviations and I thought that dialogue was overused in parts of the novel.

                        Overall I found the novel quite uninteresting and irksome, due to the lack of characters and excitement in the plot. I would not recommend this novel to people of my age group; however an older reader might enjoy it.

                        I would give this novel two stars out of five.

Swim a mile with a smile

Last friday, all of t.y. and 5th year L.C.V.P. took part in the Swim a mile with a Smile.
Swim a mile with a smile was set up by Brian and Laura Daly (eimear's parents) in memory of their son Ian sadly passed away due to cancer.
The swim raises much needed funds for barrtestown and crumlin childrens hospital

I swam a mile with my team (louise and emma) and then i swam an extra 12 lengths to bring it up to half a mile

and in total we all swam 40 miles (beating the wolstans record!!!!!!!!)

Retreat

On Tuesday class eriu (and Fiona) went on retreat to glendalough in co. Wicklow. On the bus there we passed through a town called laragh…. Yes I have a town named after myself, I’m just that cool

When we got there we did lots of silent walking and reflecting and we learned about St. Kevin.

It was a really nice and peaceful quiet day.

GEOGRAPHY PROJECT POST 1

W .A. G. G. G. S.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

About W.A.G.G.G.S.

The world association of girl guides and girl scouts has over ten million members from over 145 countries all over the world, which makes it the largest voluntary movement dedicated to young women and girls in the world.

W.A.G.G.G.S. has five regions: Africa, Arab, Asia Pacific, Europe and Western Hemisphere.

It also has four world centres:

·        Sangam in india

·        Our chalet in Switzerland

·        Our cabana in Mexico

·        Pax lodge in the UK

W.A.G.G.G.S. Mission

To enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world

W.A.G.G.G.S. Vision

All girls and young women are valued and take action to change the world.

W.A.G.G.G.S In Ireland

The Irish branch of W.A.G.G.G.S. is called Irish girl Guides, or I.G.G. for short.

I.G.G. is divided up into 5 different sections according to age:

·        Ladybirds are girls aged 5-7

·        Brownies are girls aged 6 ½ - 11

·        Guides are girls aged 10 ½ - 15

·        Senior Branch are girls aged 14 ½ - 26

·        Leaders are girls age 18 onwards

I.G.G. has been in existence since 1911, when the first Guide Unit was set up in Harold’s Cross.

There are seven Regions in the Irish Girl Guides, covering all 26 counties. Each Region has its own support officer.