Thank you for for making BGO incredible.
We are so grateful to all of our members, those who are currently living abroad and past BGO members who have moved back home to the UK. We have all created lasting memories and lifelong friendships that will continue to be with us even after our time with BGO.
Please share with us your memories below so they can live on forever.
What BGO means to us all:
As an international student in 2001/2002 I made the train journey every Friday from Utrecht to Voorschoten outside The Hague to the BGIFC guide unit. The girls and other leaders welcomed me. When I went to uni in Wales I made sure to continue my Guiding, and when I went to the Netherlands, there had never been any doubt in my mind that I would continue as a member of BGIFC. At the end of my year we went on camp and I was their caterer. I was also able to continue my role on the Innovate Planning Team for Girlguiding UK. It was a special time and I certainly think that it was just that bit of normalcy that I needed as an international student.
Alison Crozier
Leader
Netherlands
Looking after Alice, from BVI a number of years ago when she visited the UK Trainers Conference. Training in Montserrat for two nights, then training in Cayman Islands for 12 days working with Allison & Anjela. I had the most amazing time, forever in my memories & would love the opportunity to do it again.
Ruth Twitchen
Trainer
Having begun as a Girlguiding volunteer in England, I was grateful to be able to continue my adventure with BGO once I moved to France. BGO gives girls access to the Girlguiding programme, but so much more. It provides stability and an essential link to a girl’s culture and language during her time abroad. The friendships my daughters and I have formed will last a lifetime. The world is a better place and we are our best selves because of our time in BGO.
Ashlie Kaspereit
Leader, Parent, District Commissioner
France
When I moved to teach in Bucharest, Romania, I introduced Girlguiding to the school. My fulfilment and purpose were enhanced beyond the classroom. My relationships with girls, parents and staff was deepened and I have received valued support when undertaking training and coordinating the units. Indeed, such friendships have sustained me when living abroad.
Alongside the girls, I have learned and grown through everyday and extraordinary experiences. Most notably, holding online events, spending a sleepover and also an overnight camp with Rainbows, supporting girls in England at BGO camps, attending the Pageant to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and meeting people who were willing to support the girls.
Rachel Eglinton
Coordinator & unit leader
Romania
3 years as a girl member in Germany
38 years as a Leader in Cyprus.
41 years of fun, friendship and learning. Camps near the beach, camps in the rain. Trips with the Rangers to Our Chalet and Our Cabaña. Bringing the girls to camp in the UK – for the Centenary, for BGIFC/BGO Events, for Unit camps. Crafts and games and explorations. Meeting people from so many different places. And throughout, feeling grounded, feeling connected. Thanks, BGO – 41 great years and some of the best times of my life.
JOSEPHINE SMITH
Girl Member, Leader, Commissioner, Trainer
Cyprus
British Girlguiding Overseas to me means feeling like I belong to a group of friends that will always be behind me. Meeting the guides, rangers and leaders every week means having fun and building memories that will last a lifetime.
Mabli Ball
Guide
United Arab Emirates
BGO means the wonder in the girl’s faces as they discovered something new or achieved what they thought was impossible.
Erica Miller
Everything
Mandy Bray
District Commissioner and County Heritage Advisor, Archivist Team
United Arab Emirates
The confidence to actually become a leader! I wouldn’t ever have had the experience in Belgium otherwise, nor would I have continued being a leader when I moved to Ireland, Shetland and Cardiff.
Plus camping! So many brilliant experiences camping in Belgium, the UK, Ireland and Switzerland.
Hannah Gibson
Leader
Belgium
I was a Brownie and a Guide growing up in the UK and was thrilled to learn that my daughters would have the same opportunities here despite being so far away from home. For us, Rainbows has been an opportunity to grow and learn together, to have fun with other girls, and learn skills that aren’t always taught in school. My 5 year old tells me every week that she can’t wait to be a leader, just like Mommy.
Watching the other leaders, it is inspiring to see their dedication. Every single leader is a volunteer, yet they provide a exceptional experience for each and every girl within their unit and beyond. What these leaders plan, prepare and produce is amazing! Every single member who passes through our units is given the chance to flourish and have fun in a caring and safe environment. Girls are given a voice and reminded that they can be anything they want to be.
It is a community we are so proud to be part of.
Nikki & Bobby Parchment
Leader, Parent, Rainbow
United Arab Emirates
British Girlguiding Overseas (BGO) means a lot to me after volunteering for 10 years or 30 terms, even through a pandemic. I continue to do it for the girls, to be a positive role model, and talk to them about their lives. It’s rewarding to see their growth and development into confident young women. I’ve gained leadership skills and cultural awareness through my experience. BGO has a positive impact on the lives of girls, and I remain committed to continuing this work. It’s a truly rewarding experience to be a part of.
Claire
Malaysia
Where to start…
Making life long friends and treasured memories. Having a piece of UK when living abroad is fantastic and a tie to my roots. Been able to pass on and share experiences through meetings and camps. BGO is everything I love with Guiding the connection to something much bigger and to others that share similar ideas.
Philippa Santamas
Leader with 1st Dhekelia Rainbows and Brownies and 1st Pergamos Guides.
Cyprus
Being able to be a Brownie leader through the pandemic and still have girls joining week after week to see what madness the “Owls” had instore for them.
Seeing those girls develop to be amazing individuals.
Rachael Aldus
BGO Chief Commissioner
I had been a Leader in Scotland for over 20 years when I moved out to Bahrain. I made contact with BGIFC as it was then and linked up with the local DC in Bahrain(a long term ex-pat) and lo and behold attended my first Guide meeting within 2 days of landing in Bahrain. The first voice I heard was a Scottish one too, a <br />leader from Carnoustie and also a wonderful Leader from Belgium who was living in Bahrain. The girls came from all parts of the world and found Guiding to be a constant for them as their families moved often . We had great fun, adapting the program to suit the local cultures, and managed to retain the fun and challenges offered by the Girlguiding programme. Ex pat trips home during summer and Christmas would mean one of us got to our local guide shop and filled our suitcases with badges, uniforms etc as required, parents helped as well if returning to UK for any reason. My husband often went with a shopping list to CHQ shop when he returned to London on business. We camped out in a safe compound, had fabulous beach days, beach clean ups, ice rink trips, did badges, learnt about our differences, even provided a Guard of Honour for the Prince of Wales at the British Embassy in Bahrain. Great memories, fun times and so very sad girls living abroad will no longer be able to enjoy this experience. I have since returned to Scotland and remain in touch with the other Leaders I worked with in Bahrain 🇧🇭!
Romana Grant
Leader
When I moved to Sweden I had no hesitation about joining the newly established brownies held at my school (where I was newly employed) back in 2004. I was thrilled to be able to carry on Guiding, giving the wonderful opportunity to the girls that I had had as a girl. In a way guiding felt so much more valuable here in our international bubble, giving the girls experiences and opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to access.
Lizz Swan
Leader
Sweden
I never openly talked about the low point I was in after my son was born in 2016. Moving 3,500 miles away from family and established friends while pregnant and then having a newborn while isolated from that support was incredibly hard. But one of the things that pulled me out of that low point was my older daughter and I joining Girlguiding. I became a Brownie leader while my daughter joined Rainbows and despite being American without previous connection to the British Guiding system, we were welcomed and supported.
Thank you BGO for opening your arms and your hearts to our family.
Samantha Furbush Taraskiewicz
Leader & Parent
Luxembourg
I joined BGO in 2012 after being a Guide Leader in the UK for many years. BGO has bought me and my family many new international friendships which I feel very proud to have and hope that these special friendships will continue for many years to come.
I have fond memories of things we have been able to do as part go BGO, like hiking and sleeping in the mountains and camping in the snow. Saddened that more BGO memories won’t be made!
Louise Rhodes
Guide and Ranger Leader
Germany
GirlGuiding gives everyone the opportunity to learn new things and make new friends but what makes BGO special is the an opportunity for every girl to be included, for them to have a piece of home with them wherever they live.
When I was in BGO it was a common thread that connected me with thousands of other girls all over the world. When we met at our camps there was no barrier between us, we all had camp blankets to compare, song lyrics to share and memories to make.
Elin Howells
Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Young Leader
Malaysia
Leaving my Rainbow unit in Bridgend was tough and moving my family to Dubai was also tough. But knowing my Girlguiding family would be there for us when we arrived was our safe place. I spent weeks talking to BGO online before we moved to Dubai. These ladies were there for us with open arms and made the transition seamless. We were so lucky to meet such a friendly, warm bunch of people who gave us so much support and advice when we moved here. BGO is more than guiding, it is a community of kindred spirits that thrive on giving girls fantastic experiences, fun, laughs and learning opportunities. Having been in guiding since I was 9 means we are really will have a hole in our hearts when this support network closes. Well done BGO for your success in the last 100+ years. I hope you can sail again in the future.
Melissa Bevan
Leader, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Parent and Young Leader
United Arab Emirates
My BGO journey started when I was 5 – I went along to my mum’s guides in the Solomon Islands with her! I was then a Brownie, Guide and Young Leader myself and guiding gave me incredible opportunities including travelling the world representing Girlguiding UK in India and Sri Lanka.
Fast forward about 20 years of career and family, we moved to the Netherlands as my husband is in the military. My own little girl had had her Rainbow journey cut short due to the pandemic. So when the opportunity arose, we both joined 1st Brunssum Rainbows/Brownies – myself as a leader and my daughter as a Brownie (and, somewhat unofficially, my 4 year old son too!)
We have had such amazing experiences with Brownies here – going on a sleepover, visiting the fire station, learning about inspiring women and having fun campfires.
For me personally it has been an opportunity to volunteer and contribute to our community. It can be isolating being in another country as a military spouse and Brownies has helped with that.
For my daughter it’s a place where she can make new friends, grow and develop, and, we had hoped, a way to remain part of Guiding while we are away with the British military.
We are so upset about the decision which has been taken, it seems so unfair, especially to military families like our own.
Shona Johnston
Leader and parent
Netherlands