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:
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
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
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 joined 1st Stuttgart Rainbows when I was five and we weren’t allowed to meet in person. I went from being very confused about who all these people were on the screen to celebrating with them in April 2023 when I earned my Gold Award. That same day I became a Brownie, too!
The girls I know through Girlguiding are very special to me. We laugh, we have fun, we try new things together. We don’t tease each other or let each other struggle. Our leaders Frances, Emma, and Julie make us feel safe and special. I can’t wait to go for my Queen’s Guide award when I’m old enough!
Claire
Rainbow
Germany
Being able to continue Girlguiding when I moved abroad was so important to me and has been so important to the many girls and leaders that I have met over the 20 years I have been a leader in Belgium.
Running virtual events across time zones from the Caribbean to the Far East is challenging. With girls joining workshops living in so many countries and all have an amazing time it has been so rewarding and so much fun for everyone.
Near and far BGO is such a special Region, connecting people far from home and giving them opportunities and friendship.
Emma Nalson
Leader
Belgium
BGO has provided me as a trailing spouse (having given up my career in order to support my husband’s career in moving our family overseas) with stability and friendship.
In a strange and foreign country one of the first friendly faces I met was the District Commissioner. I was made welcome and able to carry on with something that was valuable to me, my Girlguiding work.
I love interacting from girls all around the world and instilling the values of friendship, confidence, compassion and understanding in them. My own daughter has benefited hugely from the support of BGO and it has been lovely to see her and my friendships develop through BGO.
Karen Manning
Leader and Parent
Malaysia
I love being a Guide with BGO! It is really fun being able to do all the badges and activities in English as I live in France and go to a French school but all my family is British. I also really like meeting online with the other Lone Brownies, Guides and Rangers as we have so much fun and it gives me the chance to do the activities with other girls who, like me, are British but live in different countries. My favourite BGO experience has been the Together 22 camp at Waddow where I made lots of new friends from all over the world and got to make my promise at the campfire.
Abigail Greaney
Lone BGO Brownie and Guide
France
To me, BGO means friendship. Despite being a UK Leader I was adopted by BGO during lockdown. And what a lifeline it was! I was proud to help out and host Zoom sessions during Action 21, meeting Leaders from around the world and making friends along the way. I was delighted to be able to meet some of them at Waddow for Together 22 and I will never forget singing around that campfire. “Say when, will we ever meet again”
Lucy Hatherell
My daughter, Christina, was moving to Brussels in September 2018 for a university placement as a languages assistant. Earlier in the year i had spotted a post on the Guiding Movers FB group, a group for leaders to find new units if they are moving, from Emma Nalson, asking people to remember BGO when they were moving especially Benelux! Emma was delighted when we contacted her – Christina had been involved since she was a Rainbow in Scotland and was now working on her ALQ with my guide unit in Cumbernauld. Fast forward to September, Christina was having problems with her accommodation, and we contacted Emma to see if she knew anyone who could help her – Emma graciously offered her sofa, despite never having met us, but this is what happens in Guiding! Christina started working with the 3rd Brussels Guides and had a great time. I was able to offer her advice if she needed it and on our frequent trips out to see her, our luggage included orders from the guide shop! The girls in the Glasgow Guide Shop became used to my emails ordering for all the various units! At the regional get together in Toulouse in 2019, Christina was awarded a BGO thanks badge for all her hard work. She was absolutely delighted. After her return home in June 2019, she travelled to Lichfield to attend Compass 2019 and meet up with her friends. She had a great time and made plans for Action 2021 but obviously COVID had other ideas. In August 2019 we had the Tartan Gig in Glasgow and Diane was attending as part of a Commissioners training – Christina met up with her and all our girls received BGO goodies! She was continuing to help with out with my guide unit and a local Ranger unit in the UK. She was invited to attend Together 22, but work and family issues made this impossible. Christina is currently doing a Masters/Post Grad in TESOL and her plans had always been to return to Brussels to work and rejoin BGO so I will leave you to imagine her response to the devastating news. Brussels and Waterloo Guiding gave Christina stability in what was a difficult time for her. The guiders all welcomed her with open arms and made her feel at home. She made lifelong friends in Brussels and it is a time she will never ever forget. She even made the comment that it was run better than our local county here in Scotland! It also gave me the knowledge that Christina had a support network and a second family out in Belgium and this made this difficult time all the more easier. My heartfelt thanks will always go to Brussels and Waterloo Guiding, Diane, Emma and Genevieve.
Kirsty Duncan
Parent
Belgium
Guiding as an adult with BGO over the last 23 years has been amazing. I have been a leader in every section in three different countries and have watched and helped so many girls develop new skills, grow up and go on to do some fantastic things. Also, for me, BGO has been a constant in an ever changing expat world and I have met such a diverse set of ladies from all over the world. Some of whom have become lifelong friends. Thanks BGO!
Caroline
United Arab Emirates
I was a Brownie leader in the UK and, when I moved abroad to work, I thought that my time as a leader was over. BGO changed that. I was welcomed into the BGO family to reopen a Brownie unit in KL which has given the girls an opportunity to thrive using the Girl Guiding programme.
BGO also gave me my proudest guiding moment when my own daughter made her own Brownie promise to me this year
Vickie
Leader
Malaysia
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
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
When we moved to Cyprus BGO pulled me back into Guiding. As a parent it offered a fantastic experience for my daughter and other girls living overseas. As a leader I had enormous fun sharing my knowledge and experiences with the girls and other leaders. helping make the experience amazing. The memories and friends I made with BGO will always be treasured.
Gwyneth Green
Parent, leader
Cyprus
I joined BGO nine years ago, with my daughter, in Singapore. I enjoyed it so much I soon started training as a leader. The girls we worked with did everything from abseiling to zoo visits, and everything in between! I even wrote pantomimes and plays for the girls to perform in Singapore St George’s in front of various dignitaries! We did beach cleaning, and connecting with local charities and Singapore Guides at large events.
When we moved to The Netherlands the first thing we did was attend our Guiding meeting here. It’s so important to meet face to face, and continued this wondrous journey in confidence and safety. Both my daughter and myself have made friends across the world, with many returning to the UK and staying in touch for more adventures in the future. Thank you BGO.
Cerys Pretty
District Commissioner
Netherlands
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
As a child, I went to brownies in the UK, which formed some of my favourite childhood memories. I was therefore delighted to send my daughter to rainbows and brownies in Luxembourg, as it offered a cultural link to home and connection to family who are involved in girl guides in the UK. The organisation has promoted the empowerment, learning and leadership of young girls, and teaches them such useful life skills and good values, such as resilience, responsibility and kindness, and offers friendship and community not only to the girls, but to parents also. Thank you so much to the leaders and volunteers for all you do!
Laurie Rooney
Parent
Luxembourg
BGO means the wonder in the girl’s faces as they discovered something new or achieved what they thought was impossible.
Erica Miller
Everything
I became a rainbow in Brussels, and stayed on as a brownie, until I moved to Austria where I joined 1st BGIFFC Lone Unit. I am now back in the UK, but am still in contact with many people who I met through BGO, including in Australia, Belgium, Scotland, France and the UAE.
Recently someone asked me if I had ever wanted to say no to going to a meeting, or just refused to do badges as a lone guide, but the answer has always been no and will probably stay that way! Girlguiding and especially BGO has always been a part of my life, and will always be.
Hannah Gower
Ranger and Leader in Training
Lones
Moving a broad is not always a personal choise and this is especially true for children following their parents overseas for work or other reasons.
Although this is a great adventure it is also a challenge and girl guiding provides a link to our home country. This was true for me when my parents sat my sisters and I down to tell us that we would be moving back to France for my father’s work. I had just started Brownies in Bristol and loved it and so my answer was “yes that’s fine as long as I can continue Brownies!”
This became a reality as my mother and other ladies started the 1st Toulouse Brownie unit over 30 years ago. It was great and I loved catching up with other English speaking friends and had a great time. I moved on to Scouts and continued up to Explorers.
My mother however continued in the Girl guiding community taking on many roles she is now a Rainbow helper and my 2 eldest girls have loved the special time with granny going to the rainbow meetings and again having fun with other English speaking girls. Unfortunately my youngest won’t have this special experience.
Girl guiding isn’t only important for the kids but also amongst the volunteer leaders that forge important friendships that can be so important in an expat community. This is just my little experience of the large world wide BGO community but as you can see on this page there are a lot more stories of how important BGO has been in leaders and children’s lives.
Clare Blanc
Parent
France
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