WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts)

Being part of WAGGGS opens up possibilities around the world for Girlguiding members.

WAGGGS supports girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

Girlguiding is proud to be part of this diverse movement, which has 10 million members across 150 countries in 5 regions worldwide.

Bringing together guiding and girl scouting worldwide

As a member of Girlguiding and WAGGGS, girls and volunteers can access amazing adventures worldwide. They can visit World Centres in London, India, Mexico, Switzerland or across Africa, and make the most of international volunteering opportunities and education programmes.

WAGGGS is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world. It was founded in 1928 as the umbrella organisation for guiding and girl scouting associations around the world. Today WAGGGS has links with many other organisations, including the United Nations.

What do WAGGGS do?

WAGGGS is here to support girls and young women to:

• Learn about themselves and their world. Giving girls an increased sense of self and a place to belong.
• Develop leadership skills. WAGGGS boosts girls' confidence by helping them develop as leaders through their leadership development programme.
• Bring about change in their communities. WAGGGS encourages its members to speak out on issues that affect them. They give girls a platform to speak from to ensure that guides and girl scouts everywhere can act as agents of change in their communities. WAGGGS attends many global gatherings to make sure that the voices of girls and young women are heard.
• Form lifelong friendships. Girls have opportunities to meet people from all over the world, have fun and work together on activities and projects that they're passionate about.

Members of WAGGGS wear the World badge (either an embroidered badge or a metal badge). You can read more about the different symbols of WAGGGS, including the World Flag, on the WAGGGS website.

The World Badge should be worn on your uniform, either on your right sleeve or on your Rainbow or Brownie sash.

Opportunities with WAGGGS 

Opportunities abroad

There are lots of ways to get involved with WAGGGS and guiding around the world. Opportunities may change from year to year. You can find out about them in these places:

• On our Girlguiding events and opportunities finder.
• Through your country/region.
• On the WAGGGS website.
• Our World Centres.

Activities and badges to do at home or with your unit

WAGGGS have lots of resources and badges for you or your girls to do. For example:

• Voices against Violence challenges violence against girls and women.
• International Day of the Girl is an annual celebration to highlight the challenges faced by girls and promote empowerment. WAGGGS has many resources and activity packs from past years that you can do with your unit.

Endorsement for WAGGGS volunteer roles

If you're applying to volunteer abroad, the application form often asks for endorsement from your national/member organisation or international commissioner. This endorsement is completed at HQ on behalf of our international commissioner. 

 Before we can complete the endorsement, we need the following things: 

• A reference from your commissioner (this can be any level of commissioner) outlining why they think you're a suitable candidate to take part in this event or opportunity and a good ambassador for Girlguiding. 
• Details of the event or opportunity you are applying for, including the dates and the application deadline. 
• Your completed application form for the opportunity.  

You'll also need to meet the following requirements: 

• Be 18 years old or over.
• To be an active Girlguiding volunteer at time of application.
• Hold a valid DBS/PVG check.
• Have completed your safer guiding training.

You should send your references and application form to [email protected] at least 3 weeks before the application deadline.  

We will then check your GO record to make sure you are an active member and have completed the relevant recruitment checks. We'll also check the FCDO travel guidance for the country you wish to visit/volunteer in.  

If you're under 18 at time of applying, but over 18 by the volunteering period, we cannot provide an endorsement until you are over 18 and have a valid DBS/PVG check and have completed your safer guiding training.

DBS/PVG checks involve an application, identity verification, and searches of relevant criminal records database. They can take varying times to be completed depending on your area. 

If we have any questions, we'll be in touch. If there are no issues, we'll then send your Girlguiding endorsement back to you in time for you to meet the application deadline. 

We'll only endorse active members of Girlguiding who are volunteering or attending an event run by: 

• A world centre.
• WAGGGS or WOSM (World Organisation of the Scout Movement).
• Another WAGGGS member organisation or WOSM national organisation.

We won't be able to complete an endorsement if these requirements are not met.