Moore Markhams is delighted to support GirlGuiding New Zealand to train volunteers providing leadership to girls around the country so they can discover their passions, contribute to their communities, and form friendships in a safe and positive space.
The sponsorship arrangement was announced on World Thinking Day, 22 February 2022, a day of friendship, sisterhood and empowerment where Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across the world speak out on issues that affect girls and young women.
Moore Markhams has contributed funding that will see 28 opportunities for essential and specialised advanced training for volunteers.
Overnight Camp Qualifications, Bronze Medallion Lifesaving, and Bush Leader Qualifications are three specialised training areas covered in addition to training new volunteers with the key skills to lead and run a GirlGuiding unit.
Moore Markhams has previously supported six Year 12 students to attend Outward Bound programmes over a three-year period. In 2022, a change of direction sees the Group’s financial support directed to four Charities of Choice, with GirlGuiding New Zealand being the first to be announced. Others will be shared as the year progresses.
“There are so many great charities and non-profit organisations in New Zealand doing valuable work and we know that funding is a challenge for most, if not all,” says Craig Hemphill, national chair of Moore Markhams New Zealand.
“We care about our communities and want to spread our support across more of these organisations and are focusing on those that support children in particular. We want to help our children and young people thrive as they are our future.”
GirlGuiding New Zealand has 7000 girl members aged between 5 and 17 years, led by 1200 volunteers across 478 units. By joining the programme of activities at weekly unit meetings, or having experiences on trips, camps, or at events, girls are empowered to be the Guide of their own lives.
For Moore Markhams Auckland director, Jess Gilmour the sponsorship has special meaning. Jess has been involved in guiding since she was seven years old and has been an adult volunteer for 20 years. This commitment was recently acknowledged when she was a recipient of a Leadership Award for Service to Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting.
Jess is a member of the national organisation’s Board and chairs its Audit and Finance Committee. She has her camp qualifications and enjoys taking guides camping.
“I’ve definitely benefited from the leadership skills and opportunities that guiding has provided me. I know these skills help daily in my work at Moore Markhams,” she says.
If you’d like to join us in our support of GirlGuiding you can learn more here. You can read more about how volunteers are empowering girls here. Or watch this short video on volunteering.
Jess Gilmour, Moore Markhams Auckland director and GirlGuiding volunteer, was a leader at a Camping Skills day in Auckland where 11 11-and 12-year-old guides from Blockhouse Bay and Otahuhu were assessed on leading a patrol to pitch and taken down a tent as well as tent repairs, rubbish disposal, gas cookers and the ability to safely use a cooker.
