World Thinking Day, day honours friendship, sisterhood, and women's empowerment

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Every year on February 22nd, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts celebrates World Thinking Day (WAGGGS). The day honours friendship, sisterhood, and women's empowerment, with the goal of raising cash for the world's 10 million girl guides and scouts, who are spread across 150 nations.

World Thinking Day is an occasion to talk about topics that affect women and girls around the world. It also gives a larger platform for WAGGGS members to speak out about these challenges and propose solutions.

History

Girl Scout and Girl Guide delegations from around the world gathered in the United States for the fourth World Conference in 1926. This meeting approved the proposal for an annual day to thank the international Girl Guide and Girl Scout movements.

The fourth World Conference decided to name this special day Thinking Day. It was also decided that the day would be observed on February 22nd, the birthday of the World Chief Guide, Olave Baden-Powell. The date was also chosen because 22 February was the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell as well, who founded the Boy Scout Movement.

At the 30th World Conference in Dublin in 1999, it was agreed to change the name of the day to World Thinking Day to emphasise the international dimension of the WAGGGS organisation.

Theme:

"Our World, Our Equal Future: The Environment and Gender Equality" is the theme for World Thinking Day 2022. The theme kicks off a three-year initiative to make members more environmentally conscientious.

Significance:

World Thinking Day provides a unique opportunity for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to interact and discuss challenges they are facing. It also opens up the possibility of raising funding for humanitarian projects.

Bake sales, hiking activities, seminars, talks, and other activities are held to commemorate World Thinking Day.