4th Putney Brownie leader Lizzy recently returned from leading a three week guiding service trip to Madagascar. The team of nine young women from London and South East Region spent three weeks running sessions with children aged 3-25 to promote handwashing, self-esteem and fundamental rights. To get the message across the team used a creative programme of games and songs, working closely with a partner team of guides from Madagascar, who acted as interpreters, and Wateraid Madagascar, who provided soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste for the team to distribute.
The team smashed their target by reaching over 2000 children from schools, scout and guide groups. Sessions ranged from a group of 40 children on the beach with no equipment (the van had broken down and so the team walked to the session) to the day where, instead of 160, 565 children appeared, with more standing on the side lines.
When not working hard or travelling the team kept busy cooking for 16 over just one gas ring and managed to fit in some tourist time – lemurs, whales and driving tuk tuks!
