Sri Lanka to host Regional Girl Guides' Conference

Vindhya Hewavitharana

COLOMBO: The Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS) will host its 10th conference in Sri Lanka from June 3 to 9 next year. Over 250 participants are expected to participate in the event.

The conference is aimed to promote Girl Guiding. A regional committee will be elected at the conference which includes young women. A pool of experienced facilitators will assist member organisations to review and improve the standard of programmes", said Asia Pacific committee member Nighat Arshad.

Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association President Siromi Rodrigo said that, according to recent research 7.3 million girls and women are affected by HIV Aids and 60,000 babies are born to teenagers every year.

The Red Cross Youth Volunteers have raised their concernes' over the Country's growing HIV/Aids problem.

The Sri Lanka Girl Guides' training centres are conducting training activities, vocational guidance, gender-sensitive counselling to prepare girls and women to secure high income employment.

"There are many cultural, attitudinal barriers, which affect the full participation of girls and young women in global issues. This also hampers their development.This situation should be eliminated to ensure more girls and women develop their full potential and to strengthen their voice in the global arena", Thilini Atukorala, the Chief Commissioner, Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association said.