Members of the World Board, World Conference delegates, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and distinguished guests.

As Patron of the Olave Baden-Powell Society, I am delighted to be here talking to you during this important event for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

What a fitting place to host the World Conference as India was one of the founding members of our Movement and is this year celebrating its 70 years of Independence. It is also home to Sangam World Centre, a placed steeped in fond memories for many of us and where last year with the OB-PS, I joined in its 50-year celebration.

Our organisation is based on simple and strong values. We believe in them and what they stand for. The opportunities Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting give our global girls change their lives. WAGGGS provides them with skills in teamwork and leadership. It helps them be courageous, fight for equality and their rights to speak out against violence – they show their unity, passion and determination. Because we all know silence changes nothing.

In its long history, WAGGGS has had many inspiring programmes, where girls can be motivated and challenged, but we need to think of different, innovative and enterprising ways to do this. Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting should also foster the development of the individual personality.

When you think of the words enterprise and innovation you often link these with the business world. In Denmark, we have built a strong partnership between the Danish Guide and Scout Associations and the business community.

An example is the partnership with two foundations who recently donated more than 20 million US$ to purchase a small island outside Copenhagen where Guides, Scouts and youths can hold trainings, camps and activities.

These partnerships give young people the motivation they need in the future, whether as a dynamic business entrepreneur or as a leader in their community –they are eager to contribute to the common good for the benefit of the whole community.  They want to get involved and they want make a difference .   

Why are entrepreneurs interested in Guides and Scouts? Because our values are strong and our young people are trained with important skills always needed, in every country and in every community.

As our Movement grows, we should continue to adapt to ensure we give our girls and young women a strong platform from which they can make their mark and help them make their life meaningful and worthwhile.

In today’s changing world there is a great opportunity for WAGGGS to guide girls and young women to be responsible and active citizens. We must harness this momentum for the future and through guiding and scouting we can show young people the meaning of passion and influence, the joy and hope it can bring to their everyday life.

This is where I see the future for WAGGGS, and the footprints young people are leaving on the world.