1. GGC Girl Engagement: Building Meaningful Adult and Girl Partnerships March 21 st, 2009 Facilitated by: Sara Somerset National Networks Conference Coordinator, Girl Engagement

2. Objectives Define the girl engagement concepts Discuss the different ways to engage girl Members Describe the benefits of girl engagement Develop solutions to girl engagement challenges

3. Girl Engagement Concepts The process of involving girl Members as active participants An outcome of meaningful girl and adult partnerships A value, a way of work which can be reflected in all that we do at GGC.

4. Programming Consultation (focus groups, surveys etc.) Planners and organizers Trainers Conferences/Forums Staff/Volunteers/Interns Advisory/Action Councils Funders Governance Roles/Girls on Boards Researchers Methods for Engagement

5. Methods for Engagement National Office

6. Go Girl Engagement!

7. What aspects of engagement are meaningful? Process: i.e. girl initiated, learning and changing, attending weekly meetings, being involved in the decision-making process Outcome: i.e. networking opportunities, job opportunities, recognition, making an impact

8. Benefits of Meaningful Engagement GirlAdult Skill and confidence building Greater sense of civic responsibility Feel more connected within the organization, community and society Improved girl-adult partnership Mentorship opportunities Better understanding of girl needs/desires Stronger impact on organizational growth More satisfaction from Membership

9. Benefits of Meaningful Engagement OrganizationCommunity Enhance program delivery and accessibility Strengthens GGC’s ability to be experts on girl issues and relevant to girls Improved girl Membership retention and recruitment Community development Strengthen global movement Greater civic engagement

10. Girl Engagement Challenges Difficulty understanding or “buying into” the concepts of girl engagement –The organizational culture and structure Difficulty initiating girl engagement initiatives –The current program structure –The commitment level –Lack of committed resources to providing girl engagement opportunities –The planning policies and guidelines Difficulty recruiting girl Members to participate in the girl Engagement initiatives –The girl selection process for events, conferences, trips, advisory committees etc. –Lack of interesting and relevant girl engagement opportunities for both the girl and adult Members Difficulty supporting girl engagement initiatives –Lack of resources committed to supporting girl engagement initiative –Lack of direct and effective access to both girl and adult Members

11. Girl Engagement Solutions Difficulty understanding or “buying into” the concepts of girl engagement –Educate, educate, educate Difficulty initiating girl engagement initiatives –Invest, invest, invest Difficulty recruiting girl Members to participate in the girl Engagement initiatives –Diversify, diversify, diversify Difficulty supporting girl engagement initiatives –Continue to educate, invest and diversify

12. Summary Girl engagement is not a new concept to GGC – girl Members are already being engaged There are many diverse ways we can engage girls We all benefit from meaningful girl engagement – girls, women, the organization and our community/society We need to educate, invest and diversify

13. Contact Information Sara Somerset Coordinator, Girl Engagement somerses@girlguides.ca 416-487-5281 X 307