One World One Beat
20 - 21 February
2010
To celebrate World Thinking Day in our special
Centenary year, 18,500 Girlguiding members joined together for a
weekend full of inspiration and excitement at ten festivals held
different locations across the UK. The festivals, called One
World One Beat, were all based on the theme of performing arts from
around the globe and included a variety of inspiring and
challenging workshops. Each event gave members of all ages the
chance to explore the world by taking part in a range of inspiring
workshops on the theme of world performing arts with sessions
including junk and body percussion, Tai Chi, playing the
didgeridoo, steel band music and African dancing.
The events, hosted on 20-21 February, were linked via satellite,
enabling all participants to see workshop highlights from the other
events and enable everyone to celebrate “One World One Beat"
together.
Kirsty Thorpe, a Rainbow and Brownie
Leader as well as a Ranger, was 18 when she successfully applied to
be a location manager for One World One Beat in North East England.
Kirsty and the roving reporters (also Senior Section members)
filmed and edited footage of the event which was broadcast to the
other venues across the UK.
'When I saw it on the big screen I felt a
real sense of pride at what we'd achieved. Before, I'd let others
take the lead, at university for example. I felt thrilled that I
actually led the team,' she said.
What is World Thinking Day?
World Thinking Day is one of the most significant dates in our
guiding calendar.
On this day, Guides and Girl Scouts everywhere think
of each other and of their commitment to international
friendship and understanding. It is celebrated each year on
the 22 February, which was the birthday of both Robert Baden-Powell
and his wife, the former World Chief Guide, Olave Baden-Powell.