Instilling moral values into the minds of children can these days be a difficult task and in a rapidly developing technological world the ills of society can be just a click away.
However, for Shonette Waterman, team leader of the Ebenezer Congregational Girl Guides of Ann’s Grove on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), all is not lost since according to her, “it’s better to train the tree before it bends”. Waterman is in charge of some 16 girls between the ages of seven and 16 years old, who make up the membership of the Ann’s Grove group.
Speaking to Stabroek News recently at the Ebenezer Congrega-tional Church in Ann’s Grove, where the Guides are based, Waterman said the group was reformed some three years ago at the wishes of the congregation of the church. The group falls under the umbrella of the Guyana Girl Guides Association and is answerable to a sub-association based on the ECD.
Waterman, a qualified health professional who has the interests of the girls at heart, told Stabroek News that she and elder women in the village, who offer their services voluntarily, teach the girls various life skills. Home economics, craft as well as the core subjects on the public school curriculum are among the main subject areas which the girls are taught each weekend. The group’s calendar of events for this year includes camp-outs and sales of preserves as well as several church-related activities.
Members of the group are placed in three categories according to their ages: the Brownies (between 7 and 11 years), the Guides (between 12 and 16 years) and the Leaders (age 19 and up). Waterman is the only member of the last group.
Briefly, Waterman said the name ‘Brownies’ was derived from the story of two little girls who often left their room and its environs in an unkempt manner; their parents compared their behaviour to that of ‘Brownies’. The Guides and Leaders are expected to be role models, being responsible for transferring skills and educational values to the young ones.
She said that initially some 25 girls made up the group’s roster but as time went by and they matured, “the girls had other interests”. However, some remained continuing to live up to the obligations of the group and as time went by others joined.
Girls can become members of the group irrespective of their religion, and can do so by visiting the church for three consecutive Sundays. The girls are then “assessed to see if they are committed” by the leaders’ group, then eventually by the umbrella body in Georgetown.
As for her interest in the group and its existence, Waterman said she realises that, “in today’s society there are many young women who can realise their full potential but are unable to do so for various reasons. I think that a young lady has so much potential, and if we could help that young lady to fulfil her dreams, I think we are doing something worthwhile.”
She said the girls of the Ebenezer Girl Guides group are talented; they can act, they can sing, “and we are always trying to groom them to be well behaved.” The girls displayed several craft items which they created, during this newspaper’s visit to the church. According to Nicarla Anderson and Britney Williams, seven-year-old members of the group, the items, which included purses, hand-fans and placemats, are made within a matter of days.
Following the interview, the girls continued their preparations for a Hat and Fashion Show, scheduled for Saturday last, at the church. They were being trained on how to serve guests at the show as well as the art of modeling.
The inaugural event, held under the theme, ‘The Risen Light’, preceded the Easter Holiday with the significance being that “Jesus Christ is still alive”, Waterman said.
