Day 6 - Sevan

A fabulous day at Sevan and met some very enthusiastic girls who seem to be all interested in joining Guiding! We had 32 girls taking part from the local area who all seemed to fall in love with the parachute (yet again- its a hit!). 

Whilst playing one of the games (Giants House) everyone worked together to make a giant WAGGGS trefoil. 

A big thank you to our amazing translators - Lilit, Simone and Ani. 

Most of the girls that came today filled in forms to become members of NUGGGS (National Union of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), there is a Guide unit that is hoping to start in September in that area. Which is great news! 

As a treat Lilit, Simone and Ani took us all to the beach at Lake Sevan. The mad ones of our team (Emma T, Emma G, Laura and Rachael) went into the freezing cold lake to play volley ball! But we all had practice from UK beaches and warmed up quickly.

We are looking forward to tomorrow with Leader trainings in the capital, Yerevan.

2 days till camp! Looking forward to seeing the Guides there that we have already met!

Off to bed now! New day tomorrow, can't believe we've been here for a week already!

Hajoghutyun from Armenia!!

Day 5- Hrazdan

Day 5 already! Today we travelled to Hrazdan to meet with potential new leaders, and deliver our trainings. Lilit and Simona translated again for us today and they were great! Hrazdan was added to our plan only last week, yet we had an amazing turn out, and we're really hopeful that a new Guide unit will be started soon! All the participants were so enthusiastic and really engaged with all our activities. It was a great session!

Later on in the afternoon we all got really excited when the local TV news reporter turned up to film what we were doing. Simona, one of the members of their National Board was interviewed and so was Rachael!




Lilit surprised us with some peanut butter Snickers bars, which Rachael and team Armenia 2012 loved last year. Rachael was upset that she couldn't find any in our local supermarket, so the surprise from Lilit was very yummy! Thank you Lilit!

Tonight we're off out for dinner, and are hoping to visit the Cascade, one of Yerevan's key sights. 

We're excited for tomorrow- meeting more Guides and a trip to the beach! 

How many Leaders can you fit in a taxi whilst stationary!!

We just found this photo and it made us all giggle. One taxi had a flat tyre so we all took shelter in the other taxi while the tyre was changed!! 

We're on Twitter!

We're on Twitter! We've set up a team page, so you can now follow us @Team_Armenia!
Click here https://twitter.com/Team_Armenia to see what we're up to. 

We will still be blogging though!

Day 4- Artashat

The first day of training sessions for potential leaders! We were all excited at the prospect of meeting new members of guiding, and keen to share our guiding wisdom with them! Slightly fewer participants attended than we'd hoped, but they were all keen to open their own unit by the end of the session! 

Anahit and Agnes kindly translated our trainings for us, though we were very impressed by the level of English that our participants were able to use. Some were brilliant at writing as well, which made our trainings run smoothly. Timings changed a little during the day, but again this didn't cause us too many problems at all. Anahit kindly brought snacks for us, which were very yummy! 

The journey to and from Artashat involved a couple of busy buses, and on our arrival back to the hostel Jess, Emma and Emma kindly volunteered to cook dinner again, which was lovely! We've just indulged in ice cream and chocolate cake... yum yum! 

We're feeling excited for tomorrow- we're going to a place with a very difficult place name... 

Thanks for following what we're up to! We've now created a twitter account, so you can follow us at @Team_Armenia!

Day 3 - Gyumri

Another exciting day in Armenia. Today we went to Gyumri about a 2 hour journey from Yerevan. Here meet a group of 10 Guides mostly older teenagers and ran a session based around the promise and WAGGGS.

The Guides were very enthusiastic to take part in all our activities. Today we found that in Region areas of Armenia it can get cold and windy! This became a slight problem when we took the parachute outside to play games and we almost took off with it! The friendship bracelets were a big hit, they experimented using more colours, they looked fab!

Back at the Hostel now, Emma G and Jess are cooking dinner. We're going to discuss plans for tomorrow and get an early night, as we have an early start in the morning.

Night all, Team Armenia!

Day 2- Abovyan

Hello!

Today was our first day of meeting with Guides! It was very exciting! We were collected from the hostel by the lovely Lillit and Karine, members of the National Board, and also our translators for the day. We caught a public service bus to Abovyan; a town about an hour away, which is the home town of some members of NUGGGS (National Union of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). On arrival at a local school we were greeted by approximately 35 guides, ranging in ages between 5 and 25! Luckily we'd already planned to run two sessions, splitting the girls by age group, which worked really well! 
 
Laura, Jess and Lydia ran the session for younger girls, and a highlight for them (and us!) was playing with the parachute we'd brought with us! Rachael, Emma and Emma were in charge of the older guides, and made origami stars, which the Guides made better than us!
 
We were given a sightseeing tour of Abovyan before we left- we visited a brand new church and saw 4 wedding parties in the time we were there! A speedy wedding service! Nearly all of us had a little nap on the bus back- some of us were woken by the sound of the bus driver knocking off a taxi's wing mirror! No damage done though.

This evening we've had a lovely meal in a pavement cafe, and then walked through the centre of Yerevan to see the water fountain display in the public square. They were really pretty and a great end to the day. 

Day 1 - Ejmiadzin

We've had a relaxing start to the day, with a walk to the Republic Square. Emma had her resources list so we hit the shops to find everything we needed for our Trainings. 







This afternoon we met Anahit and took a taxi ride into Ejmiadzin. Here we met two more members of the National Board who took us on a tour around the very ancient churches in Ejmiadzin. They had some beautiful architecture and murals inside.




This evening we had a Traditional Armenian meal with all the members of the National Board. 

Meet the team

Hi all, only a few days until we fly out now and we thought it would be good if you all knew a little about us all.

Our Team Leader - Rachael O'Sullivan 

Hi I'm Rachael. I'm 24 from Wallasey, Wirral and I work as an occupational therapist. I am have been a Brownie, Guide and Young Leader and now I'm a Brownie and Guide Leader. I am also Division Senior Section advisor and County International advisor. I love spending time with my family and friends and doing Guiding things. I enjoy baking and I play the Piano and Clarinet.

Our Secretary - Lydia Butler

Hi I’m Lydia!
I’m 20, and am a second year Geography student at Durham University, as well as being a supermarket delivery driver at weekends. I’ve done lots of Guiding so far in units from Durham to Devon and Cornwall, mainly with Brownies and Guides. Alongside playing my viola and travelling, Guiding is my main hobby! I’ve had incredible opportunities to meet with guiding members across the world on international events, and have enjoyed the experience so much... so I can’t wait to go on GOLD in July!

Our First Aider - Emma Guthrie 

I'm Emma, 22, from Falkirk, Scotland (Forth Valley County – Girlguiding). I studied at the University of Edinburgh doing Law LLB at undergrad. I am now completing my Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, and start with a Law firm (Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP) in Edinburgh in August (the day after we return from Armenia(!)). I was originally in the Girls Brigade because my Dad was captain of the local Boys Brigade. But as all my friends from school went to Rainbows, I ended up going to the Brownies when they all moved up. I remember my Dad bringing home my first Brownie books! It was all very exciting.

 After that I joined Guides where I completed my Baden-Powell Challenge, and then moved onto Rangers. I knew the other Ranger girls as they were all in my brother’s year in the year above, but I was the only one from my year. I completed my Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards with my Ranger Unit, so as my volunteering part of this I went back to my Guide unit as a young leader.

As a young leader I completed my young leader qualification (then called making it count), and then went onto my adult leadership. I also achieved my Queen’s Guide Award around this time. When I became an adult leader I set up a senior section unit.

Now, my Guiding roles are still as a Senior Section leader and Assistant Guide leaders; Forth Valley County Senior Section Adviser, a Peer Educator, Senior Section Lones Member and Member of the Girlguiding Council.
In my spare time I love to go to Zumba classes and go out or relax with friends. I also love to travel when I get the chance and have been lucky enough to go to lots of exciting places...next stop; Armenia!!

Our Accountant - Jessica Milton

I'm Jess, 28 and originally from Folkestone in Kent but now live in Lenham, Kent (near Maidstone!) I have a degree in Geography from Canterbury Christ Church University where I also went to do a PGCE in primary education. Have been teaching Year 4 at a school in Ashford for 2 years…hard work but I love it. I was part of Brownies when a child. As I enjoyed it so much decided a few years ago to volunteer with local Brownie unit. Am currently working through Leadership Programme which I’m hoping to get signed off this term!

I play Flute in Hythe Town Band and perform in various venues around South East Kent. I play netball for Crimefighters Alarms in Canterbury and ANC Tigers and Cobras in Ashford and Folkestone respectively. 
I love reading books and my bookcase shelves are sagging in the weight of my books. 
My partner and I also go camping regularly in the summer to military events as he owns a WWII Willys Jeep…which is fab to drive! 

Our Resources Sorter - Emma Treadwell 

Hi! I'm Emma, 19 and from Southampton. I am an apprentice at the moment training in both mechanical and electronic trades and I am in my second of three years of this. 
I have been a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger and Young Leader. I Am currently a Rainbow, Guide and occasionally a Brownie leader and I am also a Science and Technology Adviser. In my spare time I do kickboxing, cheerleading and dancing. I Have Steam engines and an old Mini Cooper.

Finally me The Documenter and Blog writer - Laura Hanniford

I'm Laura, 26 and from Gillingham in Kent. I have a degree in Photography from the University College for Creative Arts and I then went on to do a PGCE in Primary Education at Canterbury Christchurch. I now work in a Primary School in Gillingham as a  Foundation Stage 2 Teacher (4 and 5 year olds). I love my job and my class alway make me smile. 
I have been a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger and Younger Leader. At 19 I took over from my Tawny Owl to become Brown Owl at the Brownie Pack I went to (I thought I was too young at first!). As Leader I make sure we have the most fun. I hold a pack licence, so every year we go on Pack Holiday and have a sleepover. I have recently become my Divisions PR advisor (I'm still getting to know this role).
In my spare time I love to go to Zumba and aerobic classes and I occasionally go to the gym. I love football, supporting Gillingham FC, where I am a season ticket holder and have been for 13 years. I enjoy going to the cinema and catching up with friends and family. But the things I love to do the most is go to the theatre or to gigs, my last gigs was Mumford and Sons 2 weeks ago and in October I will be seeing Bruno Mars.


That's all for now, I hope you feel you know a bit more about us. The next blog will probably come from Gatwick Airport, exciting times ahead!!!!!