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Young woman from Southport
has risen to the challenge in Girlguiding
AN INSPIRATIONAL young woman from Southport has risen to
the challenge to achieve the highest award in Girlguiding.
Benita Skillicorn, 21, was presented with her Queen's Guide Award at the House
of Commons on Saturday, 11 June 2016, by Chief Guide Valerie Le Vaillant, Girlguiding's
most senior volunteer.
Adventurers and former Girlguiding members Anna McNuff and Sarah Williams were
invited to the celebration to meet the award recipients and both gave speeches
about the incredible dedication and achievements of the young women.
To achieve the prestigious award the young women took on a series of personal
challenges in areas such as social action, voluntary work and travel and these
had to be completed before they turned 26. Fewer than 150 Girlguiding members
are presented with the award each year.
Benita took 3 years to finish her challenges and these included volunteering for
3 weeks in Madagascar where she worked with young girls on a project relating to
clean water and the importance of hand washing.
Benita said:- "Going to Madagascar is always going to be the thing that
stands out from my Queen's Guide Award. Making a difference to people there and
seeing how they were so appreciative of everything we did for them was very
humbling."
Like the Queen's Guides, speakers Anna and Sarah know how to rise to a
challenge. Last year Anna spent five and a half months running along New
Zealand's Te Araroa trail, covering almost 2,000 miles in the process, while
Sarah recently completed a gruelling 6 marathons in 6 days in the Sahara Desert
as part of the Marathon des Sables.
Anna said:- "I have such fond memories of my years as a Girl Guide and
being part of the Queen's Guide Awards has brought it all back. The courage and
dedication these bright young women have shown in attaining this award is
nothing short of extraordinary. Most importantly I know this is just the start
for them. The start of a life filled with exploration and endeavours that will
push them far beyond their comfort zones, and it's this which I find most
exciting of all."
Sarah said:- "It was brilliant to be at the Queen's Guides Award
celebration and to meet so many inspiring young women. As someone who is always
thinking about my next adventure I loved hearing about all the different
challenges carried out as part of the award and how they had pushed themselves.
They are a fantastic example of what can be achieved when you put your mind to
something."
Girlguiding's Chief Guide Valerie Le Vaillant said:- "It was a real
privilege to present the Queen's Guides with their awards. This group of young
women are truly inspirational and they have done exceptionally well to achieve
the Queen's Guide Award by taking positive action in their communities and
beyond. They are our next inspiring female role models who have proved they are
a force for good. They should all be very proud of their achievements."
For more information about how to get involved with Girlguiding, the leading
charity for girls and young women in the UK, visit:-
GirlGuiding.Org.UK.
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