Second Briefing at Scout Park, North London

Our second briefing took place on 24th - 26th April at Scout Park in North London. It was a great chance to catch up with all of the other teams as well as physically spend some time together and talk without a time limit on the conversation (unlike our phone conferences which seem to like to cut us off before we are finished).

Friday night was just a good chance to talk to everyone and get prepared for the weekend of trainings, but it wouldn't be a GOLD briefing without great hilarity in the evening entertainment. Playing charades with guiding names and places seemed a little too easy to start with, but by round 4 we had Ruth in a duvet cover trying to act out some of the words (I can't tell you what they were - I still don't know!)

When the alarm clocks went off on Saturday morning, we were probably one of the most reluctant teams to get out of bed, but once breakfast was over we were fired up and ready to start the day of trainings. The big event of the morning was our interactive sessions run by each country team. We had been told to prepare a 15 minute session based on either our country or our project aims. Team Malawi decided to run a 'Dragons Den' style session based on the Five Essentials of guiding, asking each team to pitch guiding to us based on one of these essentials. It involved a lot of time keeping and a few TV voice-over impressions, but we got good feedback from the other teams and along with the other teams sessions, it gave us some good ideas to use on project.

Our group time over the weekend was so busy - Ruth had a lot to fill us in on from MAGGA, we managed to come to a decision over what colour of hoodie to have (very important), as well as making lots of other important decisions about onward travel, kit and trainings.

Ruth is ready to go during group time!

For the Saturday afternoon's trainings, we had some very helpful visitors from CHQ firstly giving us a training and facilitating workshop and then doing separate trainings for our individual roles (Treasurer, First Aider, Written Documentor, Resources, Photo & Video). It was really useful to have their input as to how to make the best of our roles.

In true GOLD style, the Saturday evening entertainment involved fancy dress, competition and a lot of team effort. Each team came dressed as a TV show and ran an activity based on that show. We decided to go as Scooby Doo and run a treasure hunt. Andreah certainly had the best costume as the Mystery Machine!

The team trying to make a mouse out of melted marshmallows and rice krispies

Andreah balancing some chocolate digestives

Louise trying to get the After Eight into her mouth without using her hands

M eating doughnuts on a string

Emily about to do a fashion show in her outfit crafted by the team

Alice writing the promise in chocolate sauce

Our final effort of the promise written in chocolate sauce (and a few strawberry laces when the sauce ran out)

Team Malawi in our Scooby Doo costumes

Andreah's amazing Mystery Machine costume

We managed to fit in some more group time on the Sunday morning before being led in a WAGGGS workshop which taught us a lot about the resources available from WAGGGS and how we might be able to use them on project.

All too soon, it was time for us to all leave again. We can't believe how fast the time is going and that we only have third briefing as the next time we will meet before we head to Malawi!

Thank you to Anna, Carly, Rachel, our brilliant team leaders, wonderful cooks and all of the trainers who came in to support us over the weekend. We can't wait to see you again after project!

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Team Malawi and our GOLD journey by subscribing to this blog by email, liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GOLDMalawi2015  and following us on Twitter @GOLDMalawi2015

GOLD love,

Alice and Team Malawi x

Introducing.... Ruth

Hello. My name is Ruth I am the GOLD Leader for Malawi 2015. I was lucky enough to go to Malawi on the GOLD project last summer in 2014 and I am now busy planning for this years project. I am looking forward to the challenge of returning to Malawi as the leader and being able to see first hand how MAGGA has developed over the last year.

I have been a member of Girlguiding since the age of 5 and have progressed through the guiding sections including gaining my Queen Guide Award. I am currently the assistant ranger leader with 1st Quorn Rangers in Leicestershire. We have a thriving unit of 30 rangers, which keeps me busy! I am also a Girlguiding Media Spokesperson and a Prospective Trainer.

As a member of guiding I have been lucky enough to travel to Australia, France, India, The Falkland Islands and Chile as well as to Malawi in 2014. I have a love for international travel and following on from project last year chose to visit a friend in Cape Town, South Africa before exploring Madagascar.

My favorite foods are pizza and chocolate! My favorite animal is a penguin and I have a vast collection of penguin items at home.