World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
A global membership association representing and supporting national Girl Guide and Girl Scout organizations.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the international coordinating and representative body for female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Girl Scouting organizations. Founded in 1928 at the fifth International Conference in Parád, Hungary, it provides a common structure through which independent national Member Organizations cooperate, develop programmes, train volunteers, and represent the interests of girls and young women internationally. WAGGGS emerged from the rapid international expansion of the Girl Guide movement created in the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century. As national associations developed, leaders recognized the need for a permanent international mechanism rather than an informal network. An International Council established in London in 1918 evolved into the International Conference, and the proposal for a formal world association was advanced at the 1926 conference at Camp Edith Macy in the United States. The resulting organization was created in 1928, with the International Conference becoming the World Conference. The association's purpose is to help girls and young women become responsible global citizens. It uses non-formal education, practical activities, leadership opportunities, community service, and international exchange to develop life skills, decision-making ability, confidence, and civic participation. WAGGGS does not operate as a conventional consumer brand or commercial corporation. Its principal institutional products are membership support, educational resources, leadership programmes, advocacy, events, and access to its international World Centres. WAGGGS is organized through five regions: Africa, the Arab Region, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere. National Member Organizations remain independently governed and adapt Guiding or Scouting activities to local culture and the needs of young people. Some use single-sex models, while others use co-educational or mixed approaches. Collectively, the movement reaches approximately ten million members in more than 150 countries and is supported by a large volunteer network. The organization also represents its members in international forums, including the United Nations, where it has General Consultative Status, and participates in European youth-sector networks. Governance is exercised by the World Conference, which normally meets every three years, and by a democratically elected World Board. The board includes volunteer representatives from around the world and the chairs of the five regions. A permanent World Bureau in London manages the association's staff and international operations. WAGGGS is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, although the two bodies represent different international membership structures. A distinctive part of WAGGGS is its network of World Centres. Our Chalet in Switzerland, Pax Lodge in London, Our Cabaña in Mexico, Sangam in India, and the roving Kusafiri centre in Africa provide training, accommodation, international gatherings, outdoor learning, and community-service experiences. These centres extend the association's identity beyond governance by giving members places to meet across national and cultural boundaries. WAGGGS also maintains a shared visual and symbolic tradition centered on the World Trefoil. Adopted in 1930, its trefoil, stars, compass symbolism, and blue-and-gold colors express the movement's promise, law, direction, and universal outlook. The World Badge was adopted in 1946. In addition to its core Guiding mission, WAGGGS has worked with external partners on issues such as girls' self-esteem, body confidence, violence prevention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and community service. Its current positioning is that of a global, girl-centered, volunteer-supported network combining personal development with international citizenship and advocacy.
History
The international Guiding movement developed after Girl Guides were organized in 1910 by Robert Baden-Powell with assistance from his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. Following Robert Baden-Powell's marriage in 1912, Olave Baden-Powell became a major figure in the movement's international development. As national associations appeared in different countries, the need for regular cooperation and shared representation became increasingly clear. In February 1918, Lady Baden-Powell established an informal International Council in London. This developed into an International Conference, whose early meetings brought together leaders from national Guide organizations. In 1920, two leaders from each known Guide country were invited to a conference at Saint Hugh's College, Oxford. The international network continued to grow, but it lacked a formal constitutional association. At the fourth International Conference, held at Camp Edith Macy in 1926, delegates proposed creating a world organization to replace the informal council. After the conference, the Baden-Powells were approached about establishing such a body. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts was founded in 1928 at the fifth International Conference in Parád, Hungary. The creation of WAGGGS also marked the transition from the International Conference to the World Conference as the association's principal governing forum. Rose Kerr served as the first chair of the World Committee. During its early years, WAGGGS operated from space at the headquarters of the British Girl Guide Association. From 1930 to 1939, it occupied a room there before moving to premises at 9 Palace Street in London. WAGGGS gradually built a governance system based on national Member Organizations. These bodies remain independently managed but agree to follow the association's constitution and participate in international structures. Member Organizations elect the World Board, formerly called the World Committee, while the World Conference meets every three years to debate policy and elect representatives. The World Committee was renamed the World Board in 1996. The senior staff position also changed over time from Director of the World Bureau to Chief Executive. The association expanded its practical international presence through World Centres. Our Chalet opened in Adelboden, Switzerland, in 1932. London's first centre, Our Ark, opened in 1937 and was later renamed Olave House; the current London centre, Pax Lodge, opened in 1990. Our Cabaña opened in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in 1957, and Sangam opened in Pune, India, in 1966. In Africa, WAGGGS tested a mobile-centre concept from 2012 and formally announced Kusafiri in 2015. Unlike the fixed centres, Kusafiri moves between African countries and uses themed programmes to support leadership, entrepreneurship, violence-prevention education, and other forms of community development. WAGGGS's international identity is expressed through the World Trefoil and related badges. The trefoil, designed by Kari Aas, was adopted in 1930. Its elements refer to the movement's promise, law, duties, moral direction, and universal human outlook. The World Badge was adopted at the 1946 World Conference in Evian, while the World Association Badge had been adopted in 1932. Today, WAGGGS coordinates a worldwide network organized into five regions: Africa, the Arab Region, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere. It supports national organizations through programme development, leadership education, volunteer support, international events, advocacy, and representation. Its democratic and non-formal educational model is designed to help girls and young women develop confidence, practical skills, decision-making capacity, and a sense of global citizenship. WAGGGS also maintains international consultative and youth-sector relationships, including General Consultative Status with the United Nations and full membership in the European Youth Forum.
- 2010
Kusafiri begins operation
[1]WAGGGS began developing a roving World Centre model in Africa.
- 1996
World Committee becomes World Board
[1]The association renamed its elected international governing body the World Board.
- 1990
Pax Lodge opens in London
[1]The current London World Centre opened in Hampstead.
- 1966
Sangam opens
[1]The India World Centre opened in Pune, Maharashtra.
- 1957
Our Cabaña opens
[1]The Mexico World Centre opened in Cuernavaca.
- 1946
World Badge is adopted
[1]The World Conference adopted a badge incorporating the World Trefoil at Evian, France.
- 1932
Our Chalet opens
[1]WAGGGS opened its first World Centre in Adelboden, Switzerland.
- 1930
World Trefoil is adopted
[1]The World Conference adopted the gold trefoil on a blue field as the association's principal emblem.
- 1928
WAGGGS is founded
[1]The formal World Association was created at the fifth International Conference in Parád, Hungary.
- 1918
International Council is formed
[1]Olave Baden-Powell founded an informal International Council in London to support cooperation among national Guide organizations.
Products and positioning
A global, girl-centered association that connects national Guiding and Girl Scouting organizations through non-formal education, leadership development, international exchange, volunteerism, and advocacy.
Membership network · 1928
WAGGGS membership and national-organization support
WAGGGS provides the constitutional, governance, training, programme, and representation framework for national Girl Guide and Girl Scout organizations. Member Organizations remain autonomous while participating in regional and global decision-making, sharing practices, and using WAGGGS resources to support girls, young women, and volunteers.
Education and training
Leadership and non-formal education programmes
The association's educational offer uses activities, peer learning, community service, international exchange, and democratic participation to develop life skills, leadership, confidence, decision-making, and global citizenship. Delivery is adapted by national organizations to local cultures and the needs of different age groups.
International events and hospitality · 1932
World Centres
WAGGGS operates five international centres: Our Chalet in Switzerland, Pax Lodge in London, Our Cabaña in Mexico, Sangam in India, and the roving Kusafiri centre in Africa. They provide accommodation, training, leadership activities, outdoor education, international gatherings, and community-service opportunities for members and other participants.
Advocacy
Advocacy and international representation
WAGGGS represents the interests and perspectives of girls and young women in international forums. Its work includes engagement with the United Nations and youth-sector institutions, as well as campaigns and partnerships addressing self-esteem, violence prevention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and community participation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Dove Self-Esteem Project partnership
International
WAGGGS partnered with Unilever's Dove Self-Esteem Project to encourage conversations and activities concerning self-esteem and body confidence among girls.
Outcome. The partnership extended WAGGGS's educational and advocacy work into the area of girls' self-image and confidence.
Brand decisions
2015
Develop Kusafiri as a roving World CentreProduct launchBackground
WAGGGS sought to expand the World Centre model in Africa without relying on a single permanent location.
Action taken
The association announced Kusafiri, a movable centre rotating among African countries and organized around particular themes and host-country programmes.
Aftermath
Kusafiri broadened access to international training and community-service experiences across Africa.
1928
Create a formal world associationStrategyBackground
The growth of national Guiding organizations created a need for a permanent international structure to replace the informal International Council and recurring conferences.
Action taken
Delegates founded WAGGGS at the fifth International Conference in Parád, Hungary, and converted the International Conference into the World Conference.
Aftermath
The new association became the global coordinating and representative body for participating national organizations.
Sources2 sources
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