Empowering the ta'ahine Tonga to go forward to be good leaders, good mothers  "at home and in the whole world", is a mission of the Girl Guides in Tonga, says Chief Commissioner Halaevalu Palu.

For the last 10 years Halaevalu has volunteered most of her time to the guides, visiting "two or three schools every day, except Fridays", along with other volunteer guide leaders such as Suzy Pasikala, and trained teachers.

They hold the meetings of Sunbeams, Brownies, Guides and Young Leaders at the schools. The programmes are also supported by 'Iteni Helu for the Cubs and Scouts.

"When we go to the schools the boys feel left out so we now include the boys in our talks too," said Halaevalu.

Empowering girls can involve simple things like encouraging girls to speak out and to have confidence in themselves and teaching good manners.

"We tell them when people say 'Hey you...' to speak out and say 'I'm not called Hey'. I have a name!"

TWISC

This week on April 11, Halaevalu was a guest speaker at a special meeting of the Tonga Women's International Social Club (TWISC) attended by TWSIC Patron HRH Princess Pilolevu. During a high tea at the Waterfront Lodge & Restaurant, the Girl Guides, Brownies and Cubs demonstrated some of their activities and sang for the Princess.

Halaevalu said that the Tonga Girl Guides Association was founded by the late Queen Salote Tupou III in 1952. Today the Guides also partner with other groups like GLOW in various activities to teach skills and hands on experience.

The Girl Guides have a new training centre in Nuku'alofa, which has been maintained by a government grant of about $1000 per year. This covers the water and electricity bills and occasional mowing of the grass.

This year for the first time the Tonga Girl Guides are expecting to have their own budget from government, which will enable them to meet a need for more programmes, particularly activities that encourage children to stay active, healthy and engaged in positive development, said Halaevalu.