Banagher Girl Guides help launch new Europe badges!

Members of Irish Girl Guides from Banagher travelled to Dublin for the launch of three brand new Europe badges by Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee TD.

The badges have been developed by Irish Girl Guides (IGG) in partnership with European Movement Ireland (EMI).

They will help girls from age five upwards gain an understanding of the European Union (EU) and learning how it affects the lives of Irish citizens.

The badges were launched at an EMI ‘Handshake for Europe’ event held in Iveagh House, headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Banagher girls were honoured to be involved in such an important occasion.

There is a different badge and curriculum for each age group. In order to earn the badge, the youngest members of Irish Girl Guides (Ladybirds aged 5-7) will learn to recognise the European Union (EU) flag, learn greeting customs from three other EU countries, name some other EU countries and make rubbings of Euro coins.

Brownies, aged 7-10, will discover which countries are members of the EU, learn about the role of MEPs and, through a variety of activities, identify ways of respecting and including different cultures. They will discover who their local MEPs are and will write letters to them.

Guides aged 10-14 will learn why the EU was formed in 1957, when Ireland joined in 1973 and the advantages of being an EU member. They will make posters illustrating why Ireland is a member, will celebrate an international cultural festival (e.g. host a Eurovision-style talent competition) and invite a politician to come and talk to them about the EU.