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ARMENIAN GUIDING ADVENTURE
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
August 28, 2012 Tuesday
UK
ARMENIA isn't your typical holiday destination.
But for Kirsty Smith her trip to the former Soviet country wasn't a
holiday as such.
Kirsty, 25, originally from s Honley, was passing on her skills as
a Girl Guide to aspiring Guides in Armenia.
The former Honley High School pupil joined follow Guide leaders from
around the UK for missions to developing countries including Sri Lanka,
Cambodia, Malawi, Tanzania, Gambia and Guyana as well as the former
Soviet Bloc states of Latvia and Armenia.
Kirsty's trip, part funded by her parents Philip and Merran Smith
and Honley Village Trust, was organised as part of Girlguiding's
International Opportunities programme.
While in Armenia earlier this month, Kirsty and her Guiding friends
toured camps across the country leading activities and presentations
as well as training new Guide leaders and passing on skills such as
first aid.
Kirsty, who now works as a maths teacher in London, said: "It's a
mixed country. Some people are very rich and some streets in the
capital are quite Europeanised but beyond that there are lots of
abandoned ex-Soviet buildings.
"It's not extreme poverty but it's not wealthy."
Kirsty, a former student at Greenhead College and an Oxford University
graduate, added: "We were giving young girls a voice in countries
where they might not have one.
"We went to different places and gave girls an experience of Guiding
that they hadn't had before.
"I didn't even know where Armenia was but it was amazing. We had the
most wonderful time.
"We didn't get to do the normal tourist things but the people made
it great. They were so friendly and really glad to have us and
include us."
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
August 28, 2012 Tuesday
UK
ARMENIA isn't your typical holiday destination.
But for Kirsty Smith her trip to the former Soviet country wasn't a
holiday as such.
Kirsty, 25, originally from s Honley, was passing on her skills as
a Girl Guide to aspiring Guides in Armenia.
The former Honley High School pupil joined follow Guide leaders from
around the UK for missions to developing countries including Sri Lanka,
Cambodia, Malawi, Tanzania, Gambia and Guyana as well as the former
Soviet Bloc states of Latvia and Armenia.
Kirsty's trip, part funded by her parents Philip and Merran Smith
and Honley Village Trust, was organised as part of Girlguiding's
International Opportunities programme.
While in Armenia earlier this month, Kirsty and her Guiding friends
toured camps across the country leading activities and presentations
as well as training new Guide leaders and passing on skills such as
first aid.
Kirsty, who now works as a maths teacher in London, said: "It's a
mixed country. Some people are very rich and some streets in the
capital are quite Europeanised but beyond that there are lots of
abandoned ex-Soviet buildings.
"It's not extreme poverty but it's not wealthy."
Kirsty, a former student at Greenhead College and an Oxford University
graduate, added: "We were giving young girls a voice in countries
where they might not have one.
"We went to different places and gave girls an experience of Guiding
that they hadn't had before.
"I didn't even know where Armenia was but it was amazing. We had the
most wonderful time.
"We didn't get to do the normal tourist things but the people made
it great. They were so friendly and really glad to have us and
include us."