Kusafiri is one of the five world centres of the

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS ) is a global association supporting the Girl Guides, female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Scouting organizations in 152 countries. It was established in 1928 in Parád, Hungary, ...

(WAGGGS). It is based in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

but has no fixed location, instead it moves around existing locations in different African countries. In October 2015, the name Kusafiri was given to the fifth world centre. Kusafiri means 'to journey' in

Swahili Swahili may refer to: * Swahili language, a Bantu language official in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and widely spoken in the African Great Lakes * Swahili people, an ethnic group in East Africa * Swahili culture Swahili culture is the culture of ...

History

Kusafiri World Center is the product of years of discussion to bring a World Centre experience to the Africa Region. In 2010, at the Africa Regional Conference, it was unanimously agreed that the Africa Committee would explore opportunities to deliver World Centre experiences in the Region. In July 2011, during the 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, a motion was passed to create an experimental two-year pilot project that could potentially lead to the creation of a 'Fifth' World Centre in the Africa Region. The project was evaluated, with results and recommendations presented at the 35th World Conference in Hong Kong in 2014. The conference voted unanimously for the following: ''The Fifth World Centre Pilot study has demonstrated the value of establishing a presence in Africa to host world centre international experiences in line with WAGGGS Vision 2020.'' '' ''In July 2011 a pilot project was started to assess creation of a fifth world centre.

Past Events

2012

Ghana

From 21 to 27 July 2012 an event was held in

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivory Coast border, the west, Burkina ...

focused on Fund Development and Leadership Development. The event was attended by 19 participants from seven African Member Organizations as well as

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...

, who is currently working towards full membership.

South Africa

The event in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

ran from 7 to 14 October 2012, and focused on Fund Development and Leadership Development. There were 18 participants from African countries as well as 3 more from elsewhere.

2013

Rwanda

From 6 to 11 May 2013 a 'Stop the Violence campaign' training event took place in

Kigali Kigali () is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation's geographic centre in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes. As a primate city, Kigali has been Rwanda's economic, cu ...

, the capital of Rwanda.

Kenya

From 21 October to 17 November 2013, 8 participants from

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣� ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territor ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, UK, Rwanda,

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

and

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

participated in the Community Action Experience. This took place in the Shanzu Transitional Centre in

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

2014

Nigeria

In April 2014 a Women's Leadership Development Program (WLDP) event was attended by girls from various countries in the Africa Region. The event focused on developing entrepreneurial leaders for the Region.

2015

South Africa

In May 2015, 26 participants from 14 countries took part in ‘Prepared to Learn, Prepared to Lead’ at Khiyalami, the national training centre of Girl Guides South Africa.

Benin

From 9 to 13 August 2015, 29 participants from 14 French speaking countries came together for another 'Prepared to Learn, Prepared to Lead' event.

2016

Ghana

From 30 May to 5 June 2016, 65 participant from 55 countries came together in

for the

Juliette Low Juliette Gordon Low (October 31, 1860 – January 17, 1927) was the American founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. Inspired by the work of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts, she joined the Girl Guide movement in England, forming her own gr ...

Seminar. The event was themed 'Transforming our World' and focused on transformation of self, community and the World.

2017

Madagascar

From 11 to 17 April 2017 From 11–17 April 2017, Kusafiri World Centre hosted Arts4Change, Kusafiri in Madagascar, in partnership with the Skotisma Zazavavy Malagasy. 69 participants from 13 countries representing 4 WAGGGS Regions participated in the event. The 8 member Planning Team represented 3 WAGGGS Regions from 5 countries

2018

Uganda

From 5 to 11 December 2018, Kusafiri moved to Uganda to host a new experience; two programmes at the same time. Kusafiri hosted a leadership programme to prepare facilitators for the 2019 Juliette Low Seminar and a cultural programme to explore the heritage and diversity of Uganda. 147 participants attended from 42 countries and for the first time 5 Kusafiri Volunteers were part of delivering this experience.

References

{{Scouting World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Scout campsites