A friendship activity idea - secret friend

I'd like to share a friendship activity we normally do on our Brownie holidays.

All the girls' and Leaders' names are put into a hat/bag (whatever!) and on the first night, they each draw someone out.
 
This person is then their secret friend for the weekend. In a similar way to the Random Acts of Kindness idea, they must perform small acts of kindness, helpfulness etc for their secret friend.

If I'm honest, some of the girls are better at keeping secrets than others, but it's lovely to see them helping each out and actively finding ways to do so. It could be something like offering a sweet, helping to make a bed or just saying something nice to that person.

Kerri Hickman, 145 Sheffield Hallam Brownies

Here are some of our Brownies on a trip to see the Sheffield Guide show - en route, we spotted a free photo booth and couldn't resist!

Have you done a special friendship activity with your group recently? Why not send a blog entry to share it?

Claire launches our new topic - friendship!

Me (left) making new friends!

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
Anais Nin

A quick look through my Facebook friends list reveals one of guiding's little-mentioned strengths.  Amongst the countless activities I've tried, skills I've learnt and awards I've achieved, lie the hundreds of friends I've made along the way.  Even as I'm typing, the song in the background reminds me of going to see my first Ranger unit in the local Gang Show!

My guiding friends really do sum up the concept of 'Global Conversations'.  Yukie, a Japanese Girl Scout leader, who lead the hosting team for a cultural exchange project I went on in 2009.  Anna, a Swedish Scout leader I met at the World Scout Jamboree last summer.  Hannah who was one of the participants on a trip to Namibia and has now herself been a leader on a trip to Sangam.  Wassim and Walid, two Tunisian Scouts who took my team under their wing while doing the Explorer Belt (and Em and Mary my teammates of course!).  Kirsty and Mary of my second Ranger unit, and our fab unit trips to Paris and Copenhagen.  Pippa who's spoken at the UN on behalf of WAGGGS.  Don't worry, I won't mention all 200 of them!

I know they've all had their impact on me, and I'm really lucky to be able to call them friends, thanks guys!  After all, a lot of what makes my guiding memories so special is the friends that go with the places, smells and sights. And if all this global talk has whet your appetite (and I hope it has!), why not apply to take part in an international trip? Nothing beats an international trip for new friends and global conversation! Ask your Leader to help you find one for you.

Meanwhile get involved in this global conversation by sending in your own blog about friendship - there are lots of  fun ideas for all ages here.

Claire Bennett, Girlguiding UK member