On the eve of the global centenary celebrations of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting, FYI checks in with its oldest active member to find out about the activities planned

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, once known as the Chief Scout of the World, would be thrilled.

It's been over a century since he decided to put his military experience in Africa to good use by starting the largest voluntary youth organisation in the world: the Scout and Guide Movement.

The international centenary will be marked with a function at the St Xavier's High School in LT Marg on Saturday, April 10 at 10 am.

The fourth World Centre of the World Association ofu00a0 Girl Guides & Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in Alandi, Pune, which was inaugurated on October 16, 1966 by Lady Olave Baden-Powell, Balden-Powell's wife.

"The function will have girl guides from the Bombay East division, which is the area from RC Church to Mazagaon.
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A flag raising ceremony, felicitation of senior citizens who were former girl guides and badge exchanges are all part of the celebrations," says Dr Parvin Anklasaria, a retired scientist with the Central Drug Research Institute, who has the distinction of being the most senior member of the Guiding Movement.

Dr Anklasaria who runs the Guide Company at the Alexandra Girls' School in Fort believes she owes a huge debt to the movement, with its emphasis on discipline and leadership. She says, "The Girl Guides shaped my life."

LOG ON TO: www.wagggsworld.org/en/take_action/centenary or www.bsgindia.org