Llais Y Ddraig is the Youth Council for Girlguiding Cymru. It has at least two representatives from all fourteen counties. The British Youth Council, In4mers and the Innovate Planning Teams. The members are aged between 16 and 25 and serve for a term of three years. Llais Y Ddraig is a council where members discuss Association and non-Association issues. Recent topics that have been discussed are the Broneirion Improvement Fund, Y Bwthyn, annual events, Girlguiding uniform, rights of the child and SSAGS and Students moving to new areas when they go to university.
The Youth Council has a direct link with Girlguiding Cymru and the Chair of Llais serves on the Welsh Executive Committee, through which she is able to express the views and opinions of the Llais members. At their meetings, each representative on Llais is given an opportunity to express opinions and have input into discussions. The members are also encouraged to bring discussions and topics from their own counties and councils to the meetings. This is important to us as it means that the views of the youth within Wales are heard.
Llais Y Ddraig has taken an active role in many Girlguiding Cymru events including Ddraig Y Coed Camp in 2003, where we organised the evening entertainment for the Guides and Senior Section. The evenings included a BBC Wales "live broadcast" and code games. Other major events have been Get Global in 2004, where we helped with Peer Education, Cultural Displays and Singing Workshops and Senior Section Weekends, where we lead campfires and run sessions. We also attend the Royal Welsh Show assisting the host county with their duties and organising evening entertainment for the Guides. We also assist at Young Friends running activities and providing support.
2006 saw the 25th anniversary of Llais Y Ddraig where we celebrated in style! We had Birthday badges made. We held a barbeque for past and present Llais Y Ddraig members. Debbie Ashton the first chair of Llais came and told us all about how Llais started and the types of discussion and debate they used to have. One of the discussions she remembered having, was the use of computers within Girl Guides Cymru. This seems a little amusing as you sit here reading all about Llais on the internet. It is a great achievement that the junior council is still strong and continues to have lively up to date discussions as well as being involved in many Girlguiding Cymru run events and non organisation events within Wales.
Each County in Wales is looking to have an active junior council for members 14-26years. These councils are able to feed back on issues and opinions from senior section mebers within counties. This allows for Senior Section within Wales to have a say on issues affecting them.
If you are interested in being part on your county Junior Council or a member of Llais Y Ddraig please contact the Chair of Llais Y Ddraig, your County Commissioner or county Llais Y Ddraig representative.
E-mail Llais Y Ddraig: Llais@hotmail.co.uk
© Girlguiding Cymru 2006. The Lodge, Broneirion, Llandinam, Powys, SY17 5DD
