Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides
Encyclopedia
The Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides (FLEG, Lebanese Federation of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides) is the national Guiding
organization of Lebanon
. Guiding was introduced to Lebanon in 1937 and became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS) in 1954. The girls-only federation consists of five independent organizations with a total of 6,615 members(as of 2008).
Association des Guides du Liban (AGDL) was founded. The association followed mainly the program of the Guides de France
. The Guides de Liban were admitted to WAGGGS as an associate member in 1954.
In 1957, a second organization was founded: the interreligious Association des Eclaireuses du Liban (AEL) which also sought international recognition. So both organizations joined and formed the Organisation Nationale des Guides et des Eclaireuses du Liban (ONGEL, National Organization of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Lebanon) in 1961. The WAGGGS membership was transferred to this joint organization, which became a full member in 1963. ONGEL was among the founding members of the WAGGGS-Arab Region
in 1966.
Guiding continued even during the Lebanese Civil War
from 1975 to 1990, but most activities on national and international level had to be stopped and membership dropped. After the end of the war new groups were founded and membership increased again. The end of the war marked also the beginning of contacts between ONGEL and a number of unrecognized Lebanese Guide associations. Thus led to the formation of the Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides in 1998 whose members were all unrecognized but wanted to adhere to WAGGGS.
During this process of adhesion both the AGDL and the AEL became members of the new federation
. In 2005, five of the eight members of the federation were recognized by WAGGGS and the WAGGGS membership was finally transferred to the FLEG.
During its formation the federation had up to eight member organizations. Three of them were not recognized by WAGGGS; among those were the Masharih Girl Scouts Association and the Association of Guides for National Development.
organizations who are all members of the Lebanese Scouting Federation.
This association emphasizes on youth leadership; most leaders are between 17 and 22 years old.
, the national symbol.
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
organization of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. Guiding was introduced to Lebanon in 1937 and became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
(WAGGGS) in 1954. The girls-only federation consists of five independent organizations with a total of 6,615 members(as of 2008).
History
Guiding in Lebanon started in 1937, when the CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Association des Guides du Liban (AGDL) was founded. The association followed mainly the program of the Guides de France
Scouts et Guides de France
Scouts et Guides de France is the largest Scouting and Guiding association in France. It was formed on 1 September 2004 from the merger of two Roman Catholic Scouting organizations: the Guides de France and the Scouts de France...
. The Guides de Liban were admitted to WAGGGS as an associate member in 1954.
In 1957, a second organization was founded: the interreligious Association des Eclaireuses du Liban (AEL) which also sought international recognition. So both organizations joined and formed the Organisation Nationale des Guides et des Eclaireuses du Liban (ONGEL, National Organization of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Lebanon) in 1961. The WAGGGS membership was transferred to this joint organization, which became a full member in 1963. ONGEL was among the founding members of the WAGGGS-Arab Region
WAGGGS-Arab Region
The WAGGGS-Arab Region is the divisional office of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The WAGGGS-Arab Region comprises 17 members of Guiding in Western Asia and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,...
in 1966.
Guiding continued even during the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
from 1975 to 1990, but most activities on national and international level had to be stopped and membership dropped. After the end of the war new groups were founded and membership increased again. The end of the war marked also the beginning of contacts between ONGEL and a number of unrecognized Lebanese Guide associations. Thus led to the formation of the Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides in 1998 whose members were all unrecognized but wanted to adhere to WAGGGS.
During this process of adhesion both the AGDL and the AEL became members of the new federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
. In 2005, five of the eight members of the federation were recognized by WAGGGS and the WAGGGS membership was finally transferred to the FLEG.
Members
Members of the federation are- the Association des Guides du Liban – Lebanese Girl Guides Association (AGDL, CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
) - the Association des Eclaireuses du Liban – Lebanese Girl Scouts Association (AEL, interreligious)
- the Association des Eclaireuses du Scout musulman au Liban (Girl Scouts of the Muslim Scout Association of Lebanon)
- the Association des Guides nationales orthodoxes – National Orthodox Guide Association (GNO, Orthodox ChristianEastern Orthodox ChurchThe Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
) - the Association of Jarrah Guides (MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
)
During its formation the federation had up to eight member organizations. Three of them were not recognized by WAGGGS; among those were the Masharih Girl Scouts Association and the Association of Guides for National Development.
Program and ideals
The Lebanese Guide organizations follow different program schemes that have to be recognized by the federation and by WAGGGS. All five members of the federation cooperate with the corresponding Boy ScoutScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
organizations who are all members of the Lebanese Scouting Federation.
Association des Guides du Liban
The association is divided in six branches, corresponding to age or needs:- Farandoles (pre-BrownieBrownies (Girl Guides)A Brownie is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations for girls from their seventh birthday to their tenth birthday. Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation.-History:...
section) – ages 6 and 7 - Jeannettes (Brownies) – ages 8 to 11
- Guides – ages 12 to 15
- Caravelles – ages 15 to 17
- Jeunes en Marche (Youth in movement) – ages 18 to 21
- Equipe Tournesol (Sunflower branch) – extension branch for Guides with special needs.
Association des Eclaireuses du Liban
The association is divided in three branches:- Zahrat (Brownies) – ages 8 to 11
- Eclaireuses (Girl Scouts) – ages 12 to 14
- Caravelles – ages 15 to 17.
This association emphasizes on youth leadership; most leaders are between 17 and 22 years old.
Emblems
The membership badge of the Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides and many of the member Guide emblems incorporate the Cedar of LebanonLebanon Cedar
Cedrus libani is a species of cedar native to the mountains of the Mediterranean region.There are two distinct types that are considered to be different subspecies or varieties. Lebanon cedar or Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani is a species of cedar native to the mountains of the Mediterranean...
, the national symbol.
Further reading
- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Bureau (1997), Trefoil Round the World. Seventh Edition 1979. ISBN 0-900827-75-0
- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Bureau (1997), Trefoil Round the World. Eleventh Edition 1997. ISBN 0-900827-75-0
External links
- Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides
- Association des Guides du Liban – Lebanese Girl Guides Association
- Association des Eclaireuses du Liban – Lebanese Girl Scouts Association
- Association des Guides Nationales Orthodoxes – National Orthodox Guide Association
- Masharih Girl Scouts Association