ENNISKILLEN Girl Guides members, Jodie Hamilton and Aleta Love are preparing to embark on a summer trip with a difference.
Having successfully completed an intense selection weekend outside Belfast in September last year, the two girls have been picked to participate in a trip to Italy this July to volunteer on a farm, 20 miles outside of Rome. Besides their shared passion for Girl Guides, Fifth year student at Devenish College, Jodie (16), and fourth year student at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Aleta (15), both have similar future career paths in mind.
Having both held membership through Rainbows, Brownies and now Girl Guides, they are the perfect example of everything that the leading charity for girls and young women stands for: empowering girls to be their best and become confident young women.
With aspirations of one day working in medicine, Jodie has her eyes set firmly on the prize, and believes the trip to Italy next month will help to build her character and appreciate cultures different to her own. “I want to go into medicine and I know what A-levels I need to do and the results I need to get in order to get into Queen’s University,” she says, “I’m so glad I have been given the opportunity to go to Italy this summer.
Securing a place on the trip, organised through Concordia, was no mean feat for the girls.
Their gruelling selection weekend included camping, demonstrating that they could light a fire, archery, demonstrating team-building skills and an interview with Girl Guides leaders, amongst other things.
During their 11-day stay in Poggio Mirteto outside Rome the girls will be getting themselves involved in masonry, building up gardens, helping people in the local area whilst also learning from the local cultures and enjoying sightseeing in the local area as well as Rome.
“Whatever I am doing out there, I want to be able to do the best that I can,” says Aleta.
The trip will run from July 19 until July 30. In preparation, Jodie and Aleta have organised a fundraising Coffee Morning in the new Cathedral Hall in Enniskillen. Each girl has to raise £1,500 to go towards their trip.
“The trip itself can go towards the Duke of Edinburgh Awards,” says Jodie, “I think it is going to be a really worthwhile experience. Fisher Engineering have sponsored each of us £350 to go towards our fundraising. We are both so grateful and will be attending Fermanagh House next Wednesday to officially receive our cheque.”
Jodie and Aleta’s Coffee Morning is from 10am until 12 noon on June 17 in St. Macartan’s Catherdral Hall.