Told by council historian, Mia M.
In 1966, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) established Sangam, which in Sanskrit means “coming together”. The symbol for Sangam is meant to show the convergence or, “coming together”.
India may seem a long way from our Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) Council and may seem to be a very different place from where we live, but it has so much to experience. There could be no better place for a Girl Scout from the US to be introduced to India than at Sangam, one of the five World Centers of WAGGGS.
In 2003, my daughter Lillian and I were visiting family in India and took a side trip to Sangam for the day. We were warmly greeted by the staff and shown around. We found a beautiful, peaceful oasis in the middle of a bustling city. It is a place where guests can relax, swim in the pool, walk through a garden, sample home cooked Indian meals, and meet other Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world. It is also a place where girls can learn more about India, by meeting its people and experiencing its culture.
We saw a wall with logos of all Girl Scout and Girl Guide programs from around the world. We found the ones from the US. We also saw the array of flags from around the world, that are used in ceremonies when Girl Scouts or Girl Guides from different countries visit, and during World Thinking Day Programs.
In 2005, Girl Scouts of Chicago offered a Destination Opportunity for Older Girl Scouts to visit Sangam. In all, 20 girls from across the country went. Julie Somogyi, who today is Chief Experience Officer for GCNWI, went on the trip as a staff chaperone. Below are some of her memories:
These opportunities to travel far and wide through Girl Scouts and immerse into other cultures, learning about their families, art, music, communities, food, and social services is a vital way for us to build respect and expand our views of the world around us. It was a transformative experience, and I will never forget how the program staff at Sangam shared many important lessons with us. They urged us to see and experience their culture through their eyes, not ours, and to understand the values they hold without comparing it to ours. That was an incredible gift of perspective that I will carry with me forever as I seek to experience more of the world.
Rebecca Strocchio, one of the girls who went to Sangam in 2005 wrote the following about her experience:
My favorite memory from my trip to Sangam is learning about Bollywood and the dances they do for the movies. It was so much fun! It’s something I still remember to this day. It gave me an interest in a culture I knew nothing about before the trip.
I’ve had the chance through my career to interact with people from India. Having the opportunity to tell them how much I enjoyed my trip there and how kindly we were received is something that has helped me connect with people since my trip there so many years ago. I have been told countless times by people from India, here in the States, that they hoped I would travel there again, and the people of India would be happy to have me back. The bond I have with India and its culture and people is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I hope I have the opportunity to return one day because it was the greatest cultural experience I have ever had, the opportunity of being part of.
Dionne Hawkins, who still volunteers with GCNWI in special events, went with the group to Sangam as a volunteer chaperone. She remembers how much the group enjoyed going into the town of Pune to shop for sarees. When they returned with their purchases, the Sangam staff taught them how to wrap/wear a sari. The variety of colors and fabrics, is a great snapshot of India.
worldcentres.wagggs.org lists programs at Sangam throughout the year, ranging in length from one to ten weeks where you and your group can work on leadership skills, celebrate World Thinking Day, focus on wellness, and/or learn about a culture different from your own.
If GCNWI offers an opportunity to travel to Sangam, I hope you’ll give serious consideration to applying as one of the participants. If the group/troop you are traveling with chooses to, you may be able to extend your stay in India to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, or the backwaters of Kerala! Belonging to WAGGGS is a worldwide connection for every Girl Scout. It gives you a place to make new friends and keep the old, no matter where in the world you go. So, each year, on February 22, know that Girl Scouts and Girl Guides at Sangam are thinking of you!
