100th World Thinking Day: 10,000 Service Hours Pledged

Written by: Celestine Ng,
2024 PGA Recipient, Young Adult,
Communications Committee

On 7th February 2026, we came together to celebrate a truly special milestone — the 100th anniversary of World Thinking Day (WTD100). Held at Singapore Expo, the event brought together more than 5,000 Brownies and Guides in a vibrant and heartfelt celebration of friendship, service, and sisterhood.

This year’s celebration centred on the theme “Our Friendship,” guided by the values of Promise, Appreciate, and Love. The atmosphere throughout the day reflected these values, as girls connected, shared experiences, and celebrated what it truly means to be part of a global Guiding community.

In line with Girl Guide Singapore (GGS)'s commitment to being girl-led, WTD100 was planned and executed by six 17-year-old recipients of the 2024 President’s Guide Award. The team led all aspects of the event, including budgeting, vendor negotiations, video production, and media strategy, gaining hands-on leadership experience and empowering them as future changemakers.

The celebration was made even more meaningful with the presence of over 160 international delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Member Organisations from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Their visit, which spanned several days, included participation in the main event, visits to local Guide units, and opportunities to experience Singapore. These interactions fostered cross-cultural understanding and strengthened friendships that extend far beyond borders.

A key highlight of WTD100 was the launch of Service100 during the formal ceremony, a special initiative commemorating 100 years of World Thinking Day. Through this initiative, every Brownie and Guide unit is encouraged to pledge at least 100 hours of meaningful community service throughout the year. With 140 units across Singapore, this collective effort represents one of the largest youth-led volunteer movements in the nation, empowering girls and young women to make a tangible difference in their communities.

Community service has always been at the heart of Guiding. From past collaborations with the People’s Association to pack close to 1,000 first aid kits, to historical contributions during the Bukit Ho Swee fire, GGS has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to service. At the event, partners such as the People’s Association and St. Luke’s Eldercare also engaged participants through booths, offering insights into meaningful ways they can continue contributing to society.

The day’s programme featured a range of thoughtfully designed activities that brought the theme “Our Friendship” to life, allowing our girls to forge and celebrate meaningful and lasting friendships. The ‘Friendship Village’ showcased unit-led booths centred on Love for Self, Love for Learning, Love for Community, and Love for the Environment, highlighting the diverse ways Guides express care and compassion. The Postcard Exchange encouraged participants to reflect on meaningful friendships through handwritten messages, while the Friendship Bracelet Exchange saw girls sharing handmade tokens as symbols of connection and unity. 

A commemorative “100 Years of World Thinking Day” video added a reflective touch to the celebration, featuring voices from across generations sharing their experiences and memories. Complementing this was the “Humans of GGS” media campaign, inspired by storytelling platforms, which spotlighted personal stories of friendship, growth, and belonging within the Guiding community.

As the celebration came to a close, it was clear that this milestone was not just about looking back on 100 years of history, but also about looking forward. With initiatives like Service100 and the continued passion of its members, GGS remains committed to nurturing future generations of girls and young women to lead with empathy, build meaningful connections, and create positive change in the world. Cheers to the next century together!