Oficyna Wydawnicza "Impuls"

A.    A SHORT HISTORY OF POLISH GUIDING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING       

B.    A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE GUIDES TEAM OF ZHP HEADQUARTERS (1991–2002)     

C.    CHAPTER 10. THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GUIDES TEAM OF ZHP HEADQUARTERS AND WAGGGS (1991–2002)    

SUMMARY 

The aim of this publication in English is to provide an overview of some of the topics addressed in the book O harcerstwie żeńskim w Polsce. Zarys problematyki [About the Polish Guiding: Outline of the Issues]. The book presents the history of Polish Guiding in the 20th century, and it is with great pleasure that we present some of its content in this publication.

The book is divided into two parts. The first one, briefly discusses the historical and the contemporary perspectives of Polish guiding. In the publication, the history of Polish Guiding has been divided into four periods: 1911–1939, 1939–1945, 1945–1949 and 1957–1990.

The second part of the book is a monograph on the Guides Team of ZHP Headquarters (1991–2002), and concerns the time when ZHP was in the process of accessing WAGGGS. In this part the authors describe facts and documents. This section shows the work of Polish Guide leaders whose aim was to prepare Guides in Poland for their integration into the WAGGGS structure.



A. A SHORT HISTORY OF POLISH GUIDING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING

The idea of scouting appeared when Poland did not exist in Europe map as a separate country, as it was back then divided among Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The idea of scouting was popularized by members of Polish patriotic organisations. Parts of Poland were under German and Russian rule, and Polish organisations were not allowed, so they operated under the cover as sport, touristic, or religious associations. The book describes the activity and duty of Polish girl guides from the very beginning. Polish Guiding started to act in Lwów in 1910. A year later, the first Polish guide unit was established and in 1913 a booklet “Polish Girl Guides” was published. Before and during the I World War, Polish Guides cooperated actively with all those who worked and fought for the independence of Poland.

A new era for Polish Guiding and Scouting began after the I World War, when Poland regained its independence. In November 1918, the nationwide organisation ZHP – Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Guiding and Scouting Association) was formally founded.

In 1920, ZHP was represented at the first International Conference of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in Oxford, England. In 1928, when WAGGGS was established, ZHP became a member of this association with a co-founder status.

The period of twenty years between the two World Wars (1919–1939) was a good time for Guiding movement in Poland, and the Guide leaders have managed to do a lot for Polish girls’ development.

For the authors of the book, the principal issue was to show Guides attitude towards the others. Especially, the way they understood (and executed) their duty towards people and the country. These girls had their needs, expectations, and dreams like other young women, but they always remembered that there are many social roles for them to play and they did their best to fulfill these challenge.

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