Hsi Lai Girl Scouts Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of World Thinking Day with Friendship Across Cultures

By Pan Ching-Hsia, The News Agency, Los Angeles, USA

Hsi Lai Girl Scouts participated in World Thinking Day on March 14, celebrating the event’s 100th anniversary. Hosted by the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles at St. Mark Lutheran School in Hacienda Heights, the event brought together nearly 180 Girl Scouts from neighboring troops to showcase cultures from around the world.

Representing South Korea, the Hsi Lai Girl Scouts participated under the guidance of Venerable Zhiqian, accompanied by 13 scouts and 11 parents. They joined the World Cultural Exchange Marketplace, interacting with fellow Girl Scouts while embracing this year’s theme, “Our Friendship.”

Since 1926, the Girl Scout and Girl Guide Movement has observed World Thinking Day annually on February 22. The day, now promoted worldwide by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), commemorates the birthdays of Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell and his wife, Olave Baden-Powell, a pioneering leader of the Girl Guide Movement.

World Thinking Day promotes international friendship by encouraging Girl Scouts around the world to think of and care for one another, raise awareness of global issues, and strengthen cross-cultural understanding and international connections. The 2026 theme is “Our Friendship.”

At the World Cultural Exchange Marketplace, the Hsi Lai Girl Scouts represented South Korea, wearing colorful traditional Korean hanbok. Other troops represented countries including Argentina, Taiwan, Egypt, Spain, Nicaragua, and Uruguay, with each booth highlighting unique aspects of its nation’s culture.

The Argentina booth introduced world-renowned soccer star Lionel Messi and displayed a replica of the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Taiwan’s booth featured New Taiwan Dollar banknotes, while Egypt’s display included a pyramid constructed from gold-colored bricks.

After receiving their “travel passports,” the Girl Scouts embarked on a cultural journey from booth to booth, interacting with participants and collecting stamps at each station to symbolize the completion of a cultural exploration.

The scouts also sampled traditional foods from various countries, including Taiwanese bubble tea, Korean kimchi bibimbap, and banana milk. They exchanged small cultural gifts, such as Indigenous Taiwanese headdresses, and enjoyed dance performances representing different nations. As they cheered one another on, they enthusiastically chanted the Girl Scout slogan, “I’m proud of you,” creating a joyful and energetic atmosphere.

Hsi Lai Girl Scout Troop Leader Tracy Choi said that preparing for the event allowed the scouts to develop independent thinking, communication, planning, leadership, and teamwork. More importantly, it broadened their global perspective and introduced them to diverse cultures around the world, making the experience both meaningful and educational.

Girl Scout Karley Chan shared that she learned about South Korea’s history and culture through the event while strengthening her teamwork skills and becoming a dependable member of her troop.

Another scout, Yuhan Wu, said, “I had so much fun researching and creating our display board. The event was exciting, everyone’s dance performances were wonderful, and all the food at each booth was delicious.”

Photo Captions (Photos 01–10 by Chang Chih-Cheng)