TOPAZ Lesotho 2025

After reading about the TOPAZ (Trefoil Overseas Partnership Adventure with Zest) programme on the Trefoil website and in the magazine I decided this sounded like something I would be interested in and so I applied to attend the TRIO (Trefoil International Opportunities) weekend at Windy Sayles, Whipsnade in October last year.

After a fun weekend, with plenty of challenges and having taken on board the mantra to “expect the unexpected” I was thrilled when I received an offer to join the TOPAZ trip to Lesotho taking place in August this year. The TOPAZ Lesotho 2025 team consists of myself, Jane and Jan from Anglia Region, Maxine from LASER, Dawn from North East England Region and Rhi from Wales.

In 2025 The Girl Guide Association of Lesotho is celebrating its Centenary and the Chief Commissioner has asked us to help lead a recruitment drive to grow the membership of Guiding in the country. Whilst in Lesotho we will be visiting schools, where Guiding tends to happen, to run activities to publicise Guiding. We will also be taking part in a camp being held to celebrate the centenary and meeting with the Trefoil group established by a previous TOPAZ team.

We are currently busy getting to know one another and fundraising for the trip. Do look out for us at upcoming Regional AGMs or at the National Annual Meeting in Belfast. If you would like to try our challenge, test your knowledge of Lesotho in our quiz (£1.00 entry and a £25.00 Amazon voucher to be won) or just buy a badge please get in touch on lesothotopaz2025@gmail.com. You can also follow our journey on our Facebook page: TOPAZ Lesotho 2025. 

Jane Brown, Eaton Socon Trefoil Guild, Cambs West