Girl Guides are shooting for the moon

Dublin People 29 Feb 2020

Pictured (above, right) Irish Girl Guides’ members, Rebecca Kelly, Laoibhse Curtis, Rhiannon Talbot and Sarah McCarthy at the launch of the new app. at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies Dunsink Observatory..

MEMBERS of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) are setting out to complete a 363,104km challenge - the distance of the earth to the moon – in order to raise funds for their new National Training Centre in Tallaght.

Girls from age five and up and their volunteer leaders will walk, run, cycle, swim, surf, kayak and undertake outdoor challenges over the next six months in order to raise €363,104 to kit out their newly-purchased premises in The Square Industrial Complex.

The centre is currently an empty warehouse that will be converted into offices and training rooms with a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) lounge.

This is where girls and young women can develop their STEM skills and discover how a career in STEM can lead to positive global impact.

They will keep track of their progress on a new Mishon app, which was launched at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS) Dunsink Observatory, Castleknock, by astrophysicist professor Peter Gallagher and award-winning space communicator, Dr Niamh Shaw.

The outdoor adventure app has been created by Irish tech entrepreneur Brendan Morrissey.

Afetr hearing about IGG’s ambition to open a brand new training centre to facilitate its 11,000 members, Morrissey created a specific Mishon Moon section to the Mishon app where IGG members and supporters can upload their kilometres and undertake adventure challenges.

The Mishon Moon app was trialled in recent weeks by Amanda’s local Guides in Lucan.

“The girls loved using it, especially for plotting their way, undertaking challenges, finding crates and earning virtual badges,” said Amanda. “We are in no doubt that other IGG members will enjoy it just as much and, in fact, that girls and young women across the world will love it too. Speaking at the launch, Mr Morrissey added: “We’ve been working on this project for the past three years and we can’t think of a more fitting way to launch the app.

“We hope our involvement can assist IGG with their goal of fitting out their new National Training Centre over the coming months.”