A newly-launched Lottie doll by Donegal company Arklu is set to empower girls to become more adventurous, more confident and to pursue their dreams.

A new lifelike Brownie doll was launched last week at the Irish Girl Guides’ international camp. The Brownie figure, like all Lottie Dolls, is modelled on the proportions of an average nine-year-old child.

She comes with a Brownie uniform (Brownies is the Girl Guide branch for 7-10 year olds) and accessories include a tent, a kayak and camping equipment.

Donegal man Ian Harkin, Managing Director of Arklu, the company that manufactures the Lottie dolls, described the new doll as “a must-have plaything for every young Brownie, who’ll be able to bring Brownie activities to life with Lottie in their very own home. She’ll appeal to other adventurous-minded children too.”

The doll was launched last week at Irish Girl Guides’ international camp, IGGNITE2017, in Rockwell College, Cashel, Tipperary. 1,800 Girl Guides from 12 different countries are camping under canvas and taking part in a wide range of activities to help them ‘BE’ adventurous, active, confident, unique, limitless, inventive and to ‘BE’ survivors and advocates.

1,800 Girl Guides from 12 different countries camped under canvas and took part in a wide range of activities to help them ‘BE’ adventurous, active, confident, unique, limitless, inventive and to ‘BE’ survivors and advocates.

Launching the doll, Nicola Grinstead, Chair of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), said: “We love the way Lottie dolls are age-appropriate and relatable and they empower children to be themselves, to be imaginative, adventurous and, of course, to have fun. This partnership is a perfect fit for us as WAGGGS’s vision is that ‘All girls are valued and can take action to change the world’.”

Irish Girl Guides Chief Commissioner, Helen Concannon, said: “We hope the Lottie Brownie doll will not only encourage our younger members to be more active and adventurous, but will facilitate the empowerment of many more girls besides and might encourage them to become Brownies and Guides too.”

With over 500,000 active members in Ireland and the UK, and 10 million worldwide spanning 146 countries, WAGGGS is creating lifelong friendships between girls and young women.

The organisation gives its members the skills, confidence and knowledge to become leaders and to support their communities. “This reflects Lottie’s positive values and inclusive view on childhood,” says Mr Harkin. “WAGGGS and Arklu both have as their mission to empower children to actively explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities and to pursue their dreams.”

The Lottie Brownie doll retails at €19.95 and is suitable for children aged 3+. To find your nearest stockist, use the store locator on Lottie.com or order online.