How Gold was it Really????

"In Texas, the Cypress Creek Mirror reports that Girl Scout Rebeca Gonzales has a knack for photography, and now she’s using her talent to spread cultural awareness with a photo exhibit at Barbara Bush Library from August 18 through September 15.

With her Nikon D90, Rebeca, 17, set out to capture people with diverse heritages in her small northwest Harris County community. At first, she just wanted to fulfill requirements for her Girl Scout Gold Award project, a prestigious award earned by less than 5 percent of Girl Scouts, but the project grew as she gained support in her community." GSUSA Blog 8-1-12

I guess my first question is, Old or New Requirements?  For the old Go For It requirements, Step Five says to "Identify a community problem/need. Research. Brainstorm ways to solve the problem." I guess her project fits? She saw a need to "spread cultural awareness" and she filled the need by using her photographic talents to take pictures and create a photo exhibit.

But with the new requirements, on the face of it, she did not meet the standard.  Did she create a team to work with?  Did she use her leadership to affect change in her community?  Was it measurable?  Was it sustainable? Photos can live forever, especially if they're digitized and archived...BUT the new Gold requirements say that a girl must ensure sustainability.  Did Rebeca work with the library to create a traveling exhibit that the library could manage?  Spreading the message of cultural awareness to other parts of the town? county? state? 

I like the part about "the project grew as she gained support in her community".  What a wonderful thing!  Maybe it caused people to realize who their neighbors are, and how we're all here together? Maybe just seeing the multitude of faces smiling back into the camera to put a smile on the viewers' faces, too.  Maybe people became more culturally aware and tolerant of others. Wouldn't that be a fine thing!