Domestic Violence

I was at an Advisory Committee Meeting the other night for Human Options, a local non-profit that works to break the cycle of domestic violence (DV).  We were talking about issues that face raising money and awareness about DV, and it brought to mind a conversation I’ve had twice now, with Senior girls.

During the Girltopia, Journey the girls had the opportunity to map their community and put in the pieces that were there.  And I made sort of a joking comment that I didn’t see a women’s shelter, and the response surprised me!  I was told, “we live in a nice community,: there’s no domestic violence here.”   And then in a Gold Award Project interview, I had a similar response.

My response was startling to each of them!  I told them that in Orange County, 1 in 5 women are touched by domestic violence in their lives.  That DV knows no color, no economic income level, no religion and no residence.  It’s all around us, and we don’t know who has been touched by it.  In my Advisory Board meeting, of the 8 of us sitting around the table, 2 were survivors of DV.  

I told the committee about the girls and the Girl Scout Gold Award Project, and I asked,  “how can a girl identify the DV issue, be passionate about it and want to Take Action, but not have the 40 hour training required to work with the shelter women and children?”  I explained that a Gold Award Project needed to be more than just a collection of needed things.  The girls need to use their leadership to make a difference in the world and take action.

We did not come up with an answer, but Vivian Clecak, the Executive Director for Human Options, left the door open for further discussion.  I think it would be great to offer girls the chance to hear from Vivian and then take the lead to create their own Take Action Projects!  She is a very passionate speaker about DV, and also a therapist, so she knows how to speak well, and listen hard.

Perhaps as Senior Advisors and/or Project Advisors, this is how we can help the girls take the lead and create their own project.  Help them to identify the Root Issue that they are passionate about, then help to channel that into inspiration and focus for a project.

Great Gold Award Project

As an interviewer for the Gold Award applicants, I am in awe of these girls!  Most have been in Girl Scouting over 10 years, and they just love it!  Most have a very clear understanding of their projects. Their enthusiam and excitement just leak out of them!  They just make me proud!!!

And then, there I am, a cheerleader for most, and the wet blanket for some. I'm the one who gets to ask, "what are you doing besides collecting supplies for the homeless shelter?"  I ask "what service projects have you done in the past?"  And then I get to ask, "How is their project going to make a bigger difference?"  How are they going to reach outside their comfort zone and be a leader?  And I get to ask the best question of all that I got from Lisa Hinshaw, "what's the hardest part going to be?"

One Gold girl had a passion for increasing literacy in the local elementary school. Her Silver Award Project had been to create and put on a play addressing this concern. Kayla had continued to work at the school after her Silver was completed, reading to the kids at story hour, volunteering her time.  It was a natural step for her to choose literacy at that school for her Gold.

Her root issue was literacy, recognizing that kids without English speaking parents at home were less likely to read English well, and learn to LOVE to read.  Kayla worked with the librarian and piggy-backed her gold project onto the library's Open House night.  She created 8 booths at her Literacy Fair, and she staffed them with volunteers form her high school, who did it for the service hours!  Her younger sister, a couple former troop girls and gal-pals helped as well.  Kayla organized the event, got together with the start up team to leader them in creating all the pieces, gathered materials and put on a fabulous fair!  Plus, she and her volunteers put on her Silver Award play again.  She had those 60 little kids sitting on the floor, completely enthralled. Plus, they had take away pieces on reading form the fair to use in the future.

But she wasn't done yet!  She completed an interactive computer program that the kids can use at the library at any time!  A great sustainable piece that makes a difference.  Truly, Kayla identified her issue, used her leadership skills, engaged volunteers from outside her troop, provided a huge benefit for a group of kids, and figured out a way for her work to benefit even more kids in the future.  a GREAT Gold Award Project finished just in time to list on her college applications this fall.  I am so proud of her!

(See the link to her video and some photos on the Great Gold tab.)