Girl Scouts are making a world of difference in their communities

Can a group of girls change the world? The answer is a resounding “yes” when it comes to Girl Scouts. Troop 32840 from Pine Grove in Schuylkill County completed a project that made a world of difference for one of their classmates.

The girls — Daisies, Brownies and Cadettes — learned that their classmate, Leah, struggled at a local playground because she is unable to communicate her needs through speech. Determined to help, the girls created a unique picture board that Leah uses to express what she wants or how she is feeling.

Take a minute to watch the video above to see the impact this project had on both Leah and the Girl Scouts.

“The girls learned that Leah uses a computer tablet to communicate, but it’s not easy to use that at a playground,” explained troop leader Lindsay Strouphauer. “They wanted to create something that would help Leah and other kids like her talk to one another in a more relaxed setting. They were looking for a way to make it easy for kids to just be kids on the playground.”

Troop leader Amanda Janney-Hayman said the girls in her troop felt a personal connection to the project. Several of the girls have special needs, including three of Janney-Hayman’s own children whom she adopted out of the foster care system. Understanding firsthand what it’s like to struggle with things many of us take for granted, the girls wanted to make a difference for Leah.

“I wanted to do this project, because kids who are like me, who have a TBI or traumatic brain injury, or people who have lost their voice, this helps them to communicate, using the board,” said Brownie Girl Scout Hayden.

“I really liked doing this project,” said Brownie Adelyn. “It was very helpful for Leah, and I just like helping people.”

Creating the boards required team work and listening skills, said troop member Hailey. “It was hard to do this project sometimes, because we all had to work together,” she said. “We do work well together, but it was still challenging to listen to everybody’s ideas.”

The project has been a huge success, Strouphauer said. “Leah was super excited to see the board,” she said. “She was happy to see something that’s tailored to her needs.”

As we wind down another year, let’s reflect on the impact of Girl Scouts. Troops from Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania dedicated hundreds of hours to community projects, striving to “live by the Girl Scout law” and make the world a better place. Consider supporting that mission with a donation today, and stay tuned to see what Girl Scouts will accomplish next!

By Cathy Molitoris, Marketing Coordinator for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.