Gabrielle McIntyre of Girl Scout Troop 2483 earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, for addressing the lack of mental health support for the elderly through a community leadership and service project.
For Gabrielle’s project, Finding Joy in Art, she partnered with Journey Adult Day Center in Greensboro to design and paint a mural inside the facility to lift the spirits of the clients and bring them happiness. She also ran an art supply drive to donate to senior citizens and promote artistic expression throughout the older generation.
“Mental health challenges among the elderly are a universal concern, and initiatives like mine demonstrate practical ways to enhance quality of life through creative interventions,” said Gabrielle, a Girl Scout of 10 years. “The elderly are valuable members of our community and deserve to be treated as such: with respect and care.
Journey Adult Day Center specializes in care and daily living assistance for a variety of adults, and Gabrielle noticed a lack of decor due to an absence of funding when she discovered the organization through the Volunteer Center of Greensboro. This inspired her to create a visual reminder through a mural to help those struggling with their mental health and remind them that they are capable of happiness.
Girls in high school can earn their Gold Award by creating sustainable change on a community or world issue. They address the root cause of a problem, plan and implement innovative solutions to drive change and lead a team of people to success. Each girl must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and carrying out her project that benefits the community and has a long-lasting impact.
Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they are the leaders our community and world need, and those from the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) council have created community gardens, addressed issues in foster care, combated bullying in schools and so much more.
McIntyre said, “Residents of Journey Adult Day Center have approached me with heartfelt gratitude, expressing how the vibrant mural has brightened their days and lifted their spirits. Beyond the physical artwork, the project has fostered a sense of community engagement and empowerment among the elderly, demonstrating their continued capability for joy and creativity.”
Thousands of Girl Scouts across the country earn the Girl Scout Gold Award each year, which first began in 1916 as the Golden Eaglet. Earning the Gold Award opens doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and amazing career opportunities. In 2024, 40 GSCP2P Girl Scouts earned their Gold Award.
To learn more about earning a Girl Scout Gold Award, visit https://www.girlscoutsp2p.org/en/members/for-girl-scouts/badges-journeys-awards/highest-awards/gold-award.html.
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