Kayla McGlockton of Girl Scout Troop 13035 has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a community leadership and service project that addresses the issues of mental health and xenophobia of immigrant children and families.
The Girl Scout Ambassador recognized the stressors of immigrant children in
her community, so she created the New Beginnings Guidebook for students at
Doris Henderson Newcomers School in Greensboro to help them navigate
their new community and focus on the positive parts of their journey.
“The hardships of immigrant parents in one generation, experienced through
social inequality and cultural barriers, influence the struggles and successes
of the next generation,” said McGlockton, a Girl Scout of 10 years. “My goal of
the project was to uplift the immigrant population in the area and also help
bring awareness and education to others in the community.”
The guidebook is available for checkout at the school’s library and teaches
students about American culture, food, activities and weather. Kayla hosted a
donation drive for clothing and school supplies for the school’s pantry to help
alleviate some stress for new students during the school year, and she also
held a presentation to educate her community on the local immigrant
population and ways to support them.
Girls in high school can earn the Girl Scout 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.
Kayla said, “Future students coming into the Newcomers School will continue
to read the guidebook and possibly share what they read with other
immigrants. My community is now more educated on the immigrants in their
neighborhoods and how they might be able to help them.”
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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