Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Danielle Nahas of Spencerport, as a 2018 Gold Award Girl Scout. Nahas’ project, Helping Youth Meet Their Potential, involved creating a book for independent living targeted at young adults in at-risk situations. Nahas partnered with the Center for Youth in Rochester, which offers help and support for teens and youth who are considered to be at risk, such as those who have run away from home or have an unstable family. Knowing the youths would struggle to find an adult to support them as they transitioned to independent living, Nahas hoped her book would provide tips and serve as a guide to get them started.
The book’s content included easy cooking recipes (with many accessible items at the Center for Youth’s cabinet), laundry tips, first aid information, and other useful advice.
Nahas stated, “I can empathize with this age group about how hard it is to start transferring into adulthood. However, I do have a good support system in my life and at home so I can only imagine how much harder it would be for those who do not have this to start a new part of their life.”
Nahas also commented, “Girl Scouts has made me gain a greater appreciation for volunteering and making an impact on other people’s life. I have continued these values into college where I am a part of a service organization that requires 15 hours of service a semester. I enjoyed this so much that I am now a part of the philanthropy committee. I hope that I can always help others in college and even into my career.”
Nahas has been a Girl Scout for 10 years. She will receive her Gold Award at the Gold Award Ceremony on June 2, 2018. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts.
The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about – in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers.
The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of her plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing.
To learn more, visit gswny.org.
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