86 Connecticut Girl Scouts Receive Gold Award, Including 2 From Newtown

Two local residents recently took home gold for their community focused projects that helped them earn their Gold Award.

Anika Dholakia taught senior citizens how to use computers, tablets, and smartphones and become more efficient and connected. She used a reference guide and other training materials to help senior citizens learn how to use the internet and other devices. She created a binder and disc of training materials to be used at the senior center.

Grace Anne Herrick’s Gold Award Project addressed a lack of education and lack of health for children under the age of five who live in rural Nakaseke, Uganda. She developed an early education program for the children of Uganda with the help of ACCESS (African Community Center for Cultural Sustainability). She hopes to open more schools and programs like this across Africa.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest, most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. In order to earn the Gold Award, The Girl Scouts of America states that a Scout must do the following:

1. Choose an issue: Use your values and skills to identify a community issue you care about.
2. Investigate: Research everything you can about the issue.
3. Get help: Invite others to support and take action with you.
4. Create a plan: Create a project plant that achieves sustainable and measurable impact*
5. Present your plan and get feedback: Sum up your project plan for your Girl Scout Council
6. Take action: Take the lead to carry out your plan.
7. Educate and inspire: Share what you have experienced with others.

Click here to see the full list of Gold Award recipients.

Image via Girl Scouts of Connecticut