Girl Scout’s Literacy Project Comforts Hospitalized Children

Chattahoochee High School rising senior Lekha Selvakumar has earned the highest honor in Girl Scouts by completing a literacy-focused project — Promising Pages.

Fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts nationwide and under 4% in the Greater Atlanta Council earn this award each year.

Selvakumar is a member of Troop 14494 within Johns Creek’s Two Bridges Service Unit, where Keri Michaelis serves as troop leader. She has been in Girl Scouts for 6 years.

She built a cozy reading book nook, with a custom-designed bookshelf filled with hundreds of donated children’s books. To expand access and engagement, she launched a website featuring reading resources and a space for families to share feedback — helping her continuously improve and personalize the project for the community it serves.

Selvakumar also created literacy-based activity packets filled with games and exercises to promote
engagement and learning during families' long stays.

She hosted bookmark-making workshops for children staying at the House and presented her project to younger Girl Scout troops to talk more in depth about her project and the importance of reading.

“There’s so much healing and comfort that comes from reading,” she said. “My goal was to support literacy, provide comfort, and encourage family bonding during difficult times — and I’m so glad to have made a meaningful impact in my community.”

The ARMHC provides free housing, meals, and support for families whose children are receiving medical care far from home. For more information on the Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Atlanta, visit armhc.org.