Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Hannah Rauh of Orchard Park, NY, as a 2019 Gold Award Girl Scout. Rauh’s project was titled “Zika Virus Prevention Project.”

Rauh explained, “I put together one big package full of supplies necessary to prevent Zika virus and sent it to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. These supplies were distributed to pregnant women who were visiting doctors at this specific hospital. It is important for a pregnant woman to be diligent about mosquito bites because if she catches Zika while pregnant, her baby could be born with microcephaly. Each woman received one bug bracelet, one bug net, a bug spray, one citronella candle, a mosquito coil, a package of repellent wipes, a package of “bug bombs,” and an informational brochure about Zika prevention. I chose this project because of my interest in sciences and global interactions. I visited Saint Vincent and the Grenadines a few years ago and saw the poverty and need firsthand. For the second half of my project, I built 4 bat houses which were put up at Camp 7 Hills! These were just as important as the care package because bats are an essential part of our ecosystem, and help to keep the mosquito population under control. Younger Girl Scouts can also learn about the role of bats by observing the bat houses! I was able to collaborate with my Church, Nativity of Our Lord in Orchard Park, to set up a bake sale fundraiser. I raised almost $500 towards my project! This project definitely impacted not only my community, but a community in Saint Vincent who needed help!”

Rauh added, “Scouting has helped me to become a more friendly and welcoming person towards others. Also, it has helped me to become more outspoken and taught me to work hard to make positive change towards things that are important to me.”

Rauh will receive her Gold Award at the Gold Award Ceremony on June 1, 2019. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls.

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 and to enter the military a full rank higher than her peers.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, 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 their 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.