Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Ellen Chapman of Buffalo, NY, as a 2019 Gold Award Girl Scout. Chapman’s project was titled “New Home For Stitch Buffalo.”

Chapman explained, “My Gold Award Project took place in Buffalo working with an organization called Stitch Buffalo. Stitch Buffalo works with refugee women in Buffalo to help them create items to sell to generate income for their families. I felt that working with them could be the most meaningful project I could do. I also appreciate the work that Stitch Buffalo creates for the women in my community. The purpose of my project was provide a suitable space for the women of Stitch Buffalo to work outside. The organization had recently moved to their own location, and I wanted to make sure they could maximize their space. To finish this project I first had to fundraise. I held a bake sale at one of Stitch Buffalo’s annual sales. I sold coffee, tea and other baked goods. I received a gift card from the Lexington Co-op to help with the bake sale. I then weeded out the backyard of their location, and purchased a table to give them. I also volunteered to help them sort their donations as they moved locations.”

Chapman added, “Being in Girl Scouts has allowed me to experience so many new things. We’ve gone white water rafting, learned how to fence, made pasta from scratch, gone horseback riding, visited colleges, and gone to New York City. I’ve learned so much from my troop leader; she’s so organized and inspiring. Honestly, she’s the reason I still do Girl Scouts. She and many other women have been a part of my Girl Scout journey, and I’m extremely thankful.”

Chapman 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.