Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Sophia Schulitz as a 2023 Gold Award Girl Scout.

Project: Period Insecurity

For my project I focused on period insecurity, as it is an issue that continues to plague our country and world. I felt inclined to aid in the fight to end period insecurity, as my hometown, Rochester, New York, is greatly affected by this crisis. Period insecurity is defined as not having enough period products to comfortably manage a monthly menstrual cycle. This leads to absence from school, work and other commitments, as well as creating situations for social embarrassment. With the support of local organizations including The Pittsford Rotary Club as well as the Church of Transfiguration and Sensibles, I was able to lead a group of local Girl Scouts and volunteers to create over 1,200 period packs of essentials for girls cycles. These period packs were distributed throughout the Rochester Central School District as well as The Open Door Mission, Happy Birthday Cha-Cha-Cha and the Pittsford Food Bank.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award

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 she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.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.For more information on the Gold Award, click here.