Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Olivia Hunger as a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout.

Project: Anxiety Self-Help Digital Tool

Over 3o% of teenagers in the U.S. struggle with a diagnosed anxiety disorder, and an additional 20% of teens report feeling anxious at least twice per week. Although these numbers are surprising, the most alarming part is knowing that there are many more children and teens who suffer through their anxiety without reporting it to adults or seeking help. With this in mind, the digital anxiety tool was designed as a discreet way to provide school-aged youth a way to identify the root causes of their anxiety and be provided with helpful activities that they can complete on their own. When a user scans the QR Code, they are directed to either the younger or older version of the tool. Younger users can watch books, read alouds, create worry monsters, heart map their emotions, and more. Older users can try solutions such as journaling, breathing techniques, conflict resolution, and study skills. To make this tool a success, brainstorming and planning was done with behavior specialists and social workers from both private practice and within the West Seneca school district. Due to the need for anonymity for users, the tool is accessed through scanning a QR code that can be handed out on a small card in counseling centers, student services within schools, and social worker offices. This is impactful to my community because children and teens can educate themselves on what creates their anxiety and then they can become better equipped to tackle it, leading to a more productive life. The cards containing the QR codes are widely accessible in areas of the community that youth consider safe spaces.

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.