The
National Young Women of Distinction honor is given by Girl Scouts of the USA to
the top ten Girl Scout Gold Award recipients whose Take Action projects
demonstrated outstanding leadership, had a measureable and sustainable impact,
and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue. The
girls and their projects will be showcased on the Girl Scout Blog in advance of
being honored at the 2014 national convention in Salt Lake City this October.
Camille Borders: Girls Run the World:
Encouraging Political Activism in Young Women
Age: 17
Hometown: Blush Ash, Ohio
Years of Girl Scouting: 11
Inspiration:
“If I was suddenly met by Aladdin and
his blue genie in the dry Arabian heat, I know exactly what I would wish for,”
Camille said. Her wish would be that other girls and women would find the
courage to step up and lead. Of course, without a genie, Camille had to make
her wish come true in a different way.
Seeing that women made up only 18
percent of the U.S. Congress, Camille realized that the lack of women in
politics is a major issue that needed to be addressed. The same study also
showed that this lack of political ambition among women is connected to a lack
of encouragement to run for office. If she could provide girls with the right
kind of support and confidence, she could help fix the gender gap in politics.
How Camille is Changing the World:
Camille created a non-partisan
seminar, “Girls Run the World: Encouraging Political Activism in Young Women,”
to challenge girls to change the status quo. Camille used a team of women’s
political organizations and a few other helping hands to organize the seminar
and ensure that it would be an annual event.
Camille showed the girls what other
female activists had done in the past, and then the group of 30 engaged in
conversation and panel discussions with current role models. Most of the girls
said they felt more encouraged to read the news and run for their student
councils after participating.
Camille’s project drew the interest of a nearby
school district, the state capital, and also another Girl Scout troop that hoped
to share it with other girls. Camille has a dream and is working to achieve it.
Her passion for helping empower girls is such an inspiration!
Next Steps:
Camille will be attending Washington
University to study Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.