Saint Clair,
Missouri, a small rural community of 4,472 people located along Historic Route
66, is home to a group of dynamic young women who call themselves “Friends for
Change.” In an effort to improve their community, the girls are working to
create an arts program, and they recently built an
outdoor amphitheater in their local park to host it.
The girls
are a part of Challenge and Change,
a program for Girl Scouts in rural communities funded through a grant from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. This investment is part of Girl Scouts’
ToGetHerThere campaign, the largest fundraising campaign for girls in history.
Powered by
investors, Girl Scouts helps girls in rural communities become change-makers as
they create and start long-term community service projects. They get plenty of
help along the way through a comprehensive curriculum, instruction by specially
trained Girl Scout program staff, and mentoring by community champions. Girls
even receive seed funding to launch their projects.
But as
inspiring as Challenge and Change is in and of itself, the program is also
addressing a community issue the girls care about a great deal: mental health. Ten
percent of youth in St. Clair have reported considering suicide, and the
effects of bullying and depression are also areas of major concern. The girls
learned that a lack of arts in rural communities has a negative impact on area
youth—indeed, studies have indicated that increased involvement in and access
to the arts can significantly decrease emotional problems in adolescents. Arts
and theatre programs have, for example, been successful in allowing young
people to learn appropriate forms of emotional expression.
After
completing the amphitheater the girls were honored for the project by their
town’s local chamber of commerce. The theater will benefit 4,000 people, will be
available for community use, and will host events such as concerts, plays, art
shows, and other gatherings. The positive outcomes of the program projected by
the girls include increased social cohesiveness, expanded creative outlets, and
improved community relationships. In their short time being involved in
Challenge and Change, these young women have not only gained vital skills in
public speaking and leadership—they have also realized the power they have to
change their community and the world for the better.
“This is
just awesome. It’s such a neat feeling. Deep down inside, I always knew that
somehow this project would happen.” – Miranda Murphy, girl member