Girl
Scout leaders Anna Maria Chávez and Kathy Hopinkah Hannan arrived today into
Rome for an audience with Pope Francis and to attend the International Catholic
Conference on Guiding (ICCG) World Council, reaffirming and strengthening the
organization’s 100-year-old relationship with the Catholic Church. Girl Scouts
of the USA (GSUSA) and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
(NFCYM) are two of the U.S. organizations attending the World Council alongside
representatives from organizations from 42 countries.
Girl
Scouts’ presence at the benchmark ICCG World Council reflects its renewed
commitment to faith development for all girls, and is a testament to the faith
component fundamental to Girl Scouting (known internationally as Girl Guiding).
Faith has been a core value of Girl Scouts since its inception 103 years ago,
and GSUSA continues to raise awareness of the value of faith for every girl and
family.
The
ICCG is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the city of its founding, Rome,
June 25–29, with a gathering of over 200 representatives of Member
Organizations from around the world that have a focus on Catholic Girl
Scouting. There they will discuss current issues, review Catholic Girl Scouting
history, take a look ahead, and host celebrations of faith with special guests
and performances.
Pope
Francis will speak at the event to encourage and recognize the leaders from
around the world who are dedicated to helping girls explore their faith through
Girl Scouting. Currently there are 2.8 million Girl Scouts who are volunteering
to help better their communities through projects and activities related to
environmental stewardship, healthy living, and advocacy—all values expressed in
the Girl Scout Promise and Law and thoughtfully aligned with the tenets of the
Catholic faith.
“Faith
is at the heart of Girl Scouts, and is woven into everything the organization
does to inspire girls to take action to make the world a better place,” says
Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of GSUSA. “To have the opportunity to make this journey
to the center of Catholicism and have an audience with Pope Francis is an honor
I share with my colleagues across the Girl Scout movement. We are delighted to
be able to work with such wonderful organizations in the U.S. as the National
Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry to help girls across the country explore
and deepen their faith.”
“At
Girl Scouts, faith unifies us and inspires us to take care of each other and
the world around us,” says GSUSA National President Kathy Hopinkah Hannan. “Our
visit to Rome to engage with ICCG and Pope Francis exemplifies Girl Scouts’
inclusive culture that embraces all faiths and cultures, and reflects our
commitment to encouraging girls to enter their own faith journey to find
inspiration and meaning.”
“Working
together with Girl Scouts is a wonderful way to open the door to girls across
the country and invite them to enter their own faith journey,” says Kathy
Carver, associate director at NFCYM. “We want all Girl Scouts to know that
there is a place for them to be a Catholic Girl Scout, and a warm, supportive
network to help them more fully engage with their faith and earn religious
recognitions. We invite Catholic girls and women to take action through
community engagement and volunteerism. We always receive more bountiful
blessings when we give to others.”
Since
1912, Girl Scouts has partnered with faith organizations to take action and
address issues of concern in their communities. Many girls implement their
Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award projects in partnership with their local
churches, parishes, temples, mosques, and other places of worship.
The
Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character,
who make the world a better place. We deliver on this mission through the Girl
Scout Leadership Experience, which, with its “Discover. Connect. Take Action.”
framework, provides a way for girls to take leadership roles in transforming
their actions into outcomes. And at the heart of Girl Scouting is the Girl
Scout Promise and Law, which includes an oath and promise to serve God.