At Joyce Kilmer School, a group of nine fifth graders noticed that girls would often hide and cry in the bathroom stalls at school, disrupting their education. They set out to create an inspirational mural in the bathroom for their Girl Scout Bronze Award.
A young troop of Girl Scouts wanted their Bronze Award project to make their school a better place, specifically for girls who face bullying and other difficulties and hide in the bathroom stalls alone to cry.
Mahwah Girl Scout Troop 5487, a group of fifth graders, decided after months of brainstorming that painting a mural with inspirational sayings in the bathroom could encourage these girls for years to come.
The nine young girls presented their idea to Joyce Kilmer School Principal Michael DeTuro and with help from one of the member’s aunts, Alyssa Monks, a Brooklyn-based artist, the girls were able paint a beautiful, inspiring mural.
Painted over tile, the black silhouette of a girl with a ponytail is surrounding by colorful stripes and is full of inspirational messages.
Be happy, be bright, be you. Love Yourself.
“The Girl Scouts worked tirelessly and enthusiastically on this project. I was impressed with their kindness and care toward each other and others in the process. I felt that we were working on something very important that reinforces the values of the girls who made it, and will go on to touch other girls who need it in years to come,” said Monks.
The principal of the school was extremely supportive of the project from the beginning.
“I am extremely proud of our young girls for finding the power from within and sharing that with their peers during such an important time in their lives. I want our young ladies to know that they can do and be anything that they set their minds to. The girls at Joyce Kilmer can change the world and it starts from within,” said DeTuro.
The young Girl Scouts recognized the important and potential impact of their project beyond simply receiving their Bronze Awards.
“This project makes me feel good to know that I helped girls and that a girl has a place to go when they’re sad,” said Girl Scout Giulia Franzetti.
“Our project makes the world a better place because it gives girls a place where they can feel safe. It makes me feel like I am making a difference,” said fellow Troop member Riley Casimiro.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve and requires a minimum of 20 hours with the goal of both helping the community and developing leadership skills in girls.
Delaney Dryfoos may be reached at ddryfoos@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @delaneydryfoos. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2018/06/mahwah_girl_scout_troop_sees_a_need_to_help_young.html