Older Girl Resources

Global Arms of Advocacy (GAA) is a safe, collaborative, discussion-based space where high school Girl Scouts (grades 9-12) educate themselves and their peers on local and global issues relevant to women and girls. Through monthly exploration of issues, GAA equips teen Girl Scouts with a global mindset and the tools to educate others on a local and global scale. Participants choose the meeting topics, often focusing around issues such as women’s health and education (i.e., sex education, STIs, HIV/AIDS), feminism, privilege and stigma, racism, human trafficking, sexual health, gender and sexuality, mental health, violence against women, and all the intersectionalities involved. Meetings will feature interactive activities, guest speakers, films, field trips, and opportunities to facilitate discussions amongst the group and peers. 

Participants make at least a one-year commitment to the group, attend monthly meetings (usually October through June, the second Sunday of each month from 2:30-5 p.m.), peer educate within the group, are actively involved in social media conversations, and occasionally participate in additional planning meetings and events outside of scheduled meetings. 

Girls involved in GAA have:

• Pursued Gold Awards and college paths based on their work in this group
• Built relationships and interacted with lively guest speakers from various community organizations
• Presented workshops to their peers and fellow students
• Attended United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women in New York City as youth delegates (2009, 2016)
• Represented teens as panelists at Girl Scouts San Diego’s Conversations of Consequence on women’s inequality and economic empowerment

Take a look at what girls are saying about GAA: 

• “This advocacy group has empowered me to empower others.”
• “You will make lifelong friends, learn amazing new skills, form a million inside jokes, and become an effective leader and peer educator.” 
• “I’ve changed so much as a person and learned that even small things can make a big difference.” 
• “I can make a difference if I care about an issue and am able to find a medium [GAA] for my passions to develop.”
• “[I have an improved] willingness to delve deeply and understand the issue from different perspectives.”
• “I am so sad to be leaving this group, but I am so happy to know that some other lucky girls will be coming to fill my place and develop their confidence/knowledge in a safe, accepting group.”
• “GAA is something I look forward to every month!”