Apply now for the 2020-2021 year!
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!”
For more information, contact Taelor Ross, tross@sdgirlscouts.org or 619-610-0837.