Congratulations, Soren, on earning your Gold Award! GSSEM is proud of you and your dedication to making a positive impact on your community and beyond. 

Project: Volunteer Opportunity Fair

Soren knew by personal experience the benefits of volunteering. She developed her Gold Award project to help other students find a volunteer connection through a school fair aimed at younger students.

Her Volunteer Opportunity Fair highlighted the importance of being valuable community members, how to be a successful volunteer, a discussion on how to start a volunteer organization, and local volunteering opportunities.

“It is important for teens to be able to build a relationship with volunteer work before they enter adulthood,” she believes.

Good Day at the Fair                           

On the day of the event, 300 students came to the fair and participated in the breakout sessions on topics such as Student Leader Opportunities, Passion Discovery, and Volunteering Organization Simulation.

“During the “Advocacy is Awesome!” session—the one I hosted—students simulated the formation of a non-profit organization,” Soren explained. “Once they decided on an issue they had to find and plan a solution. It was evident when students fully grasped this concept. I could see the light bulbs forming.”

To keep her Gold Award project going, Soren created a “How-To Guide” providing detailed steps to help others host a Volunteer Opportunity Fair. The document has been shared with school districts in Oakland, Livingston, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw Counties.

“Volunteering creates a stronger, more compassionate community,” Soren said. “The more ambitious teens become, the greater the impact we can have on the advocacy space and world stage.”

Learn more!

Soren chats about her Gold Award project on GSSEM’s YouTube channel.

Find out more about Girl Scout Highest Awards on our website at www.gssem.org/highestawards.