After months of preparation and anticipation, four young women of courage, confidence and character represented not only GSSEM, but young woman everywhere, as delegates to the UN 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

The Girl Scout Ambassadors—Jasmine Hunley, Sonja Dunlap, Lauren Hatto and Soren O’Dell—engaged in workshops, joined in lively debates, participated in presentations and networked with influential women from around the globe on important issues for women and young girls.

“My view of my place in the world has definitely broadened,” said Jasmine. “Before the trip, I felt like my impact was limited to my local community. Now, I understand that as a young person, I have a voice and a role to play on the global stage. My priorities have shifted toward global advocacy, and I’m more determined than ever to continue working on issues like education and equality,” said Jasmine.

The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls’ rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations like GSUSA, and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality, as well as emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. 

The trip was a life-changing experience for our GSSEM delegates. They found themselves on a global stage and discovered the power that comes from collective advocacy.

Taking it all in

From working together with other delegates on drafting “The Working Group on Girls” girl-led statement, to presenting on the topic Empowering Women Through Non-Formal Education, our GSSEM Girl Scouts were in their element.

“I loved the niche topics I was able to learn about. Hearing about financing fascism or a session about landlocked developing countries, was incredible to be part of,” said Sonja.

“I enjoyed attending the Girl Scout and Girl Guide Meet and Greet, where we meet our fellow Girl Scouts from across the globe,” said Lauren. “It made the world seem smaller and showed the power and strength of the Girl Scouting movement.”

For Jasmine, her moment of wow was standing and listening in the General Assembly Hall, where world leaders come together to discuss global issues. “To think that I was there, a young person, learning from these important conversations, was really empowering. I had the chance to hear from youth leaders about the importance of advocacy in building a better future.”

It wasn’t all heavy topics and discussions. Girl Scouts did get to see some of the highlights of the Big City, including a Broadway show, Rockefeller Center, and the New York Public Library.

Inspired and empowered

Already very involved in equality and advocacy issues, the opportunity to represent Girl Scouts as UN Delegates only solidified these young women’s ambitions and personal goals.  

“My favorite experience at the United Nations was the quotes from each session,” says Sonja. “One that resonated heavily with me was ‘Power is not given, it is taken.’ That impacted me because as young women, we were there — taking it. Power was in our hands at those sessions.”

Lauren’s favorite part of the UN experience was during the North America and European Caucus when many Girl Scouts were given an opportunity to give a speech to the attendees.

“All of the speeches were so inspiring and meaningful and brought up so many important topics for girls,” she said. “This opportunity to speak amplified our voices on a global stage, and the experience was very empowering.”

Gold Awards impact

The selected delegates had already proven themselves capable of proudly representing GSSEM through their involvement in the Girl Scout Gold Award program. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.

For Sonja’s Gold Award project – Literacy: Libraries, Access, and the Community – her focus on research and sharing results directly with legislators and organizations taught her how to best communicate a cause and “to turn words into actionable change.”

“As a result of working on my Girl Scout highest award projects, I’ve developed the belief that one of a citizen’s greatest responsibilities is to give back to their communities,” said Lauren. Her Gold Award topic – Communicating in a Different Way – focused on providing more neurodiverse acknowledgement and support in her community.

Although Jasmine hasn’t earned her Gold Award yet – she started it the week she left for the UN – the process of getting the projected proposal approved helped her develop skills in project management, leadership, and advocacy, she said.

“These skills were crucial when preparing for my trip to the UN because I had to understand the importance of planning, effective communication, and taking initiative,” said Jasmine.

“Working on or already earning their Gold Awards was a factor in their experience at the UN,” said Kaylyn Borucki, GSSEM’s Highest Awards and College and Career Readiness Specialist. “To see them using the skills and confidence they gained pursing their Gold Award on a global level was a proud moment.”

Find details on GSSEM Highest Awards and their positive impact a Girl Scout’s life on our website.

Special thanks to The Skillman Foundation for their generous grant which helped get our GSSEM Girl Scout Delegates to the UN.  

GSSEM is furthering the conversation about the role of philanthropy in helping girls become global citizens. Read about it on our Latest News.