"GIRL SCOUTING: BUILDING STRONG, CONFIDENT, AND EMPOWERED YOUNG WOMEN"

NERISSE NICOLE B. TORRES

The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) is in continuous collaboration with the Department of Education to enhance the growth and development of girls and young women through the GSP's Eight-Point Challenge program. This initiative offers a diverse range of educational experiences and activities that aim to be valuable and instructive for the registered girl scouts. GSP acknowledges its responsibility in contributing to the development of the nation by offering programs to cultivate the morals and character of young Filipinas. SDO Pampanga has been an advocate of scouting. Now that most of the pandemic-related restrictions on school grounds have been lifted, schools can now participate to various scouting activities. Scouting provides opportunities for personal growth and development. Girl scouting offers skills like teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and self-reliance, which are valuable throughout their lives. Activities on GSP helps young people develop leadership skills. Young girls learn to take responsibility, make decisions, and lead others, which are important skills in life. GSP also promotes community involvement. Scouting encourages young girls to become active members of their communities. They can participate in service projects and volunteer work, which helps them understand the importance of giving back and making a positive difference in the world. This year, different outdoor activities are organized such as overnight encampments which help girl scouts to develop physical fitness, appreciation for nature and survival skills. These will equip each girl with valuable skills for both personal growth and in emergency situations. Indeed, scouting teaches young girls to value diversity and inclusivity. They learn to work with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, which helps them become more open-minded and tolerant individuals. There are more upcoming Girl Scouts activities at schools this year which provide range of benefits for every young Kapampangan girls. These include camping, investitures, leadership trainings, community services, cultural exchange, environmental movements, first aids, emergency, and disaster preparedness.

-oOoThe author is Project Development Officer I at Youth Formation Section, SDO Pampanga