Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana, Inc. | Programs | Year of Take Action

Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana celebrates the Year of Take Action!

In 2012, the Year of the Girl, we celebrated our 100th anniversary. In 2013, the Year of Take Action, we want to show what girls can really do to make a difference. Throughout 2013, we will challenge you to “take action” in your communities through special events, camps, and, of course, the national program. GSSI will even recognize ten (10) Take Action projects at the 2013 Girl Awards Event, on May 3!

First, let’s find out what “taking action” really means…

Being of service to others means being helpful—doing the right and kind thing.

When you TAKE ACTION, you move beyond immediate service to understand the cause of the issue and you team up with others in an effort to get to the roots of the problem and keep the solutions going! Taking action means striving to make the world better for more people over a longer period of time.

In other words, service makes the world better for some people “right now.” Taking action makes the world better for more people for a much longer time. While the world clearly needs both, Girl Scouts is concentrating on taking action!

Take Action projects are part of earning all Journey awards and the Girl Scout highest awards, the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, but a Take Action project can also be a project that is all your own.

You can bring your own Take Action project to life by:

1. Identifying an issue or problem you want to take action on.

2. Brainstorming a solution.

3. Assessing your resources.

4. Creating a realistic plan, including a timeline.

5. Spreading the word— and soliciting help from the people you need.

6. Carrying out your Take Action project.

7. Reflecting on your project’s results.

And…do not forget to celebrate your success with us!! If you would like your project to be submitted for recognition at the 2013 Girl Awards Event, send your completed Take Action Project Completion form to program@girlscouts-gssi.org, by April 15. (Projects completed between October 1, 2012 – April 15, 2013 will be considered.)

.

 Arrow 

Take Action Project Completion Form.

 

The examples below illustrate the difference between a short-term service project and a sustainable Take Action project.

ISSUE

Short-Term Project
(one-time effort with short-term impact)

Take Action Project

(long-term benefits and sustainable support)
Local food pantry needs help. Collect nonperishable food through a food drive at school Collect food and also develop a recipe book of nutritious food using simple ingredients — find local printing company to print several copies and give original to the food pantry to make more when needed
Local animal shelter needs supplies and volunteers.
 Hold food and toy drive in community Hold drive and create a marketing campaign — posters, radio spots, flyers, etc — encouraging community to donate supplies and time to the shelter. Give all marketing materials to the shelter for use in future drives.
An uninsured family’s home is destroyed by a fire. Collect clothes, household goods and food for the family Work with a local Habitat for Humanity and organize a work group to rebuild the family’s home

IMPORTANT: Special grants are also available to girls/groups that are focusing on environmental Take Action projects. See the information below.

     Vectren Live Smert logoalcoa

   Year of Take Action

Environmental Take Action Project Grants   

Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana (GSSI), the Vectren Foundation, and the Alcoa Foundation are pleased to offer grants to Southwest Indiana Girl Scout members, individuals and/or troops/groups who are working on environmentally-focused Girl Scout Take Action projects.

  ArrowEnvironmental Take Action Project informational flier.
Arrow  Environmental Take Action Project Grant Application.