Troop 1067 , Somerset , MA A Little Help From Our Friends
What is your project about ? I created a curriculum for elementary schools in my area about people experiencing homelessness . I created different activities , worksheets , videos , and resources for teachers to pass along to their students . I talked to a social worker , soup kitchen owner , and teachers to create the best resources to bring awareness to people experiencing homelessness and how children can help . My project has spread to multiple school districts and is even being used in my church to teach Sunday school students about people experiencing homelessness . Why is your project important to you ? Every year , my church participates in Homeless Awareness Weekend . Every Veteran ' s Day weekend , the Youth Group sleeps in cardboard boxes , panhandles , collects food for food pantries , and volunteers at a soup kitchen . I first started this weekend in 7th grade and my eyes were opened up to a whole new world . Panhandling on the street made me realize that not everyone gets the help they need . When I first stepped into the soup kitchen my church volunteers at , I was surprised how welcoming and open the guests were . They told my Youth Group stories of how they became homeless and how they overcame the challenge . These stories gave me first-hand accounts of what life is like without a home . Education is a powerful tool and educating younger students allows for empathy and a drive to help that can be instilled for life . Thanks to this life-changing weekend , I was able to complete my Gold Award and encourage others to get involved with an issue meaningful to me .
Alyssa Hiener
Troop 64 , Wakefield , RI Labyrinth and Mental Health Curriculum
What is your project about ? My Gold Award addressed the stigma of mental health and provided coping skills to teenagers living with mental illnesses . Approximately one in five teenagers live with at least one mental health disorder . As a high school student , I had watched many of my friends and peers struggle to deal with mental health disorders , myself included . My Gold Award also creates a more peaceful environment at the school . The Labyrinth and Mental Health Curriculum will reduce mental health stigma by educating students and teaching them the truth about mental health while providing them with useful tips and coping skills . By tracing a finger labyrinth and learning more about mental health disorders , students will learn in a more peaceful environment and become more educated about improving their own mental health .
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Why is your project important to you ? This project was important to me because I have lived with diagnosed mental illness since middle school and I always hoped that I would have the opportunity to learn more about them in school . I was disappointed at the lack of mental health education provided in schools and wanted to ensure students were getting the necessary mental health education . I also wanted to work towards erasing the stigma of mental health , especially in youth . So many times I have tried talking to an adult about my mental illness and they have responded with " you ' re too young " or " you ' re not mentally ill , you ' re not crazy ". I want youth to feel that they can talk about how they are feeling and not feel judged or unsupported . Creating a mental health curriculum helped to erase that stigma through education and give students the opportunity to truly talk about what they are going through .