Petals: Rose for "Make the World a Better"

Some Thoughts on Making the World a Better Place

“You can find Calcutta anywhere in the world. You only need two eyes to see. Everywhere in the world there are people that are not loved, people that are not wanted nor desired, people that no one will help, people that are pushed away or forgotten. And this is the greatest poverty.“ - Mother Teresa

There's plenty of opportunity for lifting up our neighbors, our schoolmates, our community, our world. Some simple, inexpensive, minimalist planning projects for helping Daisy Scouts 'make the world a better place' include (...and be sure to invite the media!);

• A tree-planting ceremony (to memorialize whatever issue is near and dear to your girls)
• A hand-holding circle to show solidarity to a cause, such as children living in poverty
• A book drive for the local library, school, women's shelter
• A 'teddy bear drive' to give bears to police officers, social workers, or the local EMS agency for children in need
• Help the girls write a letter to their members of congress in support/opposition to a piece of legislation that speaks to an issue (mandatory paid sick leave for parents, raise of minimum wage; removal of toxins from toys are some examples, more funding for s-chip)
• Sending thank-you cards to the local VA, to the local women's shelter
• Having them ask their local store to have a 'girl-safe' aisle 'without icky magazines' (you know, the ones that show women's butts, thighs, tummies, etc. Do you ever wonder what our girls think when they look at these things at their eye level? Ask them, and you'll be shocked at how quickly they understand that these things target their feelings about women's bodies)

When we help girls identify a need, we are teaching them the first step in problem solving. When a need is identified, we can guide the girls towards a project that maximizes their abilities.

Remember, when we help girls feel moved to action, they begin the march towards empowerment. Utlitmately, we hope our girls nurture a lifelong committment to higher ideals than our society tries to market to them.

They become part of something larger than can be purchased at the mall, or worn on their body, or awarded in a certificate. They grow in awareness of their great personal fortune relative to most of the world. ...and this helps save our girls from the cultural assault they are subjected to on a daily basis by the commercialization of their childhood.