Global Girl Scouting is a movement to make girls aware of global issues, promote cross cultural awareness and comprehend their role in this big world of ours. Their hope is that by doing this, it will provide a voice for the girls who will then become caring and accountable citizens who make the world a better place. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the United States Girl Scouts, envisioned the philosophy of Global Girl Scouting. It was her dream to have girls work together through a friendship fueled by goodwill and in turn, they will want to work toward world peace. She once said, "Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding can be the magic thread which links the youth of the world together."
Girl Scouts are able through Global Girl Scouting to earn the Girl Scouts Global Action Award. The partnership between WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals strives to empower girls from Daisies to Ambassadors. The eight goals are:
1. Ending hunger and poverty
2. Education opens doors
3. Empowering girls
4. Helping children survive
5. Keeping mothers healthy
6. Preventing diseases
7. Saving the planet
8. Promoting peace through partnership
The Global Action award and the Girl Scout USA national leadership journeys supplement each other to stress the same leadership goals of Discover, Connect and Take Action.
The Girl Scouts can also participate in international travel and learn about many different cultures, make new friends and build leadership skills. On their journey, girls can visit the four WAGGGS world centers that are located in Mexico, Switzerland, India and England. This is a wonderful outlet to let girls share ideas with other girls around the globe. Every February 22, Girls Scouts participate in World Thinking Day. By doing this, they think about their place in the world and what they can do to change it, therefore following the Global Girl Scouting way.
Another aspect of Global Girl Scouting is to be able to understand and take part in the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. The Girls Scouts of the USA created this fund in 1927 to honor Juliette's love for making new friends and experiencing different cultures. Donations to this fund are used for the girls' international travel, events and training. It connects Girl Scouts with other Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 145 nations to take part in unique opportunities together.
Global Girl Scouting enables girls to have the ability to become great leaders in the world and provide change. Even though they don't have to travel, Girl Scouts can still take advantage of Global Girl Scouting just by becoming responsible global citizens aware of global issues, caring about them and wanting to do something about it.