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St. Louis Girl Scout Builds Playroom for Refugee Families to Earn Bronze Award
National Children’s Day, celebrated on June 8, addresses the importance of children in society and the numerous challenges that some still face in different aspects of their lives. This observation aims to improve children’s welfare, invest in their future, and address mental and physical health issues they may be dealing with.
Motivated to provide refugee children arriving in the St. Louis area with a safe and fun place to play and relax, Alice Kracher of Troop 1739 partnered with Welcome Neighbor STL to build their facility a dedicated playroom at the new St. Peter and Paul Center’s housing floor. Welcome Neighbor STL partners with refugee and immigrant families to the St. Louis region, connecting them with the people and opportunities that will empower them to build and live their best lives in their new county.
“I wanted to earn my Bronze Award because I wanted to help my community,” said Alice. “Last summer my church did a summer collection drive of bathroom and cleaning supplies for Welcome Neighbor STL. My mom saw a Facebook post that Welcome Neighbor was making a new housing floor and we asked how we could help, which led to the idea for my project.”
Alice's Bronze Award project included rehabbing the playroom space and working with her community to collect donated toys, rugs and furniture. She transformed the room into a welcoming place where fun, learning and creativity could flourish for the children of refugee and immigrant families.
“I think my project was important because the kids at the house floor were going through a lot,” said Alice. “I wanted to give them a place to take a break from all of it.”
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior, girls in 4th-5th grade can achieve. It requires girls to identify a need in their community and dedicate on average more than 20 hours towards addressing and solving the issue. When Girl Scout Juniors focus on an issue, they care about, learn the facts and take action to make a difference, they gain the confidence and skills that catapult them to lifelong success.
