Because I Am a Girl (Scout)

I was able to present the importance of female empowerment at my high school’s presentation night. My project partner, Katie, and I focused on the revolution, reform, and reaction of women’s rights. The project gave me a perfect opportunity to talk about my experiences at the Commission on the Status of Women.

On February 25, I traveled to New York with four people I had never met before. The next day, I started to meet other girls aged 12-18 that would be serving as youth delegates at the Commission on the Status of Women. For the most part, we had few things in common: our attendance of the conference, our gender and our age. After spending a week attending sessions, meetings and events, I feel like we’re all leaving with something of a connection. The CSW has opened my eyes to issues I’d never really thought about and to the options I can have in my future. I am leaving incredibly inspired to make a change and I know that my fellow youth delegates feel the same.

I have met so many amazing and inspiring young women since I first arrived and I feel like we’ve all had an opportunity to get to know each other. The girls and even a couple boys that I have met while in New York have traveled anywhere from a 15 minute cab ride to a 22 hour plane ride just for this event.

The stories shared this week have brought all of us to a certain understanding and I know that I will never forget the true stories and raw feelings we all shared. My greatest connections made during the week came primarily with the girls from Plan International. Working with them was the best part of the conference. They told Hannah, Olivia and I all about their village lives as well as their private lives. We had some of the most in-depth conversations about countless random topics. I almost want to say that saying goodbye to them was, emotionally, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

I wasn’t really able to spend a lot of time with the girls today, due to our flight home. The girls slept in this morning so I was only able to give a quick hug and exchange my information. I wasn’t even able to say goodbye to one of the girls. I held it together pretty well but once I stepped into the streets it really hit me that I may never see those girls again. At that point, I couldn’t stop my tears.

The CSW has been an experience I will never forget. Not a day will go by without me thinking about one of the girls I met here or an event from New York. I hope that someday I will be able to participate in something like the CSW, again. Until then, I am going to share my experiences and aim to leave my mark starting locally, taking it nationally and ultimately globally. The CSW has changed my goals and I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of the 56th conference.

Olivia Pecora, me (Sophia Templin) and Hannah Sands at the Plan International Reception. For the last week, we have been spending time with the 9 girls from all over the world and introducing them to technology. Olivia has taken noted at events, Hannah has taken video and pictures and I run the @plan_youth twitter account. The three of us have really gotten to know the girls on a personal level and there is no doubt that we will miss every single one.

Olivia and Hannah (Girls Learn International)
Me (Girl Scouts)

A preview of a song the girls will be singing later tonight!

We choose our right to fight against violence joining our means and minds, our hands and heart to fight for our right. Violence against children and gender discrimination, together we will conquer.
(A song written by Fabiola. “A message on violence and gender discrimination. We have a song to sing; a message forth we bring. Carry by our young wings- building of living skills, it’s a choice to live our lives as girls belong all pride to fight against all vice and choose what never dies we choose our right.”)

Girl Scouts and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts group after brunch this morning! Add your voice to stop violence at www.stoptheviolencecampaign.com. Listen, discuss, share, talk. Girls’ voices should not be a whisper, they should be a shout.

Thando Nzimande, a youth delegate from The Grail organization

A banner at the “Bringing it Home” alumni panel.

The Plan group at the “So what about boys?” event last night. The panel was held at the North Lawn Building in the United Nations. Live tweets for each event Plan girls attend can be found on Twitter by following @planglobal and @plan_youth.

This video was shared at the “Bringing it Home: Youth Delegates Share the Impact of the CSW” event held today. The video was compiled of footage from CSW alumni.

Teresa and Fatmata are dressed in African dresses made of Brilon and Gara. Girl Scouts are wearing uniforms today.