Aurora Girl Scout makes a global impact with her Gold Award project

Girl Scout Kanshita organizes ethnic clothing drive to help underprivileged communities

Kanshita is not your average high-schooler. At 17 years old, she is already spearheading a project that not only impacts her local community, but also makes a lifechanging difference halfway across the world.

Kanshita is in the process of earning her Gold Award, the highest honor you can achieve in Girl Scouts. For her Gold Award project, she saw an issue in her community and decided to create a solution. In her culture, it is customary to wear traditional Hindu garments for special occasions and holidays, however outside of these events these clothing items tend to primarily take up closet space. Instead of throwing them away, Kanshita wanted to think of a way to repurpose these items that would help those in need.

“Community service has always been an important value to me. This project has opened my eyes to see there’s a very different world out there and I want to do my part to help others in need,” says Kanshita.

For her project, Kanshita decided to partner with HELPP, a non-profit based in India with the sole purpose of bringing change to the lives of underprivileged kids and their struggling families with a long-term solution. Together they came up with a system to transport the previously worn clothing items from Kanshita’s local community to communities in India that could really use them.

Kanshita’s first official clothing drive is being held during Saraswati Puja at East Middle School (1275 Fraser St, Aurora) on Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. All donations will be sent to India and to help give families a better quality life.

Gold Award Girl Scouts also are eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship from GSUSA, which will be awarded to one Colorado Gold Award Girl Scout in 2024.

February 05, 2024