Alexandra Plack of Manchester traveled to Peru for Girl Scout seminar
MANCHESTER, NH – Empowering the next generation of girls with the leadership practices and mindsets they need to succeed is the goal of the Juliette Low Seminar, and Alexandra Plack, 28, of Manchester, traveled to Peru in November to take part in this global gathering of Girl Scout and Girl Guide volunteers. The seminar, Leading Out Loud, was held in 20 countries simultaneously, through the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
The seminar is an international leadership development program in which participants spend a week with their peers in Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding, exploring ways to break gender barriers to leadership, developing their own leadership practice, and creating a plan to reach 100 girls in their local area while enjoying the adventure of a lifetime.
Plack joined with young women from Australia, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Portugal, Sweden, and other countries at a Girl Scout campground in Lima. She took part in discussions, workshops, and camaraderie with her sister Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to get to know each other, the issues women face in their respective countries, and then brainstorm ways to make sure the Girl Scouts they mentor can take on leadership roles.
“We have to do the 100 Girls Project,” she said. “How can you reach 100 girls?” Plack is working on a way to tailor her project so that she can meet with individual troops on topics like self-confidence or the law. One of the women in her group wants to address domestic violence in her country.
“The seminar was particularly interesting,” said Plack. “This was the first year they had multiple locations.” Each hub, as the individual groups were called, was able to video chat with other hubs around the world to share their ideas.
“Though we were all from so many different countries,” she said, “we all realized that our countries still struggle with gender equality and it gave us so much to talk about and bond over. It was also amazing to have the chair of WAGGGS, Ana Maria Mideros with us the whole time! She was very inspirational and took the time to connect with each of us.”
The women took time to spend a day out in the community during the seminar, traveling about an hour and a half to a school. “We taught the girls a lesson called Free Being Me (from WAGGGS) and ate lunch with them. That was my favorite day because we were able to see where these people lived, hear their stories and really connect with them.”
Plack is an assistant with Manchester Girl Scout Troop 51793, which is a Brownie/Junior troop. Brownies are in second and third grades, and Juniors are in fourth and fifth grades. Upon her return, Plack did a presentation to the Girl Scouts about her trip, teaching them songs and games from Peru. She said she hopes to bring her presentation to at least 100 Girl Scouts over the coming year.
Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912, launching what would become a global mission to empower girls and women. Today, there are 2.6 million Girl Scouts (1.8 million girls and 800,000 adult members) in 92 countries, and more than 50 million alums, united across distance and decades by lifelong friendships, shared adventures, and the desire to do big things to make the world a better place. Volunteers like Alexandra Plack make it possible for Girl Scouts to mentor girls, helping them to develop essential life skills and confidence that will last a lifetime.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
