WRITE A LETTER; SAVE A LIFE; EARN A BADGE !

PEGGY AMATANGELO, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND MOTHER OF AIUSA HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST GINA AMATANGLEO, DESCRIBES HOW SHE WORKED WITH SCOUTS, USING AIUSA'S CHILDREN'S EDITION URGENT ACTION.

The 22 sixth graders that comprise Cadette Girl Scout troop #1552 in Pennsylvania and their leaders, Suzanne Carson, Debbie Weber, and Elizabeth Webber, asked me, Peggy Amatangelo, to assist the troop in its "Desktop Publishing Individual Patch Project."*

I have served Girl Scouts for over a quarter of a century as a Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Troop leader, Neighborhood Consultant, as well as in my own scouting years. As an Instructional Computer Tech for a middle school; I was delighted to be invited to assist the girls in this endeavor.

One of the requirements for completion of this badge is to participate in a Service Project where girls create cards for a special group. I introduced the troop to Amnesty International USA's AIKids website for children which featured a Children's Edition Urgent Action about 17-year-old Rafik Miya and I suggested the girls practice their letter writing and editing skills by composing letters to the Ambassador of Nepal of behalf of Rafik Miya, a street merchant, missing since January 17, 2004.

The troop really enjoyed this activity. The scouts practiced their newly-learned skills of gaining information from a website, and then writing a business letter, creating a letterhead, and proofreading. When these little girls fully understood the plight of Rafik Miya, and made their demands to the Ambassador clearly known in their letters — he probably shook in his boots! The scouts were also reminded to appreciate the safety and personal freedoms we enjoy in the United States. Just as importantly, the girls learned that young people can make a difference in our world and make the world a better place! We may have created a few much - needed activists for life from this group of scouts.

*This service project does not necessarily express the views of the Girl Scouts – Trillium Council, or indicate an endorsement of Amnesty International as an organization.