Summer Is Here and Safety Is Key

July 1, 2003

	Dominique Dawes tells a group of 8- to 14-year-olds the importance of finding the real you.

To help children stay safe this summer, Unilever employees teamed up with Girl Scouts to encourage children to make wise choices. Research conducted by the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) shows that low self-esteem, a dilemma facing many girls today, often manifests itself in the form of eating disorders, depression, risky sexual behaviors, and substance abuse.

This past spring, Girl Scouts and Unilever employees worked together to empower children and help them build self-esteem. In May, uniquely ME! Making Smart Choices events were held nationwide to educate youth about the pitfalls of engaging in unsafe activities like smoking, drinking, and risky sexual behavior, all of which are linked to low self-esteem.

Girl Scouts and Unilever employees created kits filled with information and products to encourage kids to make good decisions over the summer. Materials on self-esteem, fire, traffic and cycling safety, tips on healthy eating, personal hygiene, and general wellness are included. In addition, a Kids Care fingerprint kit and a local activity guide for parents are being distributed. The kits are also donated to agencies that provide services to children and teens in need.

Sponsored in collaboration with Unilever, uniquely ME! The Girl Scout/Unilever Self-esteem Program is designed to foster self-esteem among tween and teenage girls, with a special emphasis on girls in underprivileged communities. The uniquely ME! program supports girls in acquiring and developing the skills necessary to face life's challenges. Using English and bilingual English/Spanish uniquely ME! activity booklets, girls take part in exercises that address recognizing one's strengths, dealing with peer pressure, healthy eating habits, hygiene, general wellness, and understanding one's core values and personal interests.

Year-Round Efforts Boosted by Dominique Dawes

For many adults, April 15 was just another tax day, but for 150 Girl Scouts from Connecticut April 15 was uniquely ME! Day. These 8- to 14-year-olds listened attentively as Olympic gold Medal list and gymnastic superstar Dominique Dawes told them how important it is to find and value the real you.

Just spending a day at a Girl Scout camp was a whole new experience for these girls, most of whom were from urban areas. In addition to meeting Dominique, they played games with parachutes, sang songs, learned first-aid techniques, and created uniquely ME! collages made up of pictures highlighting each individual girl's strengths and interests.

As the national spokesperson for the program, Ms. Dawes is visiting with Girl Scouts across the United States talking about the importance of building self-confidence and a healthy self-image.

One highlight of the uniquely ME! grant-funded experience in Connecticut was clearly meeting the three-time member of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team. In responding to a girl's question about whether she ever gets nervous or worried, Dawes stated, "I've been nervous about almost everything I've done, from going to practice to competing. You get butterflies in your stomach every time you do something you care about, but they eventually flutter away."

When asked about the number of medals she's won, Dawes modestly didn't mention she's won more championships than any other gymnast, male or female. Instead she told the kids what really matters to her is having the chance to make a difference in someone's life. "If I can help you believe in yourself, that is what counts, that is what will make my day!"

Beating the Holiday Blues

Many children are unable to experience the fulfillment of giving even the simplest gifts to their loved ones, friends, and family, or to ask for the items they themselves would like. These circumstances can leave children feeling the "holiday blues" and lower their self-esteem. uniquely ME! Holiday Gift Marketplace events enable local Girl Scout councils and Unilever employees to support children in local communities around the nation. Children were provided with gifts to give to loved ones, friends, and family.

For the upcoming 2003 holiday season, Dominique Dawes will lend a hand at several of the 13 locations. Girl Scouts and Unilever employees will get involved by volunteering at the event itself or by purchasing presents for the children—presents that the children can later give to loved ones.

For more information about the uniquely ME! program, call (800) GSUSA 4 U.