Cadettes
LIFE SKILLS
Global Action Award Activity for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors
Film Your Own Story
Showcase challenges girls face around the world and in your community.
Activity Details
Time needed: several days
Materials needed: a smartphone or camera to create your short film
Setup: On International Day of the Girl (IDG), the global community comes together to celebrate the power of girls and to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance the rights of and opportunities for girls everywhere. IDG takes place each year on October 11. Girl Scouts also participates in the 11 Days of Action, starting on October 1, in advance of IDG.
Activity: To celebrate IDG, you will create your own short film about issues girls face.
First, decide on one issue or challenge that you would like to highlight in your video. This would be a good opportunity to survey girls in your community and learn about some of their top challenges. You might send out an online survey to girls in your troop or to friends from school. Then, use the responses to help you pick the challenge you want to focus on.
How will you structure your film? First, do some research on the topic—it might be good to begin your film with an introduction of the topic that you back up with the facts you’ve found. Then, think about how you will show the issue in your community. Are you able to interview some of the girls who participated in your survey? If your smart phone has the option to screen record, feel free to digitally record the interview. Be sure to ask permission to include anyone involved in your video.
Finally, think about how you will conclude the short film. Are there steps your video watchers can take to help eliminate this challenge for girls in your community? Be sure to give your viewers some ideas about how they can help solve this issue.
Reflection: After you have tried something new, such as creating your own short film, it’s a good idea to think about what you learned, what you liked (or didn’t like), and what you might want to do next.
Ask yourself these kinds of questions:
- Did anything surprise you about the girls’ responses? Do you think the issues they cite are similar to what those girls face in other parts of the country and world?
- Did you learn anything new as you were making your film?
- What is your biggest takeaway from the activity?
- What are some steps you and your viewers can take in your community to help solve these issues?
Girl Scout Activity Zone activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming.
Adapted from Global Action Days Toolkit. Purchase the International Day of the Girl patch.
Explore more activities.
