Girl Spotlight: Valentina N., Gold Award Girl Scout
Ambassador Girl Scout
Palmetto Bay, FL
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Tennis, golf, chess, pottery, baking, coding, and traveling.
In a word, what does it mean to say, "I am a Girl Scout"?
Empowered
What college do you plan to attend? Have you decided on your major?
I will be attending University of Miami with a Merit Scholarship and majoring in Applied Mathematics.
What is the title of your project?
ISeeHer
Tell us more about your project and how you completed it.
ISeeHer was created to address homeless female hygiene needs in Miami. I partnered with a local established organization called Choose Love/I SEE YOU which has been working with those who face homelessness in Miami for over 12 years. I worked over 140 hours to find and establish partnerships with six local doctors' offices and two other retail businesses to create a steady stream of female hygiene supplies. I achieved this by installing collection baskets for the donations. Every week or two I would collect the filled baskets and repackage them into individual bags to give to the women at our weekly Tuesday evening outreaches.
My project is made sustainable by partnering with the doctors' offices and retail locations with baskets set up with signs for donations. Additionally, the long-term team of volunteers at Choose Love/I SEE YOU are available to collect them when they're full. The baskets have made the process much easier and the steady stream of supplies is more reliable. Because this organization has been helping those who face homelessness for over a decade here in Miami, they have an entire team of full-time and rotating volunteers.
Why is this project important to you? What gave you the inspiration to approach this topic the way that you did?
When I would volunteer to help feed the people facing homelessness in Miami, I noticed that women's menstrual supplies were rarely, if ever, donated. The women sometimes asked me if I had any pads or wipes. When I researched it, I learned that many women who experience homelessness have been through abusive relationships, substance abuse, or mental health challenges. According to the National Organization for Women, the average woman spends about $20 on feminine hygiene products per cycle, adding up to about $18,000 over her lifetime. Women experiencing homelessness often have to choose between buying food and buying menstrual hygiene products. And they often resort to alternative methods to manage their periods such as using socks, plastic bags, strips of cloth, etc., which puts unsheltered women at a high risk for infection. It’s noteworthy that tampons are prohibited as they can lead to infection if for some reason they cannot be changed regularly – which is something I never knew before this project.
The name ‘I SEE YOU’ references the point that even in a person's most vulnerable position, others often overlook them metaphorically or avert their eyes when they physically come in contact with them. I chose to name my branch, ‘I SEE HER’ to be in line with the existing organization while simultaneously clarifying the focus on women. My project matters to me because as a female I can understand their needs. Also, it matters because these women are here in the city where I live and I want to be part of the solution to the problems we face. And, finally, it matters to me because basic human dignity matters to me. My goal is for these women to know that we see them, we hear them, and we are here for them.
What was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
COVID-19 was a big impediment and blocked me from participating directly with homeless women during the pandemic. Additionally, I had to take pictures for my Gold Award documentation, but just a few months earlier, photos of the homeless were forbidden.
I also had difficulties generating donations. I made an Amazon wishlist to collect donations and created a social media page, where I wanted to document the progress and story. I recognized that neither worked well to convey this issue. It worked best in person. Numerous businesses I spoke with also said they were unable to set up a permanent basket and sign for donations.
The fact that I related to this project as a female with monthly menstruation needs kept me going when I often felt like giving up. I would take a break and then come up with new strategies and ideas to make it happen, raise awareness, and connect it to our community so people would be motivated to participate. I had to come up with creative alternatives when something did not go as planned. I researched online, discussed it with my mother and friends about it, and also spoke to my adviser, Freda, as she has been working with Choose Love/I SEE YOU for over a decade and has so much experience.
How does this project contribute to your future goals?
I will always do what I can to help those in need in my community. I also will always be partial to helping women first. I see the value of having female-focused organizations and opportunities in my life. I know that as a society women have come far but we still have a long way to go. My future goals are a continuation of my current goals: to be part of the solution, to answer the call of those in need, and to support my fellow females in any way that I can.
What did you learn about yourself in the process of completing your project?
I learned that I am able to persevere through struggle and that I am able to inspire change in my community. I felt like I ran into different challenges. At times, I was so ready to give up. But I genuinely believe that what kept me going was actually my connection with this issue. I would say what I’ve learned is that taking a break is better than quitting, that sometimes problem-solving requires creativity, and that it takes a community to make things happen. Another thing I learned is that there is so much potential to solve many of society's problems by involving the private sector – it just takes effort and working together.
What did you learn about your community in the process of completing your project?
I learned that people are busier than ever and that when they say no or don't respond to an email, it's not because they don't want to, but rather because they're overwhelmed. I also learned that once we bring awareness to an issue and people understand the scope of the problem, they're much more inclined to support and participate. Finally, I learned that there are lots of opportunities to connect the public and private sectors to solve our problems on a local level. Dealing with big corporations is very difficult, but once I started dealing with independent, local physicians and businesses, I found quite a few who were happy and willing to partner with me.
Has your project received previous awards or accolades?
I received a nomination for a Silver Knight Award. I was also featured in Positive People of Pinecrest for my project.
