My Experience at the UN

By Samantha, 13, California

Have you always wanted to make a difference in the world? Read how Samantha, a Cadette Girl Scout from California attended the UN's Commission on the Status of Women in February. It's a great example of advocating for issues you feel passionately about.

New Year's Eve was a night of change. Aside from heralding in 2007, I received a call from Dr. Ricki Kantrowitz, a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) representative for WFMH (World Federation for Mental Health). A month or so before, Ricki had invited me, pending approval of the rest of her committee, to be a delegate for WFMH at the United Nations 51st annual Commission on the Status of Women, (CSW) that was to be held in New York City. Ricki had selected me because she knew of my great interest in ethnicity and other cultures. For the first time in 51 years, CSW had decided to focus also on the status of the "girl-child," with the theme, "making girls visible."

Well, on New Year's night, I found I was accepted to be a delegate for WFMH. The Commission itself, which officially started February 26, was still roughly two months away, and since I'm a Cadette, I had wondered whether GSUSA or WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) had any representatives going. I emailed GSUSA asking this very question. A few weeks later, I received a reply from Jin In, with the Global Action Unit at GSUSA headquarters in New York.

While at CSW, I had the opportunity to meet with not only Jin but other representatives of WAGGGS and the Global Action Unit. Some of the WAGGGS delegates were Girl Guide ministers from Lebanon, Korea, Australia, England, Uganda, and Canada.

As one of 5,000 CSW delegates, I attended caucuses, panels, discussions and social gatherings where people were united in helping women and girls affected by issues such as health, finance, war, education, slavery, forced early marriage and childbirth, and empowerment strategies.

Some of these women NGOs were so completely dedicated to improving women's welfare. To meet women (and a few men) with such passion and courage was incredibly powerful and inspiring.

In addition, I encountered a Girl Guide at the Commission who was from the Caribbean and was literally crying at the opportunity to have an education. I met another girl from Thailand, who was 17. Halfway through my week long stay at the Commission, I found out she had been liberated from sexual trafficking.

You might think these problems only affect countries other than the United States. However, this happens in America, too. In Los Angeles, near where I live, there is a shelter for people that have been trafficked into California.

At CSW, we were repeatedly asked, "What are you going to do when you leave here?" Because of my exposure to the UN, my interest in improving global awareness for people within my own community and the world beyond has broadened significantly. I feel compelled to spread and share this knowledge with organizations in my area. Already, I have spoken to my homeschooling group CVH (Conejo Valley Homeschoolers), the Wisdom Seekers (an educational group in my area), my Girl Scout Service Unit and troops from my county.

Using this newfound insight, I can be more empathic towards the world around me, and hopefully I can make a difference.

This is my goal, one step at a time.