HADDONFIELD – Over 150 girls from across Central and Southern New Jersey participated in a one-day program that focused on community engagement, advocacy, and women’s right to vote.
Feb. 9, marked the 100th anniversary of New Jersey’s ratification of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote.
The Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ) partnered with the League of Women Voters Camden County to develop the Voter Girl Project.
According to a release, “Civic education and engagement is a long-standing part of the Girl Scout program. As we encourage young Girl Scouts to become future leaders and change-makers, it is more important than ever that we remember what our Suffragist sisters battled to achieve,” stated Ginny Marino, chief executive officer of GSCSNJ. “Girls start civic engagement from day one in Girl Scouts.”
Each girl who participated in the program earned their level’s Citizenship Badge and a Voter Girl Project fun patch through age-appropriate interactive workshops led by experts from the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
They discussed the importance of voting and real-world issues. They even had a chance to see a voting booth and cast a vote during a voting activity.
“I liked getting to cast my own vote in the booth and making a poster to remind people to vote,” stated Carlie N. from Williamstown.
The program taught girls that even if they are not old enough to vote, they have an important voice.
Kennedy M. from Mount Laurel stated, “I liked making poster signs for our parade. We looked like the protesters on TV.”
“Our organization is proud of this collaboration with the Girl Scouts on this exciting project. The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920, just a few months before the 19th amendment was ratified, finally granting women the right to vote in national elections after a decades-long fight. The League has continued fighting for the past 100 years to expand and protect voting rights and promote civic engagement at any age.
While its mission is to serve all voters, informing and empowering girls and women is of special importance to the League. As someone who participated in Girl Scouts from the Daisy level through high school as a Junior, I truly believe the Voter Girl Project is the perfect way for our League chapters to celebrate this Centennial year while encouraging young women of all ages to be informed and active citizens,” stated Kristin B Burke, President, League of Women Voters of Camden County (NJ).
