Girl Scouts earn Silver Award while helping those with Down syndrome

A little girl with Down syndrome inspired two Girl Scouts to create sensory carts filled with art supplies for a facility that provides therapeutic and educational programming to those of all ages with the chromosomal disability.

Cadette Girl Scouts Maddie Engblom and Ella Godun, both 14 years old and members of Rancho Bernardo Troop 8907, said they learned more about the disability and leadership while working on their Silver Award project that required each of them to contribute a minimum of 50 volunteer hours in order to earn Girl Scouting’s second-highest honor. They also had to fulfill other requirements.

Part of their project included creating two sensory carts filled with art supplies, paints, shaving cream, glue, chalk, beads and other items so those of all ages can use the items to create craft projects while improving their fine motor skills. The girls also created a project idea book to provide suggestions on how to use the supplies.

Engblom, now a freshman at Rancho Bernardo High School, and Godun, a freshman at Westview High School, said they raised nearly $1,000 to create the carts for GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego. It is part of a network of 38 Down syndrome achievement centers throughout the United States and Mexico. The Pacific Beach-based center opened earlier this year.

It provides free therapeutic, educational and career training programs and promotes global acceptance of those with the disability through its Generation G Campaign to “empower families by maximizing opportunities for daily achievement and lasting acceptance,” according to its website.

Engblom said they learned about GiGi’s Playhouse through her mother’s best friend, whose 4-year-old daughter, Gia Palomino, has Down syndrome. Gia does not let the disability define her, the girls said.

“We don’t want her or any child to grow up in a world where discrimination and bullying is allowed,” they said.

Befriending those with challenges is something that especially appeals to Engblom, who as a student at Bernardo Heights Middle School was a member of the Best Buddies club and said she plans to join the organization in high school. Best Buddies pairs students with their challenged peers and every Thursday they ate lunch together.

Godun said prior to their project she did not realize the extent of the issues those with Down syndrome face, including with their fine and gross motor skills, and part of their project’s goal was to raise awareness of their challenges.

“Oftentimes people with Down syndrome don’t get the same opportunities at work and school that other people get, and kids and teens with Down syndrome are three times more likely to get bullied,” they said. In addition to raising nearly $1,000 to create the sensory carts they shared information about GiGi’s Playhouse’s Generation G Campaign that encourages people to take action to be better by promising to be accepting, generous, kind, see no differences, have someone’s back and challenge oneself.

Part of their outreach occurred while speaking to four Rotary Clubs — Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Bernardo Sunrise, Pacific Beach and San Diego. Each club gave a financial contribution to the girls’ project. The girls also raised money through babysitting.

“I learned a lot of leadership skills, money management and how to be confident with people I don’t know,” Engblom said.

“This was such a great opportunity,” Godun said. “Those who feel they can’t do too much, especially at my age, can do so. ... I hope we did help the community and GiGi’s Playhouse.”

Both girls recently advanced to Senior Girl Scouts. They have been in the organization for 10 years, joining as Daisy Girl Scouts in kindergarten.