Muslim Girl Scouts of Utah
What is Muslim Girl Scouts: First and most important it is an organization only for Girls. It is a safe, nurturing, fun, exciting environment in which the girls can improve their character, learn new skills, gain confidence and learn their Islamic values but while having fun.
? Girl Scouts of the USA Mission Statement?.
? ?.We do dedicate ourselves to the purpose of inspiring
Girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, Patriotism and service that they may become happy
And resourceful citizens.?
---Constitution of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Preamble?
The Muslim Girl Scouts of Utah promotes the Girl Scouts sprit and mission through Islam.
Why is there a need for such an organization?
We wanted to start a program for Muslim children, where they can actively and productively participate in an activity in which they have fun but are still learning Islamic values.
We all want our children to grow with a healthy mind and good moral values. Islam teaches all we need to know to have a complete life. This Girl Scouts program gives us a fun way to instill these Islamic values in our children and get the message across to them.
It is a common fact that if and when we have to send our children in the community at large we do not have control over what they are exposed to. But on the other hand, if our children are in a controlled environment in which we know what they are going to be exposed to, we can be at ease with their involvement in the organization.
Of course, while The Muslim Girl Scouts of Utah are trying our best to provide this environment for the Muslim children, we will continue to need the help of Allah (SWT) to succeeded in our mission and we will need the prayers from the community.
Setup of Muslim Girl Scout of Utah:
The girls are placed in groups according to their age and grade in school. We will take girls from age 7-17.
Group Grade in School (2005-2006)
Brownies- Grades 1-3
Juniors- Grade 4-6
Cadettes- Grade 7-8
Seniors- Grade 9-12
Plans for the summer of 2005 and School year September 2005- June 2006:
1. Host a 4-day Summer Camp to introduce the community to the Girl Scouts.
(See attached)
2. September 2005- Start bimonthly meetings with each group of Girl Scouts held by Troop leaders and their co-leaders.
Planned meetings, which help girls achieve the mission of Girl Scouts. Sample meetings consist of:
1. A Simple startup activity and welcoming of Girls by leaders and co-leaders - games, journal writings.
2. Opening ceremony- Surah Fatiha and opening Dua, flag and Girl Scout promise.
3. Discuss Business- discuss activities they are interested in, plan activities.
4. Main Activities- chosen activities according to Girl Scouts handbooks, leaders? guide and safety handbooks but these will be related to Hadiths and beliefs of Islam. These help girls earn badges or pins. For example to give Zakat and our belief of helping our community: A community service project in which the girls will visit or help a community Hospital (Children?s ward), senior center.
5. Cleanup- Girls participate in and share responsibilities of cleaning up.
6. Closing Ceremony- Girls recite a Dua, go over the Girl Scout Promise.
Uniforms:
The uniforms are being preferred because it will give us a sense of identity and unity (InshAllah). All girls will wear their Girl Scout Sashes, White/Cream Hijab, White Shirt and Jeans, Skirt or blue pants.
Cost of Summer Camp and beyond:
1. Uniforms for the girls. $300.00
(Expected girl (inshAllah) 25x $12=300)
2. Girl Scout books for the girls and the leaders/co-leaders. $120.00 ($30 each set x 4 groups= 120.00)
Summer Camp expenses for activities & Food. $630.00 (Just an average each activity is costing us per girl but we have to included ourselves so I averaged it)
{$17(12 activities+ 5 food) x 25=425
+ 17(leaders/co leaders) x 12=204 == $630}
3. Arts and Craft supplies. $250.00 (Average)
4. Basic supplies-paper products for snacks, project supplies, etc. $150.00 (Average)
============= $1450
These are estimated amounts, they may change once we have all the girls signed up and actually go through the summer camp. InshAllah, we will be distributing balance sheets to all interested parents and community members once our organization starts.
September 2005-June 2006:
Each girl will be asked to pay $15 a month to run the troop for activities.
Any additional funds that we may need will have to come from fundraising and donations.
Request for donations from the community:
The Girl Scout organization is a volunteer funded and run group. If the Girls, as a troop want to go on a particular activity, they need to fund it themselves. The girls, as a troop, with the help of their leaders and co leaders help raise funds by various fundraising projects. These projects, such as the annual Cookie sale event is setup by Girl Scouts of America and helps the troop gain a large share of their funding for the year.
The Muslim Girl Scout of Utah troop is a brand new organization. We are starting our new year in the June 2005 (InshAllah), we have missed the cookie sales and need the communities help in starting the organization. We need funds so we can get a good start for this group (InshAllah). Any question be answered by the following sisters:
Shazia Faizi @ (801) 587-0201 or [email protected]
Jazak Allah Khair,
Muslim Girl Scouts of Utah