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Empowering Youth: Ava Leone's Journey to Improving Mental Health in Schools
In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, our communities have seen unprecedented challenges, particularly in the mental well-being of school-aged children. Ava Leone, a Gold Award Girl Scout from the Girl Scouts Heart Of New Jersey, has taken a significant step towards addressing this crisis through her remarkable Gold Award project.
Ava’s initiative aims to combat the rising mental health disorders among children, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic and the lack of sufficient mental health resources in schools. With a creative blend of art and education, she has introduced an innovative solution: a mural paired with a mental health activity curriculum, both of which are accessible at no cost on her website, www.tieittoaballoon.com.
The mural, located on the backside of Ridgewood Avenue School in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, features the uplifting phrase, "Tie it to a balloon and let it go." This message, once a comforting advice from Ava’s mother during her own struggles with anxiety, now stands as a beacon of hope and resilience for students. Accompanying the mural, Ava developed a mental health curriculum centered around Bally the Bunny, a character who guides children through various activities designed to help them navigate their mental health challenges.
Ava's inspiration stems from her personal experiences with anxiety as a child and the absence of school-based mental health resources that could have aided her. The curriculum she has crafted reflects the kind of support she wished for during her own struggles, with activity pages aimed at helping children understand and manage their mental health.
A Girl Scout for the past twelve years, Ava credits the organization with instilling in her the values of leadership, service, and personal growth. Her journey through the Girl Scout programs, including the Girl Scout Journey, Silver Award, and ultimately the Gold Award, has not only bolstered her confidence but also shaped her into an entrepreneur. Presently studying entrepreneurship at Oberlin College, Ava reflects on how the skills and values she gained from Girl Scouts have been instrumental in her academic and professional pursuits.
Ava’s Gold Award project is a testament to the sustainable impact that Girl Scouts can make in their communities. The curriculum’s availability for free download ensures its accessibility, while its adoption by three different school districts and the nonprofit organization City Serves highlights its effectiveness. Ava continues to dedicate her time to volunteering in schools across New Jersey and Oberlin, Ohio, further extending the reach of her project.
Ava Leone’s project is a shining example of how Girl Scouts are empowered to address critical issues in their communities, fostering a healthier, more resilient future for all. Her work not only aids those directly affected by mental health challenges but also serves as an inspiration to others, demonstrating the profound impact one individual can have on the world around them.
April 02, 2024
