4S Ranch Girl Scout earns Gold Award by helping the homeless

A 4S Ranch Girl Scout tapped into her creativity to help the homeless while also earning her Gold Award.

Ambassador Girl Scout Harpreet Battoo said she worked with the San Diego Rescue Mission on the endeavor, which included organizing and leading a series of 11 workshops for homeless women and children plus other members of the community. The participants learned how to create looms from recycled materials and then used them to make knitted hats, which were donated to the homeless.

“I chose this project because I have a passion for creativity,” Battoo said. “I also wanted to do a project in which I could help the homeless community in whatever way I could.

“I saw an article in the newspaper about a homeless man who had suffered second degree burns when his clothes caught fire from the candle he was using to try to keep himself warm,” she said. “This was one of the events that inspired me to create a project in which I could help provide both an immediate solution to a specific problem and a lifelong useful skill to those who suffer hardship on the streets.”

The Troop 1001 member has been a Girl Scout for 11 years, joining as a Brownie. Battoo previously earned her Silver Award plus a Gold Torch Award. The Gold Award is Girl Scouting’s highest honor.

“I feel that (earning the Gold Award) has been a huge achievement as it has been a long and sometimes challenging process,” Battoo said. “I definitely had to develop my time management skills in order to complete this project alongside school, other extracurricular activities and navigating my way through the college application process.

“I was overwhelmed with how positively the project was received by all who participated in it,” she said. “I am proud that I not only achieved what I set out to do, but also had an impact on other disadvantaged communities outside of the homeless community. Unity4Orphans, for example, has also re-created my project. The project has given me confidence that I have something worthwhile to offer to the people around me.”

Battoo, who recently graduated from Del Norte High School, is headed to the University of California Santa Cruz, where she plans on majoring in biology. She is the daughter of 4S Ranch residents Rupinder Battoo and Nyrmla Battoo.

In addition to Girl Scouts, her other activities and honors have included being named a Nighthawk Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction; president of the National Art Honor Society; a principle artist of The Medical Journal; a peer tutor; and member of National Honor Society, PLUS, Link Crew, Interact Club and Eco Future Club.

As for her favorite Girl Scouting memory, Battoo said it was organizing a Girl Scout camp.

“We made goodie bags for all the participants and put them on their beds for them to find after dinner on our first night of camp,” she said. “We also taught the younger girls how to make lanyards. One of the events we held was a fashion show where each troop had to create an outfit for one of their girls out of recycled newspapers. It was amazing to see the level of creativity.”

Editors note: Throughout the summer, Pomerado Newspapers will profile the five local Girl Scouts presented the Gold Award at the San Diego council’s annual ceremony on June 13.