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North Texas Girl Scouts Take the Global Stage at the United Nations

Four Girl Scouts, Ellie (Freshman), Rithya (Sophomore), Ella (Freshman), and Shruthi (Sophomore), were selected to represent the council as delegates at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations this past March.

CSW is a global forum dedicated to advancing the rights, opportunities, and empowerment of women and girls. Out of 111 Girl Scout councils nationwide, only five councils were chosen to participate. Selected through a competitive process of essays, written responses, and a panel interview, the delegates demonstrated strong leadership, advocacy, and commitment to gender equality. At CSW70, they attended high-level panels, engaged with international advocates, and contributed their perspectives as youth leaders.

We've asked them each to share about themselves and experience, including how inspired them to continue to make big changes in the world around them.

Meet Ella

Ella is a freshman at Ursuline Academy of Dallas and a proud member of Troop 4540. She joined Girl Scouts in 2nd grade after moving back to the United States from Argentina. Her first troop paused during COVID, but she found her way to Troop 4540 in 5th grade and says she has not looked back. Girl Scouts has now been part of her life for more than seven years.

With her new troop, Ella earned her Bronze Award through a service-unit baking competition they turned into a published cookbook. She cites this as her first real glimpse of what happens when a whole community of Girl Scouts pools their creativity, and says she loved knowing that every recipe in that book carried another girl's name next to it.

For her Silver Award, she founded ListenUpMom! (listenupmom.org), a resource that helps mothers and daughters talk openly about women's hearing health. That project carried her to the United Nations this March as part of the GSUSA delegation to CSW70, where she learned that amplifying girls' voices is about reaching further…not speaking louder.

She is now starting her Gold Award, growing ListenUpMom! into a nonprofit so more families can stay truly connected.

Before you left for NYC, what were you expecting CSW70 to be like and how did the reality compare once you got there?

Honestly, I had no real frame of reference. All I knew was the paperwork behind CSW, so I pictured something formal and distant, maybe boardrooms, business suits, a lot of serious nodding. What I actually walked into was nothing like that. CSW70 was loud in the best way, full of women, girls, and allies from every corner of the world who were not just talking about change, they were building it together. The energy was urgent but hopeful, and it felt less like a conference and more like a movement making room for me. I left certain that my voice, and every girl's voice, belongs in rooms like that one.

Take us back to your first moment walking into the United Nations. What did that feel like, and what was going through your mind?

The first time I walked through the doors, my brain short-circuited a little. The building is massive, the pace is fast, and every person around me was clearly on their way to solve something. I kept thinking, how am I here? Looking back, I was absolutely that girl snapping pictures of every flag and giggling with my delegation over how cool it all was. But underneath the excitement, something shifted. Standing in a place where the world's biggest problems actually get worked on taught me that I can belong in professional spaces too. I came home carrying a kind of confidence I did not have before.

Meet Ellie

Ellie is a lifelong Girl Scout, a Silver and Bronze Award recipient, and Vice President for the CEO Program with Product Sales for Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, where she proudly represents her council as the top Girl Scout Cookie seller. She is also active in student government and is dedicated to making a positive impact in her school and community, with a focus on expanding access to books and literacy. She was chosen to represent Girl Scouts at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, held in New York City in March 2026.

Prior to her departure, she contributed to the delegation’s initiatives, participating in discussions, events, and leadership activities that elevated the voices of young women on an international stage. She collaborated with representatives from NGOs, UN agencies, country missions, youth delegates, and global leaders. She attended side and parallel events on topics including education access in crisis zones; justice reform led by African women and girls; closing justice gaps for survivors of intimate image abuse; women’s participation in peace and government; and the role of technology in expanding women’s access to justice. She also consulted with the Permanent Mission of Ireland and served on the Girls Caucus core group.

In what ways has this experience shaped how you see your own future—whether in your career goals, leadership ambitions, or the impact you want to make?

This experience reshaped how I see my future by turning something that once felt distant into something I know I can pursue. Being at CSW70 showed me that global leadership is real people creating change. Hearing from women around the world made me want to be part of that work.

As a freshman in high school, it solidified my goal to attend the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and pursue international relations. I want to collaborate across countries, advocate for human rights, and expand opportunity globally.

It also strengthened my leadership. I want to share this experience with younger Girl Scouts, encouraging them to use their voices and create change.

Was there a particular speaker, story, or moment that really shifted your perspective or stuck with you? Why?

A moment that really stuck with me was hearing Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda speak at the teen orientation on the first day. One of her quotes, “girls are not dropouts of school, they’re dropped out,” shifted how I think about education and opportunity. It reframed the idea of girls’ education from individual failure to systemic barriers and injustice.

That perspective stayed with me throughout CSW70. It made me more aware of how policies, access, and inequality shape girls’ futures around the world. Her words felt direct and powerful, and they pushed me to think more deeply about the responsibility behind advocacy and the importance of amplifying girls’ voices in every space.

Meet Rithya

Rithya has been a Girl Scout for 10 years now, since she was a Daisy in first grade. Through Girl Scouting, she has participated in troop activities, led service projects, earned her Silver Award for environmental sustainability, and is currently pursuing her Gold Award focused on empowering girls for their future. She has had experiences as a Camp Aide, helping organize large service unit campouts, and participating in cookie and fall product programs. She says these experiences have strengthened her leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills.

Rithya says Girl Scouts has made her more committed to global citizenship and gender equality, values that inspired me to be a GSUSA delegate to UN CSW70. Through advocacy, youth education, Teen Court, and research, she has built on lessons she learned in Girl Scouts. She says being a Girl Scout has helped her grow into someone passionate about justice, service, and creating opportunities for girls everywhere.

From the conversations and panels you took part in, what stood out to you most about the state of girls and young women around the world today?

What stood out most was how girls in conflict zones face invisible struggles beyond physical destruction. Hearing from a girl from Ukraine, I understood that alongside the visible impacts of war, there is a deep psychological toll. Living alongside constant violence, many girls experience grief and fear, while also facing threats like sexual violence from invading forces. The lack of mental health support and justice for survivors allows this fear to persist. These conversations made it clear that during times of war, girls and young women become even more marginalized.

What’s one issue affecting girls globally that you feel more passionate or informed about now than before this trip?

This trip made me especially passionate about ending child marriage. At a side event, "Together, We Can End Child Marriage," I heard advocates and leaders discuss the importance of investing in, educating, and protecting adolescent girls. It highlighted the need for stronger laws, accountability, and more creative approaches to prevent gender-based violence. That experience deepened my understanding and pushed me to stay committed to advocating for the eradication of child marriage.

Meet Shruthi

Shruthi joined Girl Scouts during her freshman year, where she has grown into a leader guided by courage, service, and a commitment to creating meaningful change. She is currently working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, with a project focused on scam awareness for elders through education, resources, and community outreach. A mentor at heart and a varsity debater, Shruthi is passionate about helping others find their voice, build confidence, and advocate for themselves.

She is also involved in Girls Who Code, where she created her own video game and strengthened her skills in programming and problem-solving. In addition, she developed a data analysis program using baseball statistics, connecting her interest in technology with real-world applications. Her work also includes research on AI bias and fairness, reflecting her passion for ethical innovation. Through leadership, STEM, advocacy, and youth engagement, Shruthi is committed to empowering others and building a more equitable future.

How did it feel to represent Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas—and girls in your own community—on a global stage like this?

Representing Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and girls in my community on a global stage felt incredibly empowering and significant. Through experiences like speaking with Girl Scouts Taiwan, contributing to global recommendation discussions, and participating in a mission visit, I saw firsthand how youth voices can belong in international spaces. It reminded me that I was not only sharing my own perspective, but also carrying the voices and hopes of girls from home. CSW70 made me feel proud, inspired, and even more committed to using my voice to advocate for others.

Now that you’re back home, what’s one message or takeaway you want to share with other girls who may hope for an opportunity like this herself one day?

One message I would share with other girls is that your voice matters before you ever enter a big room or stand on a global stage. Opportunities like CSW70 may seem far away, but they begin with saying yes to leadership, speaking up in your community, and believing that your perspective is valuable. I learned that you do not have to wait until you are older to make an impact. Girls belong in spaces where decisions are made, and if you keep showing up with courage, curiosity, and purpose, you can help create change wherever you are.

May 01, 2026