The Girl Scouts of the USA represent a lot more than a lot of swag badges, not to mention over a million young women. Recently, Girl Scouts of Greater New York added Troop 6000 to their roster of groups in New York City. The thing is, though, Troop 6000 is different from the other area troops: Each of the 15 members all live in the same homeless shelter in Queens — the very same borough I live in, making me all the more eager to share the stories of 10 of the Troop's brave, brilliant, and hilarious girls on a two-day photo shoot for Teen Vogue.
Established in March through a partnership between the City’s Department of Homeless Services and the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, the group was recently rewarded with a ton of funds, expanding the program to at least 500 girls and women across the five boroughs of the city. It was NYC's Mayor, Bill deBlasio, who granted Troop 6000 one million dollars to be used throughout the next three years. Which is a far cry from where Giselle Burgess, Troop 6000's Leader, thought when she started the group. "There was only eight girls, including my three, so there was only like five other girls that came," she tells Teen Vogue. I was like, 'I don't know if this is going to work.' Yeah, I was like, 'I don't know.' So, I was like, 'Well, we've got eight, it's something.'"
Gap top, $14.95. gap.com. L’Enchanteur earrings, $65. lenchanteur.co. On Karina: Gap top, $14.95. gap.com. own bracelet.
So you can imagine that in July, when awarded the funding, Giselle was more than emotional. "Having a Girl Scout troop in a shelter brings joy to girls, but more than that, it helps prepare them for success in school, in their communities and for the future," she said at a press conference. The proof is within the three of her daughters alone — Hailey, 14; Karina, 12; and Christina, 8 — not to mention the seven other girls, ages 5 to 15, who joined Teen Vogue for the day.
"I think they're all finding their character. I think they're all finding out their identity, who they are and what they are capable of," Giselle says of the Troop. "Because a lot of these girls came in like, 'I can't do it, I don't know how to do it, I'm not going to ... I don't know what I want to ...' and they know now. They know what they are capable of, they know how far that they can be pushed, they know that they pushed further than they think they can be pushed. They're ready to own it. They own everything that they do. They know that they can do it. If one gives up, not too far behind are two other ones that say yes you can, you can do it."
After the two-day shoot, I was not only blown away by how smart and kind the girls were, but also at how much they've learned and matured under Giselle's leadership. See why for yourself.
"At the beginning, when it all started, I actually didn't like Girl Scouts. I gave it up. But I felt bad and thought, 'I"ll give it a try again.' Now, [I love] being able to share with them. I'm not a very happy person — I'm always in that type of mood, but with [Troop 6000], I learned how to socialize with people, I learned how to talk with people. They're my sisters." — Genesis, 15
"Making friends is my favorite part of being in Troop 6000. I have almost 30 sisters now!" — Christina, 8
"I love that we're all the same. We wear similar stuff and do similar things. It's so much fun." — Phoenix, 11
"Earning all these patches as a part of Troop 6000 feels great. Plus, I get to look up to the older girls and help the younger ones." — Jessica, 11
"I've gotten to experience so many things I never would have been able to if it wasn't for Troop 6000. We all went canoeing for the first time last week, and to a Liberty (WBNA) game, too." — Kiara, 10
"Being a part of Troop 6000 is very special to me, because all the girls in my troop, we're very different from other girls in different troops because we don't have a home. What's been the best is how things at our home have changed, because before when there was no Troop 6000, everyone was in their rooms and no one knew each other, and we didn't really talk to each other, we just passed by the halls and just look at each other. But now, when we see each other in the hallway we get all excited, and are all like, "Hi!." — Karina, 12
"The Friday meetings are my favorite because I know I can count on seeing all of my friends, I mean sisters, there." — Addison, 9
"I want to become a Girl Scout as soon as I turn six!"— Shailese, 5
"I definitely think of the older girls are role models and friends — they always take care of us and make sure we're together, like when we all stayed together in the same bunk on our camping trip." — Brianna, 8
"Being in Troop 6000 has given me more confidence. I'm not as scared anymore. Because, as the Girl Scouts have taught me, no more matter who you are, where you live, or what your situation is, we're all equal. " — Hailey, 14
You can donate to Troop 6000 by visiting the Girl Scouts of Greater New York or clicking here.
Related: Here's Everything You Should Know About Troop 6000
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