Girl Scouts help South African girls

Area Girl Scouts recently came together to make cards and a bracelets for South African girls as part of a service unit project.

Troop 227 of Newport Beach last fall first learned about the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project (CTAOP) from the Irvine-based Center for Living Peace.

A year later, as part of its work toward a Bronze Award, the troop decided to expand the project. On Nov. 5, a total of 172 Girl Scouts, their parents and passersby created bracelets for the project.

After making these treasures, the Girls Scouts created matching bracelets for themselves.

Troop 227 is made up of eight sixth-grade girls who completed their first journey, “the Agent of Change,” in fifth grade.

The thought was the troop didn’t need to work on badges to have fun. They worked on several community service projects throughout the year, including collecting socks for the homeless, volunteering at a blind pre-school, and donating books for children.

But the project connecting them with girls in South Africa hit home the most.

The Girl Scouts learned that when the girls received their bracelets, they hid them instead of wearing them because they were so special.

They also discovered that Theron, a native South African, has been giving back to her native country since her acting and modeling career took off.

The Center for Living Peace explained that Theron’s group digs wells in villages so that the girls don’t have to walk several miles in dangerous situations to get water. The group also has built soccer fields.

Most importantly, Theron has bought and staffed mobile health units that drive to various villages throughout the year, providing a variety of assistance and creating a festival atmosphere when all the local villages come together to use the services.

Many of the girls said they realize how lucky they have it and how making a bracelet, which is fun, can really put a smile on another girl’s face. They said they hope that it gives the South African girls courage to stay in school, and be healthy and safe.

Troop 227 consists of Bella Anderson, Olivia Bendetti, Olivia Cremo, Miranda Cyr, Tia Grippo, Katherine Long, Abby Redman and Mackenzie Storm.

For more information on CTAOP, visit https://www.charlizeafricaoutreach.org.

MARIA REDMAN is a Newport Beach resident and leader for Troop 227.