The Gold Award is the most prestigious honor a Girl Scout can receive. It requires thoughtfulness, planning and dedication. Perhaps the most valuable lesson learned during the process is the importance of seeing something to the finish.

Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Sophia Najeebi ’25 accomplished all of the above, and then some.

For her Gold Award project, Sophia made “Craft and Caring Boxes” for children who are members of Christina’s House, a Christian-based nonprofit in Springfield, Massachusetts, that provides support to women and children who are homeless or near homelessness. Most impressively, both churches that Sophia attends have already agreed to continue the project upon its completion.

Quotes from Sophia

On why she stayed in Girl Scouts to the finish: "It has always been a significant part of my life and I didn’t want to give it up, especially after starting in kindergarten. I was determined to earn this award because it holds great meaning for me, and only a few achieve this level of recognition in Girl Scouts."

On what she’s learned from being a Girl Scout: "I learned a variety of essential skills, including communication, teamwork, community service and active involvement. I also gained insights into sustainability and improved my problem-solving abilities. Much of what we do in Girl Scouts revolves around tackling specific challenges. For example, one of my projects before pursuing the Gold Award focused on finding ways to reduce our ecological footprint."

On why she chose to help Christina’s House: "A woman from my church who works at Christina’s House introduced me to the organization. I knew I wanted to get involved in something focused on supporting the local community and helping children. Christina’s House provides assistance and housing for mothers and children in need."

On the details of her project: "Although there are volunteers in this organization who dedicate their time to help with the children, there is a lack of activities. There are activities set up for the children, but not enough. I addressed the root cause by creating these boxes for Christina’s Children. The boxes filled with various clothing items, necessities, crafts, books and inspiring messages allowed the kids and teens to stay engaged and off of social media all while being reminded they are loved and looked out for. My boxes helped to spread positivity and create new opportunities for these kids."

On her goal for the project: "My goal was to uplift the kids, make them feel valued and show them that someone cares about them. To achieve this, I included personalized messages. For the younger children, I focused on educational crafts to encourage them to spend time away from social media."

On the obstacles she faced during her project: "It was difficult because I couldn’t meet the kids face-to-face or get to know them individually, which made it hard to understand what would appeal to each child. I had to select a wide range of interests for the crafts to include in the box. Since this was my first project, I knew it wouldn’t be perfect."

On her project: "I appreciated the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on my own as a teenager. Addressing the challenges of poverty and homelessness is a significant issue, and I was grateful to contribute to the lives of mothers and children in need. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I chose to collaborate and work with others, which was both rewarding and challenging since it was my own project. I had to rely on a variety of skills, such as time management, dedication and budgeting. The experience was also humbling as it reminded me of the privileges I often take for granted, contrasted with the hardships these children face."