A group of young ladies in Henry County are working to educate young people about municipal government in McDonough.

Girl Scout Troop No. 15005 is preparing to implement McDonough 101 Jr. The group began working last year toward achieving the highest Girl Scout Junior Award called the Bronze Award.

The girls launched the project, as fourth- and fifth-graders, said Troop Leader Shawana Wright.

“This project focuses on empowering, educating and engaging the local community ages 6-14 on the function of local government daily activities,” said Wright. “Children and their parents will have the opportunity to have a sneak peek behind the scenes of how the City runs its various departments.”

Young people in the program will be taught by representatives of the McDonough Police and Fire departments, as well as public works and other agencies within city government.

Wright said the purpose of the program is to “educate young school-age kids on the importance of government in their local community of McDonough.”

“It’s mirroring the McDonough 101 program,” she said. “The only difference is that it’s going to be for young people, and we’re going to be catering to young minds.”

Wright said a former leader of the troop, Samantha Samuels, helped initiate McDonough 101 Jr., with five Girl Scouts from Henry County, who are now in fifth and sixth grade. Those Girl Scouts include Maliyah Cunningham, Kayla Hopson, Gracelyn Jenkins, Katelyn McMillan and Wright’s daughter, Shamara Vera.

Troop members, in September, presented the program to McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland and the City Council, said Wright.

”The girls are extremely excited,” she said. “Every councilmember agreed that this would be beneficial for the community. Mayor Copeland and the council said they did a really good job of presenting themselves.”

Wright said the legwork of preparing the program is already done, and that the girls will be implementing it in the near future.

McDonough Mayor-elect Sandra Vincent, who is also a former Girl Scout, began working with the troop on McDonough 101 Jr. at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vincent expressed pride in the troop’s collective desire to learn more about city government.

“Having young people engaged in government is extremely important,” said Vincent. “A youth-led program will help to foster both civic engagement and civic pride. I am thrilled, and look forward to working with the girls as they fulfill the mandate of the Girl Scout Law and Creed.”

Each quarter, city departments will conduct classes outlining their duties in the local government. In one class per year, said Wright, a Girl Scout Troop will teach a class on the importance of community service to build awareness.

Samuels said the endeavor is designed to expose young people to how their government works. This, she said, includes informing them about everything from how their water runs, to where their money goes.

“I’m passionate about government, and I’m passionate about young people,” said Samuels. “I grew up in Guyana, South America. We always knew the basics of life. Kids today don’t know the basics of life, because everything is provided for them.”

Samuels said participants in McDonough 101 Jr. will be able to educate themselves about government, rather than relying on what their parents teach them.

“It’s really about giving them more exposure and appreciation for how things work in their local government,” she said.
Classes will be for two hours each, with a 15-minute break. Snacks will be served for all children in attendance.

Wright added that classes will be conducted in a “movie setting” to increase interest for school-age children. If a class cannot be held in person due to COVID-19, a virtual-class setting will be offered. Wright said she is proud of her Girl Scouts for their accomplishment. She, on behalf of her troop, expressed gratitude to city leaders for their belief in the program.