Outreach projects earn 2 Scouts praise

Winnifred “Wynne” Gallogly and Kyra Uramoto noticed resources missing in their communities and decided to take action.

For their respective efforts to establish an anonymous way for students to report bullying and a support group for kids who have a sibling with an intellectual disability, the two Girl Scouts, both 18, have earned the prestigious Gold Award — the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.

Gallogly, creator of a bullying report form at Mililani High School, said, “I was sort of angered into it.”

Two of Gallogly’s friends suffered from severe bullying in middle and high school, which led one to transfer schools and almost pushed the other to suicide. “My friend leaving was the final push. I just thought, ‘This is ridiculous, I don’t have any tolerance for bullying.’”

While reviewing bullying policies, Gallogly came across the Hawaii Safe Schools Act, which requires schools to have an anonymous method for students to report incidents. Noting that Mililani High School had no such method, she decided to make one.

Gallogly’s Be The Voice You Want To Hear Project includes a Google form into which students can type in the details of an incident, including those involved, and attach evidence such as screenshots, texts and photos.

Initially, she said, the school’s administrators paid little attention to her project idea. But that changed after Gallogly sent emails to area representatives and senators, seeking support. After a year and a half of work and research, her form was implemented in August.

During the fall semester, 17 reports were filed — compared to 10 reports filed for the entire previous school year. Reports are sent to the vice principals, who handle disciplinary matters.

Previously, students had to speak directly with administrators to report bullying. That’s something Gallogly herself has done, but she said that not all students have the confidence or feel it is safe to do.

“Students don’t want to be seen going in and complaining, and oftentimes the friends of the reported might go after the victim again,” she explained. “But if you report it anonymously, they don’t have to be seen and can avoid retaliation from other students.”

Gallogly, who graduated last month, has submitted Be The Voice You Want To Hear to the state Department of Education for consideration to be used statewide.

Meanwhile, Uramoto, a Punahou School alumna, found inspiration for her Scouting Gold Award project through personal experiences, creating a support group for siblings of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

As a 14-year-old freshman, she initiated the Sibling Support Project and later participated in the group for two years. Uramoto has a younger brother with autism.

“I run into some pretty interesting situations daily, especially in public,” Uramoto said. “Sometimes I don’t know what to say or do about the way people interact with my brother.” Before launching her project, there were no such groups available, she said: “There was no outlet for me to ask questions because I couldn’t find anyone else in the same situation.”

Uramoto said the sibling support group serves as a place for children and teens to ask questions, discuss experiences and make new friends.

“To come out and say: ‘My brother jumps up and down and flaps his hands, what do I do?’ would be weird to other people. They might judge,” she said. “But at the group I didn’t feel weird. That’s the whole point.”

Among the questions the group has discussed: “What do you do when people in public stare?” Uramoto said she used to just ignore it, but the support group has encouraged her to speak up on her brother’s behalf.

She said the support group can be especially beneficial for younger children who may not understand why they get less attention than their sibling with a disability.

In addition, Uramoto created a website with how-to instructions for creating a support group. The Autism Society of Hawaii is now operating the sibling support group.

Uramoto and Gallogly are among 14 Girl Scouts in the islands who recently earned the Gold Award, given to scouts who create sustainable, community-oriented projects. Nationwide, some 6 percent of scouts receive the Gold Award.

“Completing projects for the award is so time consuming, but also so rewarding,” Gallogly said. “Doing something that’s really selfless … (can) make a huge impact on yourself and on your community.”