Girl power musters to protect planet

The Alcoa Foundation in the US is sponsoring nearly 700 girl scouts and girl guides from 12 countries within the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to "twin" together on local and global environmental "Take Action" projects.

All of the projects will engage at least 400 additional youth, and more than 200 Alcoa employees across more than six countries have already served as volunteers. The girls are partnering to reduce waste, conserve energy, and plant rain gardens as part of the Together Greening programme.

In an initiative that embodies the environmental mantra "Think Global, Act Local," throughout July and August, more than half of the 20 groups will travel to meet their "twins" and see firsthand the environmental and societal challenges faced by their "twin" group.

"Traveling to other countries and working side by side with peers from different backgrounds provides many meaningful opportunities for young women to become active environmental ambassadors and, more broadly, learn about new cultures and gain valuable leadership skills," said Paula Davis, president, Alcoa Foundation.

The 12 countries with girls participating in the Together Greening project include: Australia, Brazil, China, Guinea, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Suriname, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US.