Local Girl Scout Earns Award for Project Addressing Period Poverty and Stigma
Warwick, R.I. (June 6, 2025)— Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England is excited and proud to announce that Olivia D’Ambra from Providence, RI has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting.
Olivia D’Ambra
For her Gold Award project, Olivia addressed period poverty and the stigma surrounding menstruation, a systemic issue that affects students’ education, mental health, and access to opportunity. Many students are forced to miss school or suffer in silence due to lack of access to menstrual products or the shame often associated with having a period. Olivia wanted to change that starting with her own school, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA).
Her project had three core components. The first was education. To address this, she hosted screenings of the documentary ‘Period. End of Sentence.’, which were followed by guided discussions, encouraging students to explore topics like gender equity, the pink tax, and stigma. Olivia also created informational brochures with actionable steps for advocacy. The second component to her project was access. Olivia coordinated the installation of menstrual product dispensers in every school bathroom to provide free and discreet access for all students. Finally, sustainability. Olivia worked with TAPA’s administration to integrate the film and discussion into the school’s health curriculum, ensuring that this important conversation continues every year.
Throughout the project, Olivia not only created change in her community, but also found a deeper sense of purpose. She discovered how much she enjoys research, advocacy, and creating spaces for important conversations.
“Being a Gold Award Girl Scout changed how I see the world and myself. Through this experience, I learned that I could make meaningful changes, even when the issues feel overwhelming or systemic. Tackling period poverty and menstrual stigma taught me not only about advocacy and leadership, but also about empathy and the importance of listening to others’ stories. This project showed me that real change takes time, effort, and a willingness to keep pushing, even when obstacles arise. I faced delays, communication challenges, and moments of frustration, but I also saw the impact of staying committed to a cause I care about. That’s a mindset I will carry with me in everything I do.
The Gold Award gave me confidence in my voice. It showed me that I don’t have to wait until I’m older or in a certain position to lead, I can lead right now. I now know that service, advocacy, and education will always be part of my life, no matter what career I end up in. I also know that whatever I do as I grow up, I want to make positive changes in the world. My Gold Award didn’t just teach me how to lead a project, but it also helped me understand the kind of person I want to be.” said Olivia D’Ambra, Gold Award Girl Scout.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world while earning this award. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright!
Olivia will join the millions of Girl Scout alum around the world who have successfully created, developed, and executed “Take Action” projects that have positively impacted their communities and the world, earning Girl Scouts’ highest award.
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, strong and empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers. They learn resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills, giving them an edge personally and professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs. The 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout class identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards, addressing real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical well-being, and gender inequality in STEM.
According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. Changing the world doesn’t end when a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.
Earning the Gold Award is just one of the amazing things girls and gender-expansive youth can do as part of Girl Scouts. To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, please visit www.gssne.org/join.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs across Southeastern New England, girls and gender-expansive youth of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves in a safe space as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. Backed by strong friendships and trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. Girl Scouts feel comfortable trying new things without the pressure to be perfect, speaking their minds and processing their emotions in healthy ways. They discover how being different makes them special, strengthens their sense of belonging, and, ultimately, makes them proud to be themselves. That’s the magic of Girl Scouting. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gssne.org, follow @gssne on Instagram, follow @GirlScoutsofSNE on Twitter, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSSNE.