Utah’s First Muslim Girl Scout Troop Offers Leadership Skills

January 23, 2006

Source: KSL.com

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=153884

On January 23, 2006 KSL.com reported, "About 10-thousand Utah girls belong to the Girl Scouts of America. Of that number, at least 20 percent are sponsored by a religious group. But one religion has just recently joined the program. Five high school girls make up Girl Scout troop 786... The young women hold a special distinction. They're part of the first Muslim Girl Scout troop in Utah. The girls do everything the other girl scouts do, like sell cookies. But they also draw on their culture and religion. The troop begins each meeting with a prayer to Allah, during which the girls wear 'hijab'-- the traditional Muslim head covering. They also revise the Girl Scout promise. 'On my honor, I will try to serve Allah.' The troop lets the girls get to know other young women who share their faith... Both the organization and the members like the diversity the troop brings... Whether the young women are learning how to balance a checkbook or pitch a tent, the girls say they've already learned a lot from being Girl Scouts... The Girl Scout organization says it hopes it will see more Muslim troops in the future."