Nationally, only 5 percent of Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award each year. This is the first of many entries to come highlighting some of the courageous, creative and remarkable girls earning Gold Awards this year throughout our council.

Groton Girl Scout Hannah Tellier’s Gold Award project, Peace Lesson Plans, was her way of sharing something that she wants to see more of in the world — the message of peace. 

Hannah speaking at the United Nations, courtesy of Lauren Malsick Photography.

In 2007, Hannah’s older brother Sgt. Zachary Tellier was killed in action in Afghanistan. This devastating loss made Hannah realize she had to make it her mission to enact change.

Hannah, a Girl Scout since Kindergarten, joined the Peace Club at her middle school. Their project, The Big Book: Pages for Peace Project, aimed to create the largest book in the world to help spread the message of peace. They collected letters, poems and drawings from people old and young. 

The Peace Club was invited to share some pages of The Big Book at the 2013 United Nations International Day of Peace Student Conference in New York City. This is where Hannah got her start.

After the club presented the book, Hannah and her father were able to talk with Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, the founder of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. Ambassador Chowdhury was very impressed with the Peace Club and promised to keep in touch.

As the club became more popular, it needed a curriculum – a task that Hannah took on and chose to make her Gold Award project.

After much trial and error, she created six perfect Peace Curriculum Lesson Plans, “Conflict Resolution”, “Developing Rights”, “Kids Who Make a Difference”, “Sadako Paper Cranes”, “Similarities and Differences” and “Success and Failure”

Hannah hopes that her work inspires others and encourages leaders of Peace Clubs around the world to implement her lessons.

On Wednesday, October, 8, 2014, Hannah joined other members of the Peace Club at an event showcasing pages from The Big Book at the John F. Kennedy Library.

Members of the Peace Club with Ambassador Chowdhury (middle, second row) at the JFK Library Event this past fall.

Now a freshman at Landmark College in Vermont, Hannah hopes to continue bringing her message of peace to young people all over the world. She even has plans to meet with Ambassador Chowdhury in New York City where he has promised to block out a whole day to discuss peace education initiatives with her.

Through earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, Hannah says she has developed self-confidence, leadership skills, and lasting relationships with like-minded people driven to help make her mission of peace become a success.

Congratulations to Hannah for earning distinction as one of our elite Gold Awardees and continuing to shine a light on how individuals can bring change and promote peace.

Learn more about the Gold Award here. 
Check out Hannah’s Peace Curriculum Lesson Plans here.

Do you know a Girl Scout working toward her Gold Award? Tell us about her and she could be our next featured Gold Awardee. Email koreilly@girlscoutseasternmass.org.