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Bay Area Girl Scout Nationally Honored for Preserving Cultural Connection Through Language
Sunnyvale teen creates Urdu immersion program to support heritage language fluency among local youth
Girl Scouts of Northern California is proud to celebrate Zaynab Mohiuddeen of Sunnyvale, who was recently awarded a 2025 GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship in recognition of her outstanding leadership and impact. Zaynab is one of just 110 Girl Scouts nationwide to receive the scholarship this year. This honor is reserved for a select group of Girl Scouts who have earned the organization’s highest achievement, the Gold Award.
Each year, fewer than 6% of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, a distinction that represents the pinnacle of Girl Scout achievement. Earning the Gold Award requires a minimum of 80 hours dedicated to developing and leading a sustainable project that tackles a pressing local issue with the potential for far-reaching, global impact.
Her project, titled Early Urdu Immersion Program, addresses a challenge many immigrant families face—preserving their heritage language across generations. While many children understand Urdu passively, Zaynab saw that few had the tools or confidence to speak it fluently, especially within U.S.-born households.
To bridge that gap, Zaynab developed a culturally responsive Urdu curriculum designed specifically for native speakers at risk of language loss. She collaborated with community mentors, recruited an experienced teacher, and partnered with a local community center to launch the first set of classes for elementary and middle school students. The results were remarkable: test scores improved, families reported stronger intergenerational communication, and the program expanded into a second semester—now running independently using the curriculum Zaynab created.
“This project wasn’t just about teaching grammar—it was about helping families feel more connected,” said Zaynab. “The Girl Scout Gold Award is all about creating lasting change, and I wanted this program to continue making a difference even after I stepped away. Seeing other families and educators take it forward has been the most meaningful part.”
The impact didn’t stop there. A parent, inspired by the success of the program, launched a toddler Urdu playgroup at the same center, and an educator in San Diego is now adapting the curriculum for her own students.
The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout in grades 9–12 can earn. Each project represents a minimum of 80 hours of leadership, planning, and implementation and must lead to measurable, sustainable change. Only about 6% of eligible Girl Scouts earn the award each year.
"Zaynab’s Gold Award project is a powerful example of what it means to be a Girl Scout, using her courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place,” said Mary-Jane Strom, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern California. “The Gold Award gives Girl Scouts the chance to dig deep, solve real problems, and create lasting change. Here at GSNorCal, 9.2% of our 2025 Girl Scout graduates have earned their Gold Award or are completing their projects now. It’s proof that Girl Scouts are making meaningful, lasting contributions in communities across Northern California."
Across Northern California, Girl Scouts are creating real solutions to real problems leading food drives, advocating for mental health, building STEAM access, preserving the environment and so much more. Gold Award projects like Zaynab’s show what’s possible when young people are given the support, skills, and space to lead.
Inspired by Zaynab’s story? Learn more about what means to be a Gold Award Girl Scout here.
August 05, 2025
