On October 20, 2018, the International Trends and Services Facet of the New Orleans Chapter sponsored five Bethune students to participate in Camp Congress with the Girls in Politics Initiative. Camp Congress for Girls is a leadership program that introduces girls ages 8 to 15 to politics. Camp began with a girl-friendly lesson on the structure of our political system. Each girl chose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. She created her own campaign with a platform, campaign slogan, campaign finance plan, campaign website and a political ad for television. All participants registered to vote and then voted in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress learned how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp culminated with a ceremonial signing of the bill by the elected Ms. President. During the camp session participants also met elected officials and political consultants that served as honorary camp counselors.
Politics is not just local, but affects people and issues on a national and international scale. International Trends and Services strives to ensure young students are civically engaged and informed.
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The Girls in Politics Initiative (“GIP”) is an international civic education organization that introduces girls ages 8 to 17 to politics, policy, the work of the United States Congress, parliamentary governments and the work of the United Nations. GIP hosts more than 100 sessions annually in 58 U.S. cities and 18 cities outside the U.S. http://www.girlsinpolitics.org
