What began as a desire to raise awareness about the hidden costs of fast fashion has earned Saanvi Rao one of Girl Scouts’ highest national honors.
Rao was recently named the recipient of the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) Gold Award Scholarship, an achievement she described as both unexpected and deeply meaningful. The scholarship recognizes exceptional Gold Award Girl Scouts whose projects create lasting change in their communities.
“I was incredibly nervous when they were announcing the runners-up, and I remember thinking, ‘I really hope they call my name,'” Rao recalled. “When they finally did, I was shocked. It took a moment for it to sink in, but I felt so grateful and honored.”
For Rao, earning the Gold Award had already been a significant milestone, but receiving the national scholarship reinforced the impact of her work.
“It reminded me that all the effort I poured into my project truly made an impact,” she reflected.
Her Gold Award project, “Slow Down Fast Fashion,” tackled the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the fashion industry’s growing reliance on inexpensive, disposable clothing. Rao said her inspiration came after watching the documentary ‘The True Cost’, which opened her eyes to the massive amount of textile waste generated by the industry and the poor working conditions many garment workers face around the world.
“Before that, I had never really thought about where my clothes came from, who made them, or what happened to them after I no longer wanted them,” she explained.
Rather than simply educating people about the issue, Rao focused on creating practical ways for community members to make more sustainable choices. Her project included educational presentations, social media outreach and clothing swap events that encouraged participants to exchange gently used clothing instead of purchasing new items.
She believes the clothing swaps made the greatest impact.
“They gave people a hands-on way to practice sustainable fashion,” Rao shared. “It showed that sustainability doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Seeing people give a second or even third life to clothing was really exciting.”
One of the biggest challenges, she said, was convincing people to care about an issue many had never considered.
“Fast fashion often feels like a distant or overwhelming issue,” she explained. “Rather than asking people to completely change their lifestyle, I encouraged them to take small, realistic steps toward more sustainable habits.”
Those small steps, she believes, can add up to meaningful change.
“Young people are one of the biggest groups driving fashion trends, so they have the power to influence change,” Rao emphasized. “Every purchase we make has an impact, not just on the environment, but also on the people who make our clothes.”
The Gold Award emphasizes creating sustainable solutions that continue after a project concludes, and Rao hopes her work will have a lasting ripple effect.
“My goal was never just to host a few events,” she added. “I wanted to start conversations and inspire lasting changes in the way people think about clothing. When information spreads from one person to another, the impact grows far beyond the project.”
Beyond environmental advocacy, Rao said the Gold Award strengthened her leadership skills by teaching her patience, communication and perseverance.
“The Gold Award taught me that leadership is about creating opportunities for others to get involved and make a difference,” she observed.
She also credits Girl Scouts with shaping who she is today.
“Girl Scouts has been one of the biggest influences in my life,” Rao said. “It gave me countless opportunities to serve my community, step outside of my comfort zone and use my voice to advocate for issues I care about.”
Now studying public health in college, Rao said the experience has reinforced her commitment to serving others while promoting healthier, more sustainable communities.
“Earning my Gold Award showed me that one person really can make a difference,” she said.
Looking back on her journey, Rao hopes younger Girl Scouts won’t be intimidated by the Gold Award process.
“My biggest piece of advice is to choose a project that you’re genuinely passionate about,” she emphasized. “Don’t underestimate the impact that one person can have—you might be surprised by how much change you can create.”
