'It makes me really happy': Bethesda teens provide workshops to uplift and inspire girls
BETHESDA, Md. (7News) — Maddie Anders spent much of her early life engrossed in cheerleading and gymnastics.
"It's really freeing," the 14-year-old told 7News.
Meanwhile, Anders' good friend 15-year-old Samantha Gilbert has been putting time in at the pool.
"It's a happy place for me," Gilbert said.
Now, the rising sophomores at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda are dedicated to something completely different: Girls for the Future.
"We have workshops in Financial Literacy, U.S. Government, Online Safety," Anders said.
"To help inspire girls and teach them about how to be good citizens so that they can help the next generation," said Gilbert.
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Since April, Anders and Gilbert have conducted about 20 workshops with elementary school girls; many of whom come from low-income areas.
Their outreach extends from Maryland to California.
"It makes me really happy that I can reach all of these girls across the country and have some sort of impact on their lives," said Gilbert.
These future leaders are growing as they're giving back.
"It's definitely made me more confident in my leadership skills. Just throughout life in general, and talking to girls and teaching them," said Anders.
"I think it's also strengthened our friendship with the two of us spending a lot of time working on this," Gilbert said.
Anders and Gilbert plan to expand their sessions to include more topics and they say they would like to partner with other young leaders and organizations.
