How it Started
In 2011, Helen and Marie Sgouros started planning their Girl Scout Gold Award project. The two Girl Scouts had grown up listening to their mother’s stories of immigrating to America and navigating the barriers inherent to moving to another country. They wanted to help people in similar situations within their local community. Marie and Helen reached out to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian-aid organization that assists refugees and people in disaster zones. The Baltimore IRC needed a summer program for elementary and middle school refugee children. The two girls took up the challenge. Helen and Marie recruited friends, neighbors, and other Girl Scouts as volunteers and founded English Kids to Kids & Bridging Cultures (EK2K & BC), a peer-to-peer summer program that teaches refugee children English and American Culture. Marie and Helen received their Girl Scout Gold Award in 2012, after speaking on Capitol Hill for Girl Scout’s 100th year anniversary. EK2K & BC has since expanded to three locations in Maryland: Catonsville, Elkridge, and inner-city Baltimore. The EK2K & BC program continues to positivly impact refugee children and volunteers.
More About Our Founders
Helen Sgouros
Co-Founder of EK2K&BC
Helen Sgouros is currently a student at Fordham University, Lincoln Center. She is studying urban studies with an interest in law. You will find her enjoying the ballet, the opera, and Juilliard's free concerts at Lincoln Center.
Marie Sgouros
Co-Founder of EK2K&BC
Marie Sgouros is currently a student at Barnard College. She is studying Economics with a Mathematical Sciences minor. You can often find her cooking in her dorm or jamming out as the radio DJ on her show, Bisexual Underground.
Awards
Howard County, Maryland Making a Difference Youth Award
2015
Girl Scout Gold Award for EK2K & BC program
2012
2015
Girl Scout Gold Award for EK2K & BC program
2012
Public Speaking Engagements
DuPont-Columbia Award winning "This is Home" documentary screening at Columbia University featuring speakers: Dr George Rupp, (Former Columbia University President and Former IRC CEO) and Alexandra Shiva, Director
2019
Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs (CORE) Panel on Refugees
2017
Ellicott City Rotary Club Invited speaker
2015
Girl Scouts of USA International Meeting Impromptu Invited Speaker
2015
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation Parent Luncheon
2015
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Panel Discussion Invited Speaker
2015
Howard County Ethnic Community Roundtable discussion on Girl Scout Gold Award
2014
Her Mind MagazinePanel, Scout’s Honor March/April issue
2013
Girl Scout Talk on Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards in Howard County
2013
Howard County Government, Minority Affairs EK2K & BC Talk
2013
Day of The Girl at Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
2012
Capitol Hill for Girl Scout’s 100th year anniversary
2012
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)
2012
2019
Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs (CORE) Panel on Refugees
2017
Ellicott City Rotary Club Invited speaker
2015
Girl Scouts of USA International Meeting Impromptu Invited Speaker
2015
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation Parent Luncheon
2015
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Panel Discussion Invited Speaker
2015
Howard County Ethnic Community Roundtable discussion on Girl Scout Gold Award
2014
Her Mind MagazinePanel, Scout’s Honor March/April issue
2013
Girl Scout Talk on Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards in Howard County
2013
Howard County Government, Minority Affairs EK2K & BC Talk
2013
Day of The Girl at Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
2012
Capitol Hill for Girl Scout’s 100th year anniversary
2012
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)
2012