By SOPHIE BONOMI

sbonomi@northkitsapherald.com

KINGSTON — Martha Rabura, a 2016 graduate of Kingston High School, was awarded Girl Scouts’ top honor — the Gold Award — for her efforts to create a library for the Mallory Jansen Memorial School in Sierra Leone.

Rabura was honored at a special Gold Award Gala June 25 at the Washington State Convention Center.

The Gold Award is the equivalent of Boy Scouts’ Eagle rank. Fewer than 6 percent of all Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award.

The project emerged from Rabura’s lifelong love of reading, combined with a special connection to education.

“My mom is a teacher,” she said. “Once I learned there is limited education around the world, especially for girls, I wanted to give back.”

She faced many challenges working with an organization located in an area impacted by the Ebola epidemic.

Nevertheless, Rabura — of Troop 42062 in Port Gamble — logged 316.25 hours on her project, completing it in her junior year of high school.

Rabura’s goal was to collect 2,500 books. She collected 3,451 books (including Kindles, activity books, and flash cards) and raised nearly $3,177.59 to cover the cost of shipping. She also created a cataloging system for the library.

She engaged her community in the effort, hosting book drives at six schools, a community center, her public library, her church and an independent book store.

“This was an experience for sure,” she said. “I definitely have the organization skills, I’ve learned to make contacts, talked to members of Kiwanis and Rotary … All of these skills will be useful in the future, especially for internships and jobs.”

Rabura laughed as she said, “The Gold Award probably helped me get into college.”

She leaves for Bates College in Maine in a few days.

She said her 14-year Girl Scout experience has helped make her a better person and shaped her into a young leader — a leader capable of fulfilling her dreams.

“Girl Scouts has given so much to me,” she said. “It made me take action and gave me the skills needed to become a leader in my own life. [The Gold Award] made me feel like I can do anything I want.”

At Bates, Rabura plans to fine-tune her Spanish language skills while tackling her busy course load. She wants to be a human rights activist for the United Nations.

“I just wish people realized the Girl Scouts is about so much more than selling cookies.”