Click here for Jeanni Gould's book, "Perfect Projects for Personal Progress"

One of the things that I've had girls do for just about any value is watch the DVDs of conference, all 4 sessions, and the Young Women general session. They then write in their journal how it applies to the value that they are working on and how it affects their life. (Idea by Jill Hansen)

Be in charge of New Beginnings or Young Women in Excellence

Prophet Party by Jeanni Gould - They could maybe even plan the event and invite the other girls.
 

My daughters invited girls ages 4-11 to be taught dance (Ballet) in our home.  We had weekly classes, broken up by age, from September through December and then had a recital at the stake center.  This was such an awesome event.  The classes were free and we had costumes and a stage.  It ended up being a 52 hour project but they had a blast. (Michelle Eyring / ga05182007)

Adopt-a-family for Christmas - First my daughter sold frozen, homemade, cookie dough.  She took orders with the option of 2 different flavors and then made up the rolls of cookie dough and froze them and delivered them.  The families knew what the funds were going towards and were more than happy to pay $4.00 each (about a $2.00 profit).  She made $300!  The we asked our bishop if there was a family in the ward or stake that could use a Christmas. We ended up adopting a sweet elderly widow who was in the hospital over the Christmas holiday. My daughter did some investigating to find out the needs and wants of this sister and we filled a GIANT stocking with little treasures including gift cards to places she enjoyed shopping at but couldn’t do so very often because of her fixed income.  We had our bishop deliver it to her on Christmas Eve anonymously.  It ended up being a fun project for the whole family.   (Michelle Eyring / ga05182007)

 
Volunteer to help your grandparents compile their life history. Help by tape recording, writing or typing their stories, then prepare as a gift to other family members.

Learn how to make different kinds of bread by hand (wheat bread, white bread and French bread).  Donate some to your ward to be used for the Sacrament.

Memorize the Living Christ.   

Re-decorate your bedroom. Stick with a budget. Learn how to properly prepare to paint, wallpaper, or whatever you desire. Research topics, ideas and carry out.

We had some young women find quotes from church leaders about each value.  Then they typed them on the computer using different fonts for each quote and printing them out on the appropriate color paper. We put this in a binder and use it on Sundays for a thought to go with our value.  We have also used it on Weds. night opening exercises for a thought. (Idea by Carla from Arizona)

One thing I am planning on doing is to learn how to do name extractions for the Family History Center. These end up being the "Temple File" names at the temple.... obviously at the temple!  You learn how to do it from someone at the Family History Center and then you do packets once a month, or how ever often you have time for. I am not exactly sure what you have to do, but you have to have a computer, and that's it! So, that might be something to look in to, and also you will be helping those people to be getting their Temple work done. (Idea by Katie Moon)

Using handouts and church resources, put together a Family Home Evening Book for your family to use.  You could adapt this and make a devotional book for seminary instead.

Help at a soup kitchen.

Learn to play a song on any instrument of choice and then perform it in sacrament meeting, Young Women or school.

Babysitt for free on a regular basis to help a struggling family, single parent, etc. while they attend the temple.
 

One of our Young Women did something so great.  She has a little brother who is four years old and loves books.  She sat down with him and they made up a story with him as the hero of the story.  She wrote it down and then secretly made him his own storybook... complete with pictures of him, colored illustrations, etc.  She then had it laminated and bound and gave it to him.  Her Mom reports he just LOVES "his" book. (Idea by Stephanie Thomas)

Organize a card drive in your ward for the Ronald McDonald House - They want cards (new handmade or store bought) or card fronts (used).  All houses have a need for cards to give to the families for the sick children. The families use them to cheer up the sick ones or to thanks others who help their family during their time of need.  You can donate directly to your local Ronald McDonald Houses as well. It would save you the cost of postage. Over 700 cards were donated this year. For more information write or contact or Sherrill Graff, 605 Kendrick Place, Boulder City, Nevada 89005.  You can also e-mail her at istmpnv@aol.com   

Plan and carry out a modesty fashion show.
 

Design a service project to honor the wives of those serving in the bishopric.  Give them a heart attack, wash their car, offer to do one hour of chores for ten weeks, etc.

A skill I wish I would have learned a long time ago is canning.  Have someone teach you how to can.  There are so many possibilities.  It is such a practical skill that very few are capable of. 

Train for a half marathon.  Keep a log of your daily preparations and progress, particularly how you feel.

My niece went to a Homeless Shelter each month for a year and through a birthday party for the children who had a birthday that month. She got a clown to come and do some tricks, and she gave presents to the children who did have a birthday that month. Everyone got cupcakes and balloons. It was a great experience for her. (Idea by Dixie)

One of my amazing Young Women sewed her own temple dress for when she goes to the temple for her Choice and Accountability projects! (Idea by Tina)

One girl helped a large LDS family by teaching the newly adopted children as well as the biological children learn the Articles of Faith.  She taught them songs and the principles behind each article of faith. It was great for her. She went to there home each week for 13 weeks and spent a couple of hours with them.  (Idea by Dixie)

We had a Laurel in our ward take a video camera around to members of the ward and asked them to tell stories and things that they loved about a man who had a terminal illness. She gave it to him just a couple of months before he died.  He loved getting to see and hear how people felt about him and it is a nice reminder of him for his wife who is still alive. This was a very touching project for all who were involved not just the Laurel who really did all the work. (Idea by Dixie)

Mentor one of the younger girls through her personal progress--especially one who doesn't have the support of her parents.

One of our girls worked with the local police department and set up a booth for parents to fill out all information on their child(ren) in case they went missing. This was a big hit in our area and the police dept. was quite impressed and wanted to know if one of our young women would do this every year. This was done during the 24th of July celebration so this young woman was able to reach practically every member of our stake. Another young woman went through the High School and got permission and organized a blood drive at the High School on a Saturday. We have had a couple of girls make "chemo baskets" and took them to the Cancer Treatment Center so patients that had to travel a long ways for their chemo treatments had some comforting things to help them that they may have forgotten to bring. The baskets contained a pair of socks, the Young Woman made lap blankets because chemo patients get very cold during their treatment, hard candy, a pack of gum, lotion, a trial size packet of baby wipes, a small trash can with a box of liners (in case the patient gets sick on the travel home). I know she had put a couple of other things in the basket but I cannot remember what. She donated these to the Cancer Center but the baskets were given to patients anonymously. However, the hospital wrote the young women who did this and told them that they will never understand how much their baskets meant to the patients. These are just a few of the things some of our girls have done. (Idea by Wendy Stock)

One of my laurels is being our "historian" with her digital camera. She will print out and make a display of all our activities for YWIE. One did a garden at her home to grow vegetables, one is in band and orchestra and also a flag twirler, one painted flower pots and planted inexpensive flowers and took to a rest home, one is cross stitching the YW theme in the value colors, one made a dress for her sister's wedding line.  (Idea by Peggy Adams)

One girl did a power point presentation of her brother to show during his baptism. It turned out really good. (Idea by Daphne Brimhall)

We had one girl make a recipe box and then fill it with recipes. She has cooked meals for her family every Sunday for a month.  (Idea by Daphne Brimhall)

My daughter did a Sub-for-Santa by going to the County Social Services, and requesting a family to give Christmas to. She asked for a small family as she might do it entirely by herself. She got the kids at seminary to help a little by asking them to donate time, presents and/or money. She got some help from them and did the rest herself. It was great for her she learned so much and had the joy that comes from serving.  (Idea by Dixie)

My daughter made modest shorts, made a value quilt, was in a play, did research on what it would take to apply to college (a community college, a state college and BYU) and made a comparison chart, requirements and tuition, etc. She also made a "faith" scrapbook that has different sayings and stories about faith. (by Stacey Cahill)

(Idea by Questie)

Faith: My daughter did a baptismal preview for the kids turning 8 and any body else preparing for baptism. She did a ton of prep work. It was fun.
Divine Nature: She did a school wide project collecting items for soldiers.
Individual Worth: She went to WV All State Children's Choir - with Sally Albreicht - rehearsals were vigorous but she learned a ton
Knowledge: She learned how to sew appliqués (from grandma) and sewed gifts for people. She made really cool butterfly placemats
that are still used today.
Choice and Accountability: She had a summer safety block party for the kids in the neighborhood , complete with games, a state
trooper coming to speak to the kids about sticking together and how the buddy system is SOOO important, and she had door prizes
and snacks.
Good Works: She made scripture bags for the Primary children's' birthdays.
Integrity: She sewed a modest top and a skirt (with the help of her YW pres at the time - we are not a family of sewers)

Make FHE packets for future use.