Bullying feels like a big problem to solve. But what if people switched the focus of their efforts to boosting friendship, kindness, and respect?

If more girls asked themselves this question every day—”What can I do to be a good friend?”—before they post a mean status update, repeat a rumor, or look the other way and pretend not to hear when someone asks to sit at their lunch table, what would change?

Could we make bullying disappear if we put friendship first? Make a PSA that tells people what your world would look like if all girls treated one another with kindness and respect and no one was bullied—at school, online, and out in the world.

If you’re willing to speak up, you have the power to change things.

* When you see someone being bullied and you say something to stop it, it can sometimes end within 10 seconds.

* Almost half of girls say that they have stood up for someone being threatened, harassed, or bullied online!

Visit the BFF (Be a Friend First) section on ForGirls for videos, quizzes, and activities that will test your bullying IQ and help you spread kindness—in your community and around the world.

Here are some ideas for how to tie the Journeys into the Girl Scouts Speak Out! theme.

Girl Scouts Speak Out! will accept entries from February 1, 2013 through May 31, 2013, 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time; voting will close June 15, 2013 at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Tips to Help You Get Started

You can submit your PSA as a video, a photo slideshow with captions or in script format. Think about the best way to get your message across.

Should you come up with a fun character that will help people remember your message? Write a brilliant and catchy slogan that inspires people to repeat it to their friends? What's the most important thing? Be creative.

Video
Keep the clip short (three minutes or less). We're not looking for fancy special effects, complicated camera work or movie that's ready for Hollywood. If you want to sit down and talk to the camera – that's just fine. If you get a group together and act it out, that's ok too. Do whatever works for you.

Art and Photos
Choose ten photos or illustrations that tell your story. Be sure to use the captions to make your point clear. You don't have to submit photos that are ready for a magazine cover. Cell phone photos or scans of drawings are just fine as long as they are clear and in focus.

Story
Write your script. Be sure to set the scene and describe what's happening on screen. Aim for 500 words or less.