GIRLS' BRIGADE

The 'Girls' Brigade' is an international and interdenominational Christian youth organization. It was founded in 1893 in Dublin,^[1] Ireland. The modern organization was formed as the result of the amalgamation of three like-minded and similarly structured organizations in 1964. History of GB & info on International Conferences These organizations were the Girls' Brigade of Ireland (1893), the Girls' Guildry of Scotland (1900), and the Girls' Life Brigade of England (1902). The International Headquarters are currently based in Glasgow.^[2]

The organization operates in over 60 countries worldwide and is divided into five Fellowships: African, Asian, Caribbean and Americas, European, and Pacific. International GB International Conferences are held every four years, this has been happening since 1998 when the conference was in Australia. It was in Thailand in 2002 and Northern Ireland in 2006^[3]
The Queen Mother and Princess Alice were Girls' Brigade's patrons until their deaths in 2002 and 2004 respectively. There are, at the moment, no living patrons.^[4]

Girls' Brigade England & Wales have recently teamed up with Viz-A-Viz ministries to do the new initiative that has been called Arise. It involves events such as roadshows and is a different way of spreading the Christian message.

Contents

Girls' Brigade principles and motto

Girls' Brigade programme

Girls' Brigade projects

Sections in Girls' Brigade

The Girls' Brigade crest

International

African Fellowship

Asian Fellowship

Caribbean and Americas Fellowship

Europe Fellowship

Pacific Fellowship

See also

References

External links

Girls' Brigade principles and motto

The Girls' Brigade's principles are as follows:^[5]

★ 1) The Brigade acknowledges Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord according to the Scriptures and seeks to fulfil its aim to the glory of one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

★ 2) The Brigade witnesses to the standard set by Jesus Christ and gives positive teaching on the Christian attitude to life

★ 3) The Brigade promotes a just society where all people are equally valued.


The motto of the Girls' Brigade is "Seek, Serve and Follow Christ" and its Aim is "To help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and through self control, reverence and a sense of responsibility to find true enrichment of life".^[6]

Girls' Brigade programme

The GB programme follows four themes: ''Spiritual'', ''Physical'', ''Educational'' and ''Service''. These words spell 'SPES' which is latin for 'Hope'. It was said that each girl in Girls' Brigade was a ''hope'' for the future.^[7]
Also the girls are encouraged to participate in activities other than just badge work. These include leadership courses for 14-21 year old, and most companies or districts arrange camps or holidays, usually one per year. Moreover, GB helps its members with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.^[8]

Girls' Brigade projects

The most recent project that Girls' Brigade England & Wales has undertaken is "Arise". This project involves many different events such as roadshows and the like. Arise is often quoted as standing for: 'A'ctivities, 'R'esources, 'I'deas, 'S'upport and 'E'quipping. These mean that the children will be able to attend ''activity'' days to learn about Jesus and meet up with other GB members, they will also have ''resources'' adapted to meet the specific child's needs. Moreover, the ''ideas'' for activities will be new and made in a better way to encourage children, as well as ''supporting'' children with their work and helping to set up further youth groups. And the final idea of Arise is to train people to work with children so they are ''equipped'' for anything the children may do. All information about Arise Premier Radio helped to promote Arise on their radio shows.^[9] Arise is a joint project with Viz-A-Viz Ministries. Viz-A-Viz Ministries partnership page

Sections in Girls' Brigade

★ 4 to 8 years - 'Explorer'^[10]

★ 7 to 12 years - 'Junior'^[11]

★ 13 to 18 years - 'Brigader'^[12]

★ 'Optional' 14-15 years ''(Year 10 in English school's system)'' - 'Leadership Training One'

★ 'Optional' 15-16 years ''(Year 11 in English school's system)'' - 'Leadership Training Two'

★ 'Optional' 16-17 years ''(Year 12 in English school's system)'' - 'Leadership Training Three'^[13]

★ 'Optional' 18+ years - 'Leader' ''(Can take only after completing the three above stages as a Young Leader)''^[14]
However if just joining Girls' Brigade later in life and did not particapate in Girls' Brigade when young you can complete Officer Training in order to gain Leader status. Or if you are from Scotland log onto their homepage find out how to become an Auxilary Helper.


As of 31 March 2005, there were 6109 Explorers, 7534 Juniors, 4016 Seniors, 1913 Brigaders, 405 Warrant Officers, 124 Supernumary Officers, 1967 Officers in 707 Companies within England & Wales.^[15] ''NB, all Officers are now called Leaders''.

The Girls' Brigade crest

The crest is a registered trade mark of Girls' Brigade England & Wales. However, all Girls' Brigade companies around the world have the right to use it.

In the centre is a 'Cross', which represents the symbol of Christ and his Church. Below the cross is a 'Lamp', which represents the light of the Girls' Brigade shining upon the World. Above it is a 'Crown', so that people recognize Christ as a King. Behind it all, is a 'Torch', the flame of Christ's living spirit, so all members can be devoted to him.

The badge incorporates symbols from the three original organizations and is, therefore, in itself a symbol of union, as well as faith and allegience to the Lord Jesus Christ.^[16]. These organizations are: The Girls Brigade which formed in Ireland in 1893 which brought in the Cross. Next was The Girls' Guildry which formed in 1900 in Scotland which brought in the Lamp. Lastly we have The Girls' Life Brigade which formed in 1902 in England and brought in the Crown. They amalgamated in 1964. A competition was held to design the crest for the amalgamated organisation, it was won by Constance Fasham.

International

Ruth Chikasa, International President

The International President of GB is ''Mrs Ruth Chikasa'' from Zambia. The International Treasurer is ''Ms Joyce Evans'' from England & Wales. The International Vice-Presidents are the Chairmen from each Fellowship








All figures next to country names are of the number of GB members within the country, they are accurate as of 2004^[17]

African Fellowship

''Bridget Leher'' (Zimbabwe) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 14 African countries that have GB companies:^[18]

Botswana (149)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ghana (6000)

Kenya (4050)

Malawi (184)

Namibia

Nigeria (14961)

Sierra Leone (338)

South Africa (1664)

Swaziland (125)

Tanzania (600)

Uganda (1217)

Zambia (3090)

Zimbabwe (671)

African Fellowship 2006

Asian Fellowship

''Sally Chew'' (Singapore) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 12 Asian countries that have GB companies:^[19]

Bangladesh (215)

Brunei (65)

Cambodia

Hong Kong (1700)

India (125)

Malaysia (3145)

Mongolia (55)

Philippines (1100)

Siberia (20)

Singapore (3695)

Thailand (1205)

Western New Guinea (43)

Asian Fellowship 2006

Caribbean and Americas Fellowship

''Andrea Stevens'' (Cayman Islands) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 22 countries in the Americas that have GB companies:^[20]

Anguilla (132)

Antigua (210)

Bahamas (653)

Belize (67)

Bermuda (20)

Brazil (216)

British Virgin Islands (181)

Canada (20)

Cayman Islands (299)

Curacao

Dominica (82)

Haiti (40)

Jamaica (1032)

Montserrat (24)

Nevis (92)

Sint Eustatius (28)

Saint Kitts (296)

Saint Martin (215)

Saint Vincent (64)

Trinidad & Tobago (86)

United States (105)

African Fellowship 2006

Europe Fellowship

''Vivienne Aitchison'' (England and Wales) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 7 countries within the Europe fellowship that have GB companies:^[21]

England and Wales (25155)

Republic of Ireland (1868)

Northern Ireland (22540)

Romania (92)

Scotland (13753)

African Fellowship 2006

''Note: Currently England & Wales run as one country for Girls' Brigade even though they are distinct countries.''

Pacific Fellowship

''Janice Zachan'' (New Zealand) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 13 countries within the Pacific Fellowship that have GB companies:^[22]

American Samoa (98)

Australia (5703)

Cook Islands (400)

Kiribati

New Zealand (3934)

Niue (154)

Papua New Guinea (1000)

Samoa

Solomon Islands (1877)

Tonga (93)

Tokelau

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

African Fellowship 2006

See also

★ Boys' Brigade

References

1. About GB
2. Address of HQ
3. Newsletter mentioning where the 2006 ICGB conference was held
4. Patrons of GB
5. Information on principles
6. Information on motto and aim
7. SPES files - GB Award Handbook
8. Further part of the GB proramme
9. Premier Radio and Arise
10. Explorer's Section on GBEW
11. Junior's Section on GBEW
12. Brigader's Section on GBEW
13. Information on all three stages of young leader training
14. Information on becoming a Leader of GB
15. Statistics of 2005 Members of GB
16. Leadership Training booklet 2001 (contains all information about the crest)
17. Anuual Report 2004
18. Information on African Fellowship
19. Information on Asian Fellowship
20. Information on Caribbean & Americas Fellowship
21. Information on Europe Fellowship
22. Information on Pacific Fellowship

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/g1htl.johnfoster/daybrookbaptistchurch/GirlsB.html

External links

★ The Girls' Brigade Australia

★ The Girls' Brigade Malaysia

★ The Girls' Brigade New Zealand

★ The Girls' Brigade Singapore

★ The Girls' Brigade England and Wales

★ The Girls' Brigade Scotland

★ The Girls' Brigade International Council