- Girls' Brigade
The Girls' Brigade is an international and interdenominational
Christian youth organization . It was founded in 1893 inDublin ,Ireland . [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/about_gb.html|title=About GB|accessdate=2007-03-13] The modern organization was formed as the result of the amalgamation of three like-minded and similarly structured organizations in 1964.cite web|url=http://www.gbic.org/History.htm|title=History of GB & info on International Conferences|accessdate=2007-03-13] 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 inGlasgow . [cite web|url=http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:z7YsO4TMXOYJ:www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/International_Annual_Report.doc+girls+brigade+headquarters+international+glasgow&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=uk|title=Address of HQ|accessdate=2007-03-13]
The organization operates in over 60 countries worldwide and is divided into five Fellowships: African, Asian, Caribbean and Americas, European, and Pacific.cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/international.html|title=International GB|accessdate=2007-03-13] International Conferences are held every four years, this has been happening since 1998 when the conference was inAustralia . It was inThailand in 2002 andNorthern Ireland in 2006. [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/International_Newsletter_Dec_2006.pdf|title=Newsletter mentioning where the 2006 ICGB conference was held|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-13] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/office_bearers.html|title=Patrons of GB|accessdate=2007-03-13]Girls' Brigade principles and motto
The Girls' Brigade's principles are as follows: [cite web|url=http://www.hants.gov.uk/youth/girlsbrigade-solent/principl.html|title=Information on principles|accessdate=2007-03-13]
*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 throughself control , reverence and a sense of responsibility to find true enrichment of life". [cite web|url=http://www.hants.gov.uk/youth/girlsbrigade-solent/aim.html|title=Information on motto and aim|accessdate=2007-03-13]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. [SPES files - GB Award Handbook] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.hants.gov.uk/youth/girlsbrigade-solent/program.html|title=Further part of the GB proramme|accessdate=2007-03-13]
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 etc. Arise is often quoted as standing for: Activities, Resources, Ideas, Support and Equipping. 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.cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/arise.html|title=All information about Arise|accessdate=2007-03-13]Premier Radio helped to promote Arise on their radio shows. [cite web|url=http://www.premier.org.uk/engine.cfm?i=674&bhcp=1|title=Premier Radio and Arise|accessdate=2007-03-13] Arise is a joint project with Viz-A-Viz Ministries.cite web|url=http://www.vizaviz.org/arisepartnership.htm|title= Viz-A-Viz Ministries partnership page|accessdate=2007-03-13]ections in Girls' Brigade
In England & Wales, the Girls' Brigade is divided into the following Sections:
*4 to 8 years - Explorer [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/explorers.html|title=Explorer's Section on GBEW|accessdate=2007-03-13]
*8 to 11 years - Junior [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/juniors.html|title=Junior's Section on GBEW|accessdate=2007-03-13]
*11 to 14 years - Senior [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/brigaders.html|title=Brigader's Section on GBEW|accessdate=2007-03-13]
*14 to 18 years - Brigader [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/brigaders.html|title=Brigader's Section on GBEW|accessdate=2007-03-13]
*Optional 14-15 years "(Year 10 in English school's system)" - Foundation
*Optional 15-16 years "(Year 11 in English school's system)" - Intermediate
*Optional 16-17 years "(Year 12 in English school's system)" - Advanced [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/yl_training.html|title=Information on all three stages of young leader training|accessdate=2007-03-13]
*Optional 18+ years - Leader "(Can take only after completing the three above stages as a Young Leader)" [cite web|url=http://www.girls-brigade-scotland.org.uk/Leader_Officer.htm|title=Information on becoming a Leader of GB|accessdate=2007-03-13] Girls cannot carry onto the next section of Young Leaders Training without completing the previous section. They may however start at a slightly older age.However if someone joins Girls' Brigade later in life and has not previously particapated in Girls' Brigade they can complete Officer Training in order to gain Leader status.
As of31 March 2005 , there were 6109 Explorers, 7534 Juniors, 4016 Seniors, 1913 Brigaders, 405Warrant Officer s, 124 Supernumary Officers, 1967 Officers in 707 Companies within England & Wales. [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/_7__stats0405.xls|title=Statistics of 2005 Members of GB|accessdate=2007-03-13] All Officers are now called "Leaders".In other countries, the names of the Sections (sometimes called Units) may vary, as may the ages of girls in those units. These age variations are usually based around the local schooling ages. Explorers may be called Cadets. Brigaders are sometimes called Pioneers. In some countries, there are 4 different Sections or Units. For example, in Australia, the Units are:
*Cadets - approximately 5-7 years
*Juniors - approximately 8-11 years
*Seniors - approximately 12-13 years
*Pioneers - approximately 14-21 yearsThe 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, the symbol ofChrist 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, ofChrist as King. Behind it all, is a Torch, the flame of Christ's livingspirit .
The badge incorporates symbols from the three original organizations and is, therefore, in itself a symbol of union, as well as faith and allegiance to the LordJesus Christ . [Leadership Training booklet 2001 (contains all information about the crest)] The Girls Brigade which formed in Ireland in 1893, brought in the Cross. The Girls' Guildry which formed in 1900 in Scotland, brought in the Lamp. Lastly, the Girls' Life Brigade, which formed in 1902 in England, 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
The International President of the Girls' Brigade is Mrs. Ruth Chikasa from Zambia. The International Treasurer is Ms. Joyce Evans of England and Wales. The International Vice-Presidents are the Chairmen from each Fellowship.
All figures next to country names are of the number of Girls' Brigade members within the country, they are accurate as of 2004: [cite web|url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:z7YsO4TMXOYJ:www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/International_Annual_Report.doc+girls+brigade+doc&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=uk|title=Anuual Report 2004|accessdate=2007-03-13]
African Fellowship
"Bridget Leher" (
Zimbabwe ) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 14Africa n countries that have Girls' Brigade companies: [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/int_africa.html|title=Information on African Fellowship|accessdate=2007-03-13]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)Asian Fellowship
"Sally Chew" (
Singapore ) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 12Asia n countries that have Girls' Brigade companies: [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/int_asia.html|title=Information on Asian Fellowship|accessdate=2007-03-13]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)Caribbean and Americas Fellowship
"Andrea Stevens" (
Cayman Islands ) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 22 countries in theAmericas that have Girls' Brigade companies: [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/int_americas.html|title=Information on Caribbean & Americas Fellowship|accessdate=2007-03-13]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)Europe Fellowship
"Vivienne Aitchison" (
England and Wales ) is the Fellowship Chairman.
There are 7 countries within theEurope fellowship that have Girls' Brigade companies: [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/int_europe.html|title=Information on Europe Fellowship|accessdate=2007-03-13]England and Wales (25155)Republic of Ireland (1868)Northern Ireland (22540)Romania (92)Scotland (13753)
"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 Girls' Brigade companies: [cite web|url=http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/html/int_pacific.html|title=Information on Pacific Fellowship|accessdate=2007-03-13]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 ee also
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Boys' Brigade References
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/g1htl.johnfoster/daybrookbaptistchurch/GirlsB.html
External links
* [http://girlsbrigadeaustralia.org/ The Girls' Brigade Australia]
* [http://www.gbmalaysia.org/ The Girls' Brigade Malaysia]
* [http://www.girlsbrigade.org.nz/ The Girls' Brigade New Zealand]
* [http://www.gb.org.sg/ The Girls' Brigade Singapore]
* [http://www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk/ The Girls' Brigade England and Wales]
* [http://www.girls-brigade-scotland.org.uk/ The Girls' Brigade Scotland]
* [http://www.gbscotland.org.uk/ The Girls' Brigade Scotland Divisional Websites]
* [http://www.gbic.org/ The Girls' Brigade International Council]
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