GB Downing Street delivery for Chibok girls 

A group of children and young people from Girls’ Brigade England & Wales have delivered Cards of Hope, made to raise awareness of the kidnapped Chibok girls in Nigeria, to the UK Foreign Office and to the door of Number 10 Downing Street.

Around 2,500 Cards of Hope have been made and sent in by Girls’ Brigade (GB) groups as part of a campaign to advocate for the 219 kidnapped Chibok girls in Nigeria – six of whom are members of GB Nigeria.

Last Tuesday (17 March 2015) an 18-strong delegation, made up of GB members, leaders and supporters, went to London to present some of GB's Cards of Hope - 219 were given to Baroness Joyce Anelay at the UK Foreign Office, and 219 were delivered to the door of Number 10 Downing Street.

Baroness Anelay said ‘For me the important thing is to say that people care and haven't forgotten about the Chibok girls, and girls getting education, and the evidence of this is the visit I had from the Girls' Brigade.’

The delegation consisted of leaders, young women and supporters from 39th Birmingham, 5th Reading, 3rd Halesowen, and Croydon Tabernacle – a few of around 100 groups who have been campaigning for the missing girls  - as well as GB’s National President Rachel Gardner.

Lily, aged 10, from 5th Reading based at Wycliffe Baptist Church, read a poem she had written to Baroness Anelay. She said ‘I think the most important thing Baroness Anelay said was never give up because we need to continue to show how much we care for the missing girls.’

Busola, aged 11, from Croydon Tabernacle, said ‘My highlight of the day was going to Number 10 Downing Street because I hadn’t been there before and we got to deliver the cards.’

Sue Gaughan, Team Leader from 39th Birmingham, said ‘Baroness Anelay listened to our young people – their voices matter.’

GB's Participation & Advocacy Co-ordinator Dr Claire Rush adds ‘One of the messages the girls showed Baroness Anelay said the Chibok girls are special and she said our girls are too.

'We agree – not because they went to Downing Street or to Westminster but because God made them. GB cares for girls because God cares for girls and it was a wonderful opportunity on Tuesday for us to demonstrate the love and care of the GB family for the missing girls.’
 

Girls’ Brigade groups all over England and Wales provide rewarding, stretching and positive opportunities through which around 12,000 children and young people, between the ages of four and 18, grow and develop in confidence and skills in a Christian environment.

Find out more about GB by visiting www.girlsb.org.uk or call 01246 582322 for details of your local group.