Girls Brigade International Council

Personnel

Profile of Our International President - Ruth Chikasa

Ruth Chikasa brings a combination of vibrancy, maturity and enthusiasm to the ministry of Girls’ Brigade. Having joined the Girls Brigade as a 6 year old, she has steadfastly believed in its mission to help young girls fulfill their dreams and reach their potential. Ruth believes that the ministry of Girls Brigade is not only organisational involvement but a passion to live for. She has served in many portfolios in Girls' Brigade, growing in her Christian life and maturing to help others live a Christ centred life. Her natural talents, gifting and professional training has helped Ruth to understand that fundamentally the church and society needs to invest in young people in order to create a better world.

Ruth works as Africa Regional Director with Dreyfus Health Foundation (DHF), an International non-profit organisation based in New York, USA with branches in over 30 countries around the world. DHF aims to develop and empower communities to solve problems in their localities thereby improving their health status. Ruth works with National Directors in over nine countries in Africa to train and build capacity for local leaders in using the Problem Solving for Better Health methodology development by DHF.

In both her professional and ministry work, Ruth carries the view that each person has God given potential and with a little help, it is possible to determine our destiny and give hope to our societies and communities. In her ministry work, she volunteers, and is vice chairperson of International Network for Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by HIV and Aids (INERELA+), an inter-faith organization working around the world in helping to alleviate stigma and discrimination in religious circles.

Ruth lives in Lusaka, Zambia with her husband, Abraham and two children, Caleb, 21 and Petra 17.