Current Projects

AFRICA : Teenage Mothers School Project - Zambia

It has been observed that most girls are failing to continue with their education as a result of teenage pregnancy. Although the Ministry of Education has come up with a policy of allowing teenage mothers to go back to school after delivery, very few are doing so.

Research has shown that girls are failing to go back because they are not sensitized on the policy and their fundamental educational rights. They also find it difficult to leave their babies and stay in school for eight hours. Other girls in school also ridicule them thus feelings of being out of place. It is also noted that the men responsible for their pregnancy often abandon them without any form of support.

The Girls' Brigade of Zambia seeks to bring teenage mothers back to school and promote the importance and rights of education for girls and also provide good baby care to affected teenage mothers.

PACIFC : Finance to further the work of the Girls' Brigade - Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands

Tuvalu - Tuvalu is a small nation made up of 9 islands, 8 of which are inhabited. Currently there is Brigade on about 5 islands but the only recent training was on Tuvalu and there is no money to send women by boat on a trip to the other islands. The boat is very slow and it costs a lot for the women to travel, but the ministers would like to see Brigade properly established on every island and for all ladies to have new training. The Ekklesia of Tuvalu currently funds the only lady working for Brigade in that country and we would also like to help with her salary.

Papua New Guinea - Girls' Brigade in Papua New Guinea is in a state of revival with many churches starting Companies and asking for training for ladies in areas all over the country. Papua New Guinea is the largest landmass in the Pacific, after Australia and it is covered in high mountains and steep valleys and roaring rivers which mean there are not many roads and no railways. All long distance travel is by plane which is very expensive. These ladies are attending a training seminar in Port Moresby, the capital city, but we need to send trainers to other towns and especially to some of the many islands which are also part of this country. There is need to send women to Bougainville which has had a civil war for over 8 years but where there is still Brigade work happening.

Solomon Islands - The Bishops of the United Church want to see Girls' Brigade strongly established in the Solomon Islands. There has been a war on Guadalcanal, the main island, and many people left that island and are just now returning. Brigade needs to start again in some churches there. We also want to start Brigade in other denominations - the Anglican and South Seas Evangelical Church in islands where there is no United Church and no Girls' Brigade.