Tenaya and Hannah get award at Queen's ceremony

Girls' Brigade Northern Ireland held its annual Queen's Award Presentation Ceremony on Friday, May 12 in The Guildhall, Londonderry.Â

There were 48 girls who successfully attained the award this year with 37 attending the Presentation Ceremony along with their family, friends and Girls’ Brigade leaders. 

Members were delighted to be joined by Alderman Hilary McClintock, Mayor of Strabane and Derry City Council who addressed the girls and guests.

The guest speaker was Heather Hill who encouraged, blessed and challenged the girls to think about courage and their journey with God now and in the future. 

“God uses those with weakness and fear in their eyes. Courage is not the absence of fear but being afraid of something and doing it anyway.”

The Queen’s Award syllabus is a major undertaking for girls; over a period of two years working for the Award, the girls were required to undertake six elements: community service over a period of six months; GB company service; submission of an in depth project assignment to a high standard; completion of two initiative tests; pass a two hour written study paper and final interview; whilst also playing an active part in the life of their church.

The Queen’s Award is the highest award attainable in Girls’ Brigade, run to agreed international standards in GB companies all over the world. 

Nursing homes, charity shops, home and overseas mission teams and youth organisations in NI are just some of the organisations which benefited from the voluntary work undertaken by all the girls. Projects completed included creative work involving cross stitching, crocheting, painting, quilting, knitting or photography.  ‘Kate Middleton - The Life of the Duchess of Cambridge’, ‘Why do we use flowers to express our emotions and feelings?’, ‘WW1 and the Belgium War graves’ and ‘The Life and Work of Andrew Lloyd Webber’ were some of the topics researched for project work. 

GB offers a balanced programme for girls aged 3 - 18 of Bible teaching, physical activity, community and church service, along with many opportunities to learn new skills and take on new challenges. GB is a valued place where girls can be girls, make lifelong friends, find positive female role models, learn relevant Christian application in life, and escape the pressures of self-image, fashion, exams, relationships and other issues facing 21st Century youth.

GBNI are happy to assist any churches, who do not currently have GB, to start up a company.

Churches should contact GBHQ for more information on this. There are 285 GB Companies in Northern Ireland, parents should look up the GB website at www.gbni.co.uk to find a company in their area or contact GBHQ on: [email protected] or T: 028 9454 8054 for more information.

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