1. Turning up the volume of hope for the Chibok girls - The story of GB’s Delegation of Hope -

2. On 14 April 2014, over 250 young women were kidnapped from a boarding school in Chibok (Nigeria) by terrorist group Boko Haram.

3. Today, 219 remain missing. Six of them are members of GB.

5. GB England & Wales’ members were invited to take part in the Cards of Hope initiative aimed at turning up the volume of hope for the Chibok girls. To date, 2,500 Cards of Hope have been made by over 100 GB groups.

7. On 17 March 2015, an 18-strong Delegation of Hope visited the Houses of Parliament and Number 10 Downing Street representing the love and compassion of the whole GB family. These girls and leaders represented you!

8. You helped GB’s Delegation of Hope to ‘turn up the volume of hope’ for the Chibok girls at the heart of UK government!

9. GB’s Delegation of Hope included Anca, Kelisha and Ellie-Mai from 39 th Birmingham GB group, Sharon and Busola from Croydon Tabernacle and Lily from 5 th Reading GB group.

10. ‘I care about the girls because they’re just like me’ – Anca (11) from 39 th Birmingham GB group.

11. The Delegation of Hope met with Baroness Joyce Anelay, Minister of State for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO is responsible for the UK government’s foreign policy.

12. During the 30 minute meeting, GB’s Delegation of Hope presented 219 Cards of Hope to Baroness Anelay..

13. Kelisha, Anca and Ellie-Mai from 39 th Birmingham GB showed the Minister a scrapbook displaying how they’ve been raising hope for the girls over the past year in their community.

14. Lily from 5 th Reading GB group was excited to read her Poem of Hope to Baroness Anelay.

15. In response to GB’s Delegation of Hope, the FCO said: ‘The Girls’ Brigade is setting an example by taking the time and effort to support their friends in Nigeria. We thank you for informing us of your campaign to highlight the plight of the Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram, some of whom were members of GB.

16. In response to GB’s Delegation of Hope, the FCO said: The UK will continue to play a leading role in supporting the Nigerian government to tackle the threat posed by Boko Haram, including through providing a substantial package of UK intelligence and military support as well as significant development and humanitarian support to north east Nigeria.’

17. ‘I think that 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’ – Lily (10).

18. After we spoke to Baroness Anelay, we had a chance to look around Parliament and had time for a cheeky selfie.

19. After a quick break, we headed to the most famous address in the UK – 10 Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister.

20. GB girls turned up the volume of hope for the Chibok girls by presenting 219 Cards of Hope to the door of Number 10.

21. Busola (11) from Croydon shared: ‘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 of Hope’.

23. And guess who popped out to say hello? Chancellor George Osbourne (We forgive you for calling us the Guides)!

24. …for the Chibok girls! Thank you for turning up the volume of…

25. Thank you for turning up the volume of hope for the Chibok girls; let’s keep that volume button on LOUD. Check out www.girlsb.org for more ideas.www.girlsb.org

26. God loves each one of these girls and He can do immeasurably more than we can ever imagine (Ephesians Ch.3:20). Amen. #gbraiseshope