In August a small group of leaders from the UK travelled to Zambia to join around 40 representatives from 13 countries – including Australia, Bahamas, Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania – and a group of FDF leaders from Denmark.

This was Global Fellowship’s 19th council meeting since it was established in 1963 and its theme was ‘Becoming a strong voice in society – for and by youth – to get and give space’.

The week began with a welcome dinner at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka, during which delegates were treated to a display of African dancing by boys from the local BB Company. The following morning, the conference was formally opened by the Vice President of Zambia, Her Honour Inonge Wina, during a service at the Cathedral. The service included music from the local BB brass band, a parade of the national flags of the 14 nations represented at the conference and a drill display.

Over the course of the next few days the delegates took part in a number of sessions focussed on the conference’s theme, got to know colleagues from the different nations and learned about the Brigade in the various countries. There was a keynote speech by Dr Abraham Chikasa from the Bible Society of Zambia, who spoke about the voice of society and questioned whether the voice of faith-based organisations was loud enough.

Delegates also had the opportunity to visit three BB Companies in Lusaka which gave them a chance to see the boys take part in various activities, many of which took place outside and straight after school rather than in the evening.

On the Friday morning the Council Meeting took place, during which a new Executive Committee was elected, a new constitution was approved, and the appointment of a new African Development Manager announced.

The conference ended on the Sunday morning with a service at the cathedral after which the UK group – along with one of the Australian delegates – travelled 470km south to Livingstone, where they spent the next two days. They went on a trip to the Victoria Falls, a cruise on the Zambezi, a meeting with boys and officers from various local BB Companies and a safari (during which they saw lots of local wildlife including elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes and zebras).