The following report was presented to World Council in America in 2005.

The organization is growing as it is favoured by many parents that an Anglican Church girl must affiliate to one organization and for our girls G.F.S. is the only organization in some of our Dioceses. St. Agnes guild is less popular than the G.F.S. especially that is not world wide.

Positives

New branches have been started at the Diocese of Cape Town, Diocese of Blomfontein, Diocese of Urnzimvubu and Diocese of St. Johns. The G.F.S. president and other members visited the Diocese of Grahamstown where she addressed + 500 girls and adults about G.F.S and B.F.S. organization.

Worship

The young people participate in matter of worship. They can conduct services in their respective branches, and are able to pray, read the Word of God and preach it.

All G.F.S.; M.F.S. and B.F.S. members as well as leaders attend the workshop in their respective parishes.

The Diocese council members attend the workshop to equip them with necessary skills.

Boys Friendly Society

This structure is also growing in numbers and they join the girls in all activities. The elder boys are called Men’s Friendly Society (M.F.S.) and B.F.S. at the present moment the above structure is only in the Diocese of St. John’s.

Minuses

Some members are still dying of AIDS though there are many workshop and HIV/AIDS programmes.
Unemployment

Many members are not working due to the lack of work places. This is still a serious problem affecting the young people in this part of the world.
* Some have difficulty to further their studies in tertiary schools as parents are not working due to the lack of work places.
* In some families, it is very difficult for members to pay the annual G.F.S. contribution.

Crime

This is still a problem

Interesting

There are still five Dioceses in South Africa with the G.F.S. that is interesting as we used to have the Diocese of St. Johns only which had active members before 2003.

• The organizers are young and energetic and try to do their work even if there are obstacles.
• St. Johns Diocese – Boys Friendly Society members. Some have joined the Ministry as we have already two young ordained priests in charge of active parishes in our Diocese.
• Some members are lay ministers thus showing the good work of the Girls Friendly Society and Boys Friendly Society.
• There are three members who are studying their Diploma in Theology who wish to be fully ordained Priests at the end.

Conferences

This is held annually whereby exhibitions of activities are held and includes competitions. Trophies are awarded to the winners, which encourage the branches to strive for excellence in whatever they do, i.e. trophies are circulating from Parish to Parish.

Other Activities

• Some members of G.F.S. and B.F.S. are involved in HIV/AIDS teaching programmes, health educating others on how to prevent it and other health issues like personal hygiene as well as environmental hygiene.
• Some Dioceses have drum majorettes in their churches.

Future Plans

• G.F.S., M.F.S. and B.F.S. should be established in all Diocesan Parishes as this had already been implemented we are going to see that G.F .S. members are more active in all Dioceses.
• Once a child knows the teachings of his or her church at a tender age, it will be difficult to be swayed by other teachings or doctrines from other Churches as the Anglican Church which is rich and complete to those that know it.
• Leaders of the organization should be loving and dedicated. On their daily basis they should endeavour the life of Jesus Christ. They should also be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to do their work, this then will be done by holding 4 workshops to empower them.

In Conferences

Much of the time in conferences will be educational programmes i.e. Bible, quiz, drama, or lectures to bring the young people more and more closer to God. Praise and worship too will be part of the programme.

Statistics

Because now there are many organizations in the Anglican Church

• The Senior girls join the Magdeline Guild as well as the Anglican Women’s Fellowship Guild.
• As a result there are not many Townsend members.
• Most elderly G.F .S. members decided to be leaders in their churches.

Prepared by Monica Kuse