Architecture Brigade volunteers design and construct schools for communities through a 7 day Architecture Brigade in Honduras. Once a University Chapter expresses their interest, they will be provided with a brief on an upcoming design contest. Chapters than have a limited time to submit their school design into a contest against other university chapters. The community then selects the design(s) that best fit their needs. For the construction of the school, all participating chapters, along with any chapters that just want to construct and not design, come together to help build. Student volunteers can get involved with an upcoming Architecture Brigade by joining a local student chapter on their college campus or creating a new chapter and recruiting a group of students.

In conjunction with, Medical Brigades, we travel to Central America to establish mobile dental clinics. Each of our community partners receives a brigade every 3-4 months where hundreds of patients are treated primarily with prophylactic cleaning, fluoride treatment and extractions, with hopes of launching full-fledged restorative care. GDB also focuses on prevention with dental hygiene workshops. Between brigades, our in-country team maintains relationships with the communities to provide follow-up to ensure any dental procedures were successful and to conduct community health worker trainings to empower local leaders to perpetuate a consistent level of dental care.

Global Business Brigades (GBB) provides business consulting and strategic investment to support under resourced microenterprises in developing countries. Our current focus is in remote and rural communities in Panama where we partner with other local development organizations to assess, implement and monitor sustainable development projects in 15 partner communities. The business brigade volunteers serve as a catalyst to the development projects, providing consulting methodologies, financial workshops and “capital investment,” a monetary donation to the project to improve profitability or social impact. Between brigades our in-country team maintains relationships with the partner organizations and communities to provide follow-up and measure outcomes.

Global Water Brigades (GWB) designs and implements water systems to prevent communicable illnesses in communities with limited access to clean water. In-country team members work with water experts and community leaders to design large scale water systems for the entire community. Once the water system is blueprinted, volunteers work side-by-side with community members to implement and provide the education for maintenance through the creation of “community water counsels.” Between brigades our in-country team ensures that the water councils are functioning and have the necessary funding to perpetuate the longevity of the systems created.

Volunteers on a Microfinance Brigade spend seven days in a rural community of Honduras. Prior to the brigade, GB staff trains community leaders who act as the executive board members of the community bank called the Caja Rural. Throughout the brigade, volunteers divide into groups where they visit several families in their homes. During the community visits, volunteers develop an understanding of the families’ ways of life, aspirations, and financial literacy. Following the visits, the students hold a community meeting about the Caja Rural focused on topics such as budgeting, savings incentives programs, and loans. At the end of week, students determine how they will allocate their CIF(community investment fund), whether it may be to an individual family or a lump sum donated to the Caja.

Global Medical Brigades (GMB) develops sustainable health initiatives and provides relief where there is limited access to healthcare. Our current focus is in Central America where more than 3,000 annual student volunteers and health professionals travel to establish mobile medical clinics in under resourced communities. Each community that we partner with receives a brigade every 3 to 4 months where hundreds of patients are treated and volunteers deliver public health workshops. Between brigades our in-country team maintains relationships with the communities to provide follow-up and conducts community health worker trainings to empower local leaders to perpetuate a consistent level of health care.

Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. Since 2004, Global Brigades international affiliates have mobilized thousands of university students and professionals through nine skill-based service programs to improve quality of life in under resourced communities.

Public Health Brigades (PHB) empowers under resourced communities in the developing world to decrease life threatening diseases by improving home infrastructure and providing public health education. Working side-by-side with community members, PHB volunteers improve the overall infrastructure within the home through the construction of four projects: eco-stoves, latrines, water storage units and concrete floors. Between brigades our in-country team provides follow-up to ensure the maintenance of the structures and work to find funding that will compliment the health goals of the community to perpetuate future construction.