Global Brigades (GB) is the world’s largest student-led international relief organization. GB’s mission is to provide communities in developing countries with sustainable solutions under a holistic service model to improve health, water, sanitation, and economic infrastructures.
Dalhousie University Medical Brigades is chapter of GB. We have been a ratified society for at least 6 years, dedicating approximately 415 hours to our cause each year. In June of 2024, members of Dalhousie Global Brigades worked function as a mobile medical unit in Greece. This involved setting up small clinics to diagnose and treat patients at no cost. The communities in Greece are low-income with limited or no access to medicine, with a high population of refuges so there is a great need for medical attention. From intake, triage, and medical consultations, to filling prescriptions, we work with licensed medical professionals to positively impact these communities in need.
I was fortunate enough to travel to Honduras and Guatemala with Dalhousie Global Brigades, over the last two years to embark on my first twos Medical Brigades. It became discernible how important this mission was to the community volunteers of Tecpan; their presence was inspiring and humbling. Through the implementation of community member involvement, these empowered leaders will continue to inspire, develop, and push for the sustainable equality that all brigade members, staff, and community members are searching for.
Sustainable development refers to the economic, social, environmental, and human advancement of the present generations while ensuring that future generations have accessible resources to perform this same commission. One component of Global Brigade’s Holistic Model is to create sustainable health systems. This, in combination with economic development, and the water and sanitation infrastructure, sanctions the desire to overcome poverty while in turn providing sustainable programs that community members can rely on. One element that GB incorporates into their programs to triumph sustainability is community involvement. All projects developed by GB have an aspect of community-led sustainability which, through desirability and initiation, leads to community development and volunteers who are committed to creating change.
GB student volunteers are responsible for reaching their donation goal before proceeding with the brigade. This donation goal contributes to GB’s Holistic Model by supplying GB’s Sustainable Health Fund which allows for year-round health care in communities in need. This implementation upholds the objectives of community health workers, patient referrals, community pharmacies, and evaluates the impact of this program on targeted communities. Through GB’s stabilizing actions, each targeted community is eligible to receive a brigade every 3-4 months, granting healthcare access to hundreds of patients that would otherwise be inaccessible.
As a society, Dalhousie Global Brigades – Medical does an excellent job of being present while directly addressing many countries' demands by implementing, and continuously developing a sustainable lifestyle. Experiencing firsthand the ambition that the volunteers native to Tecpan possessed, was brilliant. The developing world cannot provide the most basic needs for its people. Together, inspired student leaders, volunteers, and enthused native community volunteers/members will bring GB one step closer to achieving the sustainable lifestyle that all countries deserve.