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The safety of the student volunteers is Global Brigades' number one priority and is the single most important consideration when entering a community or choosing a project. Each country that Global Brigades serves in has implemented safety protocols and policies to decrease any risk of danger and to ensure that any emergency can be properly handled in a prompt and professional manner. The Global Brigades entity in Honduras, Panama or Ghana also has the responsibility of administering regular risk assessments of the current political situation, the location of compounds and communities and transportation provided to volunteers. Below you will find frequently asked questions and answers related to the programs in Honduras and Panama.
It is important to keep in mind that the communities we work in are largely isolated and far away from major cities where crime is more prevalent. Global Brigades has years of relationships built with communities served and are very aware of the safety situation of each community that we work in. We urge parents and volunteers to understand that crime committed in isolated areas of the countries we work in does not mean that the entire country is unsafe. For example, if there was a riot in downtown Dallas, we would not assume that the entire state of Texas is unsafe and that the people in Houston are at risk. Please consider the nature of our work in isolated areas when reading any negative press about the danger of the countries that we are working in. Should you have any questions or concerns about Global Brigades' safety please contact Drl. Shital Chauhan at gro.sedagirblabolg|latihs#gro.sedagirblabolg|latihs
How is preparation for the brigade travel handled?
Every university chapter will use their assigned Program Advisor to secure travel arrangements for their entire group and will not have to work with an outside travel agency. Once dates are requested by a chapter, the Program Advisor first confirms with the in-country Program Lead that the dates work with the community(s). Upon confirmation, the Program Advisor will book tickets. Most booking is done through GB’s preferred discounted travel agency, Fly For Good (www.flyforgood.com). There are two main reasons for this process: safety and the ability to fundraise for airfare.
Safety:
All planning will go through a single GB point of contact that lives in-country and will likely be the one joining their brigade. This ensures little confusion around when groups are arriving and that teams travel together. Coordinating the pick-up of more than 6,000 annual volunteers without consistent on-the-ground contacts would be nearly impossible. Additionally, if any flights are cancelled or delayed the Travel Director serves as an emergency contact for students and parents, and will be responsible for contacting the airlines and re-booking flights. If either the arrival or departure flight is cancelled or delayed, GB will make sure that students have the information needed for the next flight and will work with the airline or Brigade Coordinators to provide the group lodging and food if needed.
What happens if the Brigaders flights have been cancelled or delayed?
In the event Brigaders have flights cancelled or delayed in the US, Brigades Travel will do the following:
All club presidents will be advised to call, email, or text the Travel Director in the event a flight is cancelled or delayed. If the brigader needs assistance to speak to the airline for rebooking, Travel Director will be available to assist. However, generally, the airline is responsible for making all necessary arrangements to rebook the brigaders. The Global Brigades in-country team will be notified of any delays or modifications in the travel schedule and make arrangements accordingly.
In the event Brigaders have cancelled flights while out of the country, GB will do the following:
The in-country team will notify the Program Advisor and the Travel Director that the return flight has been cancelled or airport closed. Team will call the airline to rebook the passengers for the next available flight home. If overnight accommodations are necessary, Global Brigades will request vouchers from the airline to cover costs. Travel Director or Advisor will communicate with the in-country team and club presidents about new return flight. In-country team will make the necessary arrangements to get the brigade transportation for new travel schedule, while the Global Brigades in-country team remains with the volunteers to make sure that they have necessary lodging and food until the next flight. The Program Advisor will send an email notifying the friends and family, provided by brigaders in our records, about the group's new travel arrangements. Team will continually monitor the new flight situation for any further delays/cancellations.
If you have any questions related to flight information, please contact the president of the chapter or the GB advisor for that school. If you have overall travel questions please contact gro.sedagirblabolg|levart#gro.sedagirblabolg|levart.
If you have an emergency and need to get in contact with the Travel Director, please contact Danielle Starry:
Email: gro.sedagirblabolg|elleinad#gro.sedagirblabolg|elleinad
Phone: 330-605-3576
Which city do volunteers fly into?
Honduras: The majority of all flights arrive to and depart from Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Panama: The majority of all flights arrive to and depart from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama.
Ghana: The majority of all flights arrive to and depart from Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana.
Who picks up volunteers from the airport?
Program Advisors work with the Global Brigades in-country staff to ensure a timely pick-up for all volunteers. The brigade coordinators will be waiting for every group at the airport and will have adequate transportation for the students and their luggage. The students will then be transported to the secured compounds, which are located approximately between 1-4 hours away from the airport.
How will I know when the volunteers have arrived?
All students provide the GB Advising team with emergency contact information and email addresses. These contacts will be notified by email of the safe or late arrival of a group. If you wish to receive these notifications, please double check with the volunteer that your contact information has been added to our list.
What kind of transportation is provided?
All GB in-country entities use trucks, land rovers and buses to transport volunteers and their luggage. All of the vehicles are safe, registered, insured, and prepared to be driven through Honduran, Panamanian and Ghanaian terrain. All of the drivers are screened, trained, and knowledgeable of all emergency protocols.
Where do the volunteers stay?
Honduras: All Global Brigades volunteers stay an hour outside of Tegucigalpa in a very safe, rural area near Nuevo Paraiso. The majority of groups will be staying in one of the two compounds:
- Rapaco: a beautiful classic hacienda style compound. It has traditionalsummer camp-like amenities such as bunk beds, sheets, towels, a washer and dryer for laundry, an abundance of bathrooms and showers, and filtered water for drinking. The compound has security present 24 hours a day. In addition,Rapaco has a small area in which to play soccer and countless hammocks which provide some of the best naps in Honduras.
- Posada Azul: the more rustic of our two main compounds, Posada Azul offers an incredible few of the valley below. It has the normal GB amenities such as beds, sheets, towels, a washer and dryer for laundry, an abundance of bathrooms and showers, and bottled water for drinking. It is a secure compound with security staff working around the clock. Posada Azul is also located just up the hill from the Flor Azul Boys School & Farm, whose students are always ready for a game on their full size soccer field.
Panama: All GB volunteers stay three hours outside of Panama City in a very safe, rural area in the eastern region of the Panama province. The majority of the groups will be staying in one of two compounds:
- Guacuco: A rustic compound located near Torti, Panama that is also used by a another organization in the area that has implemented successful development projects. It has traditional camp-like amenities such as bunk beds, sheets, towels, bathrooms and showers (no hot water), filtered drinking water and trained local staff to prepare food. The compound has security present 24 hours a day.
- Santa Fe: A rustic compound located in Santa Fe, Panama that is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a view of mountain terrain. It has traditional camp-like amenities such as bunk beds, sheets, towels, bathrooms and showers (no hot water), filtered drinking water and trained local staff to prepare food. The compound has security present 24 hours a day.
Ghana: All GB volunteers stay about 2 hours outside of Accra in a very safe, coastal area along the Accra-Cape Coast highway in the Central Region. The majority of the groups will be staying in one of two compounds:
- Weda Lodge: Located in the community of Anomabo and overlooking the ocean, Weda Lodge provides dorm-style bunk beds (linen provided), daily laundry available, and home-cooked meals with to-go lunches when out for the day. Food is a combination of typical Ghanaian and International food.
- Fairhill Guesthouse: Located in the community of Biriwa, Fairhill provides dorm-style bunk beds (linen provided), daily laundry available, and home-cooked meals with to-go lunches when out for the day. Food is a combination of typical Ghanaian food and Internationalfood. Amneties include a pool table and library.
How soon can I find out where the students are staying?
Lodging and accommodations are highly dependent on group size and number of groups arriving to Honduras in a given week. Therefore, Global Brigade in-country staff will not have specific information related to lodging until about one month before a brigade. Please ask the president or advisor of the group for this information.
What kind of security and staff is provided?
Every group is accompanied by at least one trained Brigade Coordinator, a full logistics team and trained drivers. In Honduras, groups are also accompanied by a police or military officer.
While in the community, Brigade Coordinators are in charge of maintaining a professional and safe work environment for the volunteers and the community. All coordinators are trained to assist first aid emergencies at the locations. Special transportation is on-call 24/7 during the brigade in case of major emergencies or complete evacuation from the location.
What is the relationship with the local government and police?
Honduras: GB Honduras has had very strong and formal relationships for the past 6 years with the US Embassy, national and local police, and the national military in Honduras. All the entities above are aware and supportive of volunteer activities and have worked together successfully for years to support the volunteers. Because of these relationships and established procedures, GB Honduras has maintained an outstanding track record of safety for the volunteers. Most relevant, projects are only done in rural areas where crime is low (if barely existent) and where relationships have been long established.
Panama: GB Panama works directly with the National Ministry of Health to implement all health programs and is supported and nationally recognized by the US Embassy. GB Panama has formed a strong relationship with local police, municipalities, and community representatives in the region.
Ghana: GB Ghana has developed strategic partnerships with the Ghanaian government, local assemblies, key government offices, such as the municipal health directorate, in order to render the most conducive and safe environment for volunteers. GB Ghana has begun developing relationship with the Security agencies.
What is the involvement of US Embassy and Department of State?
The US Department of State is contacted by the Global Brigades Advising Team and is provided with the names of volunteers travelling and notified of the exact regions of where they will be staying. Additionally, Global Brigades in-country entities are in close contact with the embassy and are notified of any safety advisories. The US Embassy in Panama has also been a funding partner for the mentorship program.
Are the communities safe?
In Honduras, Panama and Ghana, communities are located in rural and remote areas where there is little to no crime. Before entering a community, the GB Research and Evaluation team collects baseline data, assesses community needs and secures buy-in from the leadership. Each community is visited by the Executive Director and transport/logistics team of the GB in-country team to ensure that it is secure and safe for transporting the volunteers to and from the community. If GB in-country leadership team ever feels that the safety of volunteers is compromised in any way, volunteers would be immediately withdrawn from the community. All communities must be accessible through paved roads or well maintained dirt roads (used mostly during summer) by normal vehicles or four wheel drive. The time of accessibility to the location should be within 1 to 3 hours from where the volunteers are staying.
How accessible are the communities?
All communities must be accessible through paved roads or well maintained dirt roads (used mostly during summer) by normal vehicles or four wheel drive. The time of accessibility to the location should be within 1 to 3 hours from where the volunteers are staying.
Has there ever been a major safety incident?
Global Brigades Honduras has an exceptional track record for volunteer safety because of the involvement of local law enforcement, hired security, and strong relationships with local communities leaders. Groups have only experienced incidents typical of any international travel, such as petty theft. Any incident is recorded for records and for improvements to safety. Terrorist or guerrilla groups are not present in the communities served and no Global Brigades group has been threatened by them.
What is the risk of a volunteer getting ill or injured?
Illness or injuries have been infrequent and within expectation with the nature of the service work. For example, a small number of volunteers have broken bones or contracted an illness that was treated immediately with the medicine available to the doctors on staff. All incidents were handled in conjunction with the emergency procedures of the in-country team and the volunteers were effectively treated and brought back home safely. A very small amount, far less than 1%, of volunteers have reported to having been diagnosed with malaria or dengue fever upon returning home as the incubation time is longer than one week.
How do I know which community my student will be working in?
GB Honduras works in the Francisco Morazan , El Paraiso and Atlantida regions of Honduras. GB Panama works in the eastern region of the Panamá province. GB Ghana works in the Mfansteman District of Ghana's Central Region. The Program Advisor can provide volunteers with their specific community location at least 2-4 weeks before the brigade. To see the list of communities that GB currently serves in Honduras, Panama and Ghana please go to the GB website.
What if a volunteer gets sick?
Should a volunteer get sick or hurt during a brigade, one of the doctors on staff will attend to the volunteer as they are stocked with an abundant inventory of medication to treat. If the volunteer needs additional attention they will be promptly taken to a nearby clinic or hospital according to the medical procedure plan. The volunteers do not work in communities that are further than three hours away from a hospital.
Do brigade coordinators have cell phones?
Yes, brigade coordinators do have cell phones; however, these are only to be used in case of emergency. Additionally, not all brigade coordinators will be able to dial internationally to the US. If a student needs to be in contact with a family member or friend in the US, it is highly recommended that they purchase an international plan on their cell phone.
Do students have access to internet and phones?
In Honduras and Panama the volunteers will be staying in a very rural area, therefore, the internet is at times unreliable, but may be available during the brigade. In Ghana, internet is not easily accessible and will be made available only in cases of emergency or urgent need but not for recreational use. An email will be sent to the contacts designated on the roster by each volunteer, notifying them of the group's safe arrival. Should there be any other urgent updates or changes in travel arrangements, these contacts will be notified via email.
Can I see an itinerary of the brigade?
The president or advisor of the chapter will be able to provide anyone with an itinerary of the upcoming brigade. General example itineraries can be found on each program page under "What a Brigades Looks Like" from globalbrigades.org.
Are the students ever alone?
Students are never left alone; they have local members accompanying them and are always told to NEVER wander off alone. During the last day of the brigade the groups typically have the option to visit a tourist town to purchase souvenirs and have lunch. During this time the students are always instructed to stay within the town and to always be with a group.
What if the group has to be evacuated?
In the event the volunteers must be evacuated, there is an established Emergency Evacuation plan in place. All volunteers are covered by the GB emergency evacuation insurance policy. The Travel Director will work with the Brigade Coordinators, local embassy, and airlines to ensure that the group departs immediately and safely.
Who do I contact in case of an emergency?
If there is an emergency situation where the family needs to get a hold of the volunteer immediately, please contact the appropriate team members listed below:
Honduran Contacts:
Quique Rodriguez –Director of Global Brigades Honduras, +504-9970-9478 (Honduran Mobile)
Nancy Amador – Treasurer of Global Brigades Honduras, +504-9760-1195 (Honduran Mobile)
Panama Contacts:
Gabriela Valencia - Logistics Director, +507- 6083-1756 (Panamanian Mobile)
Ghana Contacts:
Ismaeel Nana Asamoa – Executive Director of Global Brigades Ghana, +223-577-600-488
Orion Haas – Managing Director of Global Brigades Ghana, +233-577-600-440
International Contacts Based in the US:
Steven Atamian – Executive Director of Global Brigades Association, + 001-213-434-0410
Travel Emergency Contact Based in the US:
Danielle Starry - Travel Director, +330-605-3576
General safety precautions:
As with any travel to foreign or unknown countries, all students should remain aware of their surroundings and never stray from their group. Should they feel uncomfortable for any reason at any time, they should immediately speak with their brigade coordinator or a staff member and can be brought home.
