SAFETY: OUR #1 PRIORITY

Every group is accompanied by at least one trained Brigade Coordinator, a full logistics team, and trained drivers. 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 with 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.

We also have some great partnerships that add a layer to our security protocols:

• Honduras
  Through a partnership with the Honduran Government’s Office of Attention to Foreign Volunteers (Oficina de Asistencia al Voluntario Extranjero) which provides support to international volunteers, all groups are also accompanied by a police officer, as a precautionary measure.
• Panama
  Through a partnership with the Panamanian Frontier Service – SENAFRONT, all groups in the Darien region are also accompanied by a police officer, as a precautionary measure.
• Guatemala
  In a partnership with the Guatemalan government which provides support to international volunteers through Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo (INGUAT).

Global Brigade partners with government entities to sustainably run our programs. We have maintained very strong relationships with authorities in the countries we work in. All authorities are aware and supportive of volunteer activities and have worked together since the beginning of our operations to support the volunteers.

• Honduras
  Global Brigades Honduras has maintained strong relationships with local security actors in the country, including the national police and army. All Global Brigades volunteers receive in-country support from the government’s Office of Attention to Foreign Volunteers (Oficina de Asistencia al Voluntario Extranjero) in the form of expedited customs processing and security support from the national police for the duration of all Brigades. The Honduran government, as well as the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, is aware of Global Brigades’ programs in the country, and the presence of international volunteers in Honduras, and provides support as needed in the event of any emergency.
• Panama
  Global Brigades Panama has maintained very strong relationships with the local Panamanian police authorities in the regions of the country we work in. These authorities, as well as the Panamanian government, are aware and supportive of volunteer activities and have worked together successfully for years to support the volunteers. Furthermore, Global Brigades’ community projects are only done in rural areas where crime is low (if barely exists) and where relationships have been long established.
• Greece
  Global Brigades Greece has built and maintained very strong relationships with the Greek Government, the Municipality of Athens, the American Embassy in Greece, and other NGOs working in the refugee context, including the Red Cross and IOM (International Organization for Migration). These authorities are aware and supportive of the Global Brigades Greece volunteer activities and collaborate on how we can strengthen programs through regular NGO working group meetings. 

Prior to each Brigade, all US volunteers are registered in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Additionally, Global Brigades in-country entities are in close contact with the Embassy and are notified of any safety advisories.

Global Brigades is also a member of the OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council), from whom we receive the latest travel safety and security updates. These updates help us make key decisions regarding our Brigade operations in-country.

All vendors must be in full compliance with all local laws and regulations required by the government to transport passengers. All vehicles being provided must be recent models and in excellent working condition. Lastly, Global Brigades only works with established vendors in the transportation field who have extensive experience in the business of transporting passengers.

• Honduras: All drivers must possess the appropriate special driver’s license that is required by the Honduran government, qualifying them to drive the types of buses that are being provided. To obtain this license, drivers have to pass a special driving test administered by the government.
• Greece: Due to the high standards of the European Union and the high intensity of competition in the tourism industry, most Greek transportation companies are already at a level of excellence; our transportation continues to receive the highest marks of approval from volunteers.
• Guatemala: All drivers must possess the appropriate special driver’s license that is required by the Honduran government, qualifying them to drive the types of buses that are being provided. In order to obtain this license, drivers have to pass a special driving test administered by the government.

Before entering a community, the Global Brigades Research and Evaluation (R&E) team collects baseline data, assesses community needs and secures buy-in from the local leadership. Each community is visited by the operations team of the local Global Brigades office to ensure that it is secure and safe for transporting the volunteers to and from the community. If the 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 driving time to the location varies between approximately 30 minutes to 2 hours from where the volunteers are staying.

• Greece
  The Global Brigades clinic is located in the center of Athens, Greece’s capital. It is accessible by a 10-minute walk from the lodging facility. The clinic is accessible by public transport (bus, metro) from various points in the city.

Global Brigades has an exceptional track record for Brigade security because of the involvement of local law enforcement, hired security, and strong relationships with local community leaders. Groups have only experienced incidents typical of any international travel, such as petty theft. Global Brigades has not experienced any incidents related to criminal activity in any of our programming countries (Panama, Honduras, Greece, Guatemala, or Ghana)

Volunteers are never alone; Global Brigades staff remain with all groups for the entire duration of their Brigade. All volunteers are given explicit directives to remain with their group at all times during the program.

All program countries have detailed evacuation plans in place in the event volunteers need to be removed from the program site or country due to an emergency. All volunteers are covered by the Global Brigades Travel Insurance Policy. The in-country Program Associates will work with the Brigade Coordinators, local embassy, and airlines to ensure that the group departs immediately and safely.

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:

• Emergency Travel Contact:
  • Global Brigades International Office, +1-206-489-4798, or email admin@globalbrigades.org
• Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala Contacts:
  • Luis Torres – Executive Director of Global Brigades Honduras, +504-9488-7997 (Honduran Mobile, Accessible via Whatsapp)
• Panama Contacts:
  • Pablo Garron – Executive Director: +507-6151-6288 (Panamanian Mobile, accessible via Whatsapp)
• Ghana Contacts:
  • Shafiu Shaibu – Operations Director: +233 20 032 3146 (Ghanaian Mobile, accessible via Whatsapp)
• Greece Contact:
  • Kyriakos Halaris – Executive Director: +30 694-738-8847 (Greece Mobile Number, accessible via Whatsapp)

With common, non-urgent illnesses, volunteers can be seen by a staff paramedic or physician. In severe cases, or by request of the volunteer, Global Brigades can arrange communication with family members or transportation back to the volunteer’s home country. Depending on the severity or nature of the illness, transportation home may be partially or fully covered by Global Brigades’ travel insurance.