Global Brigades’ mission is to ‘inspire, mobilize, and collaborate with communities to achieve their own health and economic goals’. In Greece, we work with vulnerable populations, implementing programs focused on key health and economic factors. With our work, we save lives through increased access to healthcare (medical program), and better lives by developing small businesses (business program)
Learn about our programs
Our Program
Our Medical program aims to provide free, consistent, and broad health coverage to vulnerable populations in Athens, with a special focus on refugees and asylum seekers. To achieve this, since May 2021, we work at the GB day clinic in the center of Athens, where we offer three much-needed specialties: Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, and Gynecology,How we work
Our collaboration with local NGOs and the Municipality of Athens makes it possible for patients to be referred to us as well as for us to direct them to other services based on each person’s needs. Our doctors see mostly children and women with a refugee background, as well as other local vulnerable populations such as single parents, elderly, and socioeconomically disadvantaged. All patients that come to the GB clinic are valued and respected, empowered and equally treated without being discriminated against.Testimonial
"When my daughter faces medical problems, I go and speak with the doctors of Global Brigades Greece because they always pay full attention to the patients. Every time I visit the Clinic I see how hard the personnel tries in order to satisfy the patients’ needs also by providing them with first aid goods and medicine. Each time I am here I feel like having a family!" A GB Clinic PatientTestimonial
“The organisation has provided us with peace of mind with vaccinations and checkups. Once we started attending and seeing your pediatrician all my children are keeping up to date with their vaccinations. This was so important for us and them for the future. It is also really nice for us to receive gifts each time we come for an appointment and makes the children excited even if they will get a shot.” Father of 2 girls and a boy, from IraqOur Program
Our Business Program aims to empower refugees and migrants in Greece who own small businesses in Athens. We provide micro-enterprise consultations with the support of volunteers, mentors, and local staff, as well as small donations tailored to the specific traits and needs of each individual business.How we work
The businesses we work with are mostly Restaurants, Bars & Coffee Shops, Mini-markets, Technology & Internet Services Stores, Clothing Stores and Imports & Exports businesses. During the program, the business owners may acquire new financial and accounting skills or tools, and entrepreneurship sense of the local business environment. We also strive for familiarizing businesses with new technologies, and provide guidance on access to financial resources.Testimonial
"I would say the consultancy exceeded my expectations! I had some initial worries and fears but none of those have been confirmed. The volunteers were very smart, resourceful, and polite! It was very admirable and moving to see how seriously, diligently, and respectfully everyone dealt with the Wildflower issues. As for the next steps, I know from experience that there is a big difference between knowing what you have to do and actually doing it. But I am ready to implement the deliverables and feel motivated to work on these" Wildflower shop ownerTestimonial
“I’d like to thank Global Brigades, my professor, and the other members of my team for the opportunity to complete a project aimed at helping a migrant-run business in Greece as part of the International Business course. The final product/tools our group delivered were aimed at increasing the business’ online presence and helping to ensure the success of a new rental service launched by our client. This experience has been life-changing, and being able to build a relationship and put a smile on our client’s face at the end was the joy in itself.” A Business StudentOur Program
Our Legal Empowerment program aims to increase access to the universal right to justice for refugee and asylum seekers in Greece. We focus our work on asylum seekers who would otherwise have limited to no access to legal resources, including those whose cases have been refused once and they need to appeal.How we work
With a focus on human rights education and partnered with the Greek Council for Refugees, we provide: Education on asylum application processes in Greece, and terms like safe third country; Comprehension of how GB and other organizations work to support integration, and get a glimpse of the Holistic Model for refugees in action, Support of the Legal education of unaccompanied minors in Athens.Testimonial
"This week has been incredibly eye-opening to the many challenges faced by refugees; both legal and personal. Additionally, this week exposed me to the complicated reality of attempting to claim asylum and integrate into a society that is actively deterring refugees." A VolunteerTestimonial
"Our group delivered a talk to a group of unaccompanied minors in a shelter for refugees. We talked to a group of girls aged 12-18 about human rights and consent, aiming to educate them on the rights and the protections at their disposal. It was incredibly moving to spend an afternoon connecting with these wonderful girls and despite having to communicate through interpreters, I believe we formed very strong bonds in our short time there."History
Global Brigades is a non-profit that since 2004 works to implement a unique holistic model to empower communities and reduce inequalities. GB Model builds community ownership with the end of creating self-sustained growth by implementing programs focused on key health and economic factors.
After an invitation of the UN International Office of Migration in 2018, Global Brigades set off Operations in Greece to help fill a void for health care services in the context of the Refugee Crisis. We assessed the situation in refugee camps in mainland Greece, partnered with the Greek Health Department, and started networking with other key actors in the field with the ultimate goal of implementing our mission. This required increased collaboration and partnership with local organizations, shelters, and volunteers that were already involved.
We started implementing and adapting our model in this unique setting and soon we were ready to pilot our Medical Program in Greece. This included providing more than 600 medical and 500 dental consultations as well as health and art-therapy Workshops with adults and children in Ritsona camp with the support of international volunteers. The insight gained by these efforts and an additional asset mapping and needs assessment in 2020 led us to the decision of establishing our own stable Polyclinic in Athens and launching the business program in 2021.
Contact Us
You can get in touch with the Global Brigades Greece team via the following.
General Inquiries
Phone: +30 21 6900 6736 / +30 69 8856 1427
[email protected]
NEWS & UPDATES
Here we will be adding all the news you need to know about Global Brigades Greece!
Global Brigades Greece is on social media!
We are excited to announce that in addition to our newly launched Global Brigades Greece website, we just launched our social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram! Here, we will be sharing information on all the great things happening at Global Brigades Greece. We look forward to posting regular updates on our Medical, Business, and Legal programs, bringing you lots of great information, and keeping in touch!
Job Post Farsi Translator
- Title: Cultural Mediator/Interpreter
- Location: Central Athens
- Languages: English and Farsi
We are looking for cultural mediators/translators to work in the Global Brigades Hellas Polyclinic at the center of Athens (Metaxourgio square).
The GB Polyclinic offers primary health services to vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on women’s and children’s health (pediatrics and gynecology specialties)
The Interpreter will be responsible for the accurate and effective interpretation and communication between Farsi-speaking patients, Global Brigades Healthcare Professionals Volunteers, and Staff in the Global Brigades Athens Polyclinic.
New GB Greece Partner: SAMS Hellas
| Global Brigades Greece and the Syrian American Medical Society – SAMS join forces to provide much-needed healthcare services to vulnerable populations in Athens.
Since March 2022, Global Brigades Greece and SAMS Hellas provide weekly care to children and women at the GB Athens Clinic. Every Monday, a Pediatrician and a Gynecologist from SAMS Hellas come to the Global Brigades Athens Clinic to conduct medical consultations, examinations and vaccinations. This partnership broadens the GB Greece clinic’s capacity to provide care to vulnerable populations in Athens. |
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STORIES
Check this space for stories at Global Brigades Greece. Learn about our volunteers, patients, business clients and staff!
GB Athens Polyclinic: A Glimpse to the Design Process!
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ARCHISEARCH.GR features our clinic, outlining how we managed to create a functional, warm and welcoming space for vulnerable populations through low-cost, sustainable design.
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Beauty in the Darkness by Joseph Hastings
| Meet Joseph Hastings, a student at the Montgomery Bell Academy that participated in March 2022, in an in-country Squad in Greece! During their time, the students volunteered at two shelters for unaccompanied refugee minors run by NGO Ekfrasis. |  |
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Meet Dr. Maria, Global Brigades Greece’s Medical Program Director
| Meet Dr. Maria, Global Brigades Greece’s Medical Program Director.
Maria is the Medical Program Director in Greece. She joined Global brigades in May 2021 to make sure patients at the Athens Clinic feel welcomed, safe and get the healthcare they need. As a Pediatrician, Maria sees children as young as 2 weeks old and until 16 years old. |
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INTERNATIONAL
Global Brigades Greece is only one of many entities of a big global organization that operates in three continents. Learn here more about what Global Brigades does around the world!
I brigaded in every GB partner country! Here's what I learned from each.
| Katie has been in all GB countries and shares with us her experience: In my travels to all six current Global Brigades partner countries, I’ve learned more than I’d ever expected to. Each partner country, let alone each community, taught me something new about GB, international relief work, or the needs of any given nation. Here’s what I learned first-hand. |
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GB's Best of 2021
| Along with the rest of the world, we became pretty accustomed to adapting to change in 2020. In 2021, we continued to welcome change and adapt amidst uncertainty. However, what makes Global Brigades, Global Brigades remained the same. As we welcome in 2022, let’s take a look back on 2021! |  |
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Our Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Related Programs
- Medical
- Dental
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Related Programs
- Engineering
- Public Health
- Water
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Related Programs
- Business
- Human Rights