Volunteer Resource Site
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Cultural Preparation
Cultural Preparation
Global Brigades empowers and mobilizes university volunteers to improve health and economic development in Central America, West Africa, and Southeastern Europe. Each partner country and their respective communities come from an array of cultural, social, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Dive into the difference between each partner country to begin educating yourselves on the unique backgrounds of each and the history of Global Brigades involvement through recorded webinars and their corresponding slides. These resources can be included into Chapter meetings to explore history, culture, and language where we challenge you to think critically about your role as a volunteer.
Ghana
Ghana became a Global Brigades partner country in 2011 where GB worked alongside community leaders and the Ministry of Health to complement programming in Central America at the time. Ghana programming currently focuses on healthcare, economic development, and clean water.
Each blue link below will guide you to the appropriate recorded webinar. Use this and the corresponding slides for yourself or to facilitate with a team.
A Brief History: Ghana – Begin with a brief history of Ghana and its attached slides.
Culture at a Glance: Ghana – Explore Ghanaian demography, economy, and more with its attached slides.
Language in Ghana at a Glance – Ghana’s official language is English. However, Slides 3 and 4 will give you a glance of other words and phrases you may hear on Brigade.
Greece
Global Brigades started its programming in Greece by invitation of the United Nations International Office of Migration and inpartnership with the Greek Health Department. Chapters have the unique ability to see the work of the Athens Urban Clinic on Brigade and garner a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and language of this Southeastern Europe partner country and its unique identity.
Each yellow link will guide you to a recorded webinar. Use this and their accompanying slides to introduce you and your Chapter into this topic.
A Brief History: Greece – Begin with a glance of Greek history and its attached slides.
Culture at a Glance: Greece – Explore the Greek economy, religion, and more. Attached slides will allow you to facilitate this information to your Chapter.
Language in Greece at a Glance – Brigaders are exposed to various languages in Greece. See this presentation to learn important words and phrases in Greek, Arabic and French, the main languages you will hear.
Guatemala
Guatemala marked the continued expansion of Central American partnerships in 2019 and our most recent addition as of Summer 2020. Guatemala programming currently focuses economic development, sustainable healthcare, and water sanitation to rural Mayan Guatemala communities.
Each blue link below will guide you to the appropriate recorded webinar. Use this and the corresponding slides for yourself or to facilitate with a team.
A Brief History: Guatemala – Begin with a brief history of Guatemala and its attached slides.
Culture at a Glance: Guatemala – Explore Guatemalan demography, economy, and more with its attached slides .
Language in Guatemala at a Glance – Brigaders typically hear Spanish when in Guatemala. However, Slides 3 through 5 will give you a glance of other words and phrases that are unique to this partner country.
Landscape view of a nearby area within one of our Guatemalan partner communities taken by GB staff on our pilot launch.
Honduras
Global Brigades started its programming in the country of Honduras where it quickly progressed into the organization you see today through the collaboration of community partners and local leaders. Chapters have the unique ability to see these partnerships on Brigade or TeleBrigade and a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and language of Honduras will guide you towards putting more context and critical thinking to your experience.
Each yellow link will guide you to a recorded webinar. Use this and their accompanying slides to introduce you and your Chapter into this topic.
A Brief History: Honduras – Begin with a glance of Honduran history and its attached slides.
Culture at a Glance: Honduras – Explore Honduran economy, religion, and more. Attached slides will allow you to facilitate this information to your Chapter.
Honduran Spanish for Brigade – Access slide 6 on the attached slides for Spanish language packets and tips for every brigade type.
Panama
The Global Brigades Holistic Model in Panama is inspired by numerous indigenous community partners and the dedication to fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration between communities and program implementation since 2008. Panama is the GB partner country with the strongest economic development program with over 20 internationally recognized community-owned banks in some of the most under resourced, rural communities. Take the opportunity to learn more about Panama and its own unique history.
Each blue link below will guide you to the appropriate recorded webinar. Use this and the corresponding slides for yourself or to facilitate with a team.
A Brief History: Panama – Begin with a brief history of Panama and its attached slides.
Culture at a Glance: Panama – Explore Panamanian demography, economy, and more with its attached slides.
Panamanian Language for Brigade – Slide 6 will give you access to Spanish packs for each brigade type.
