Frequently Asked Questions
1.
Do I need prior experience? Do I need to be in Life Sciences, Engineering, or Business?
2.
How much will it cost to go on brigade?
3.
Where do the funds I raise go?
4.
What kind of interaction will I have with the community?
5.
I am a pre-health student and I am interested in learning more about what it means to pursue a career in medicine. How can Global Medical Brigades help me?
6.
How is Global Brigades different from other medical volunteering programs I’ve heard about?
7.
I want to do more than just watch a doctor. Will I actually be able to participate in the examination and discuss potential diagnosis with the doctor?
8.
If I do not wish to travel for a brigade, can I still be a part of UTGB?
Everyone who is 18 or older can join. We have students of all interests and from all academic disciplines participate; passion and dedication are the most important requirements for our brigaders. Any skills you will need will be taught to you in pre-brigade education sessions or during the brigade.
Volunteers do not pay to participate in a Brigade. Instead, volunteers fundraise to support Global Brigades’ Holistic Model. Once a volunteer meets a set Donation Goal, they are eligible to join us on-the-ground to see their fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Brigade.
When a volunteer participates in a Brigade, the volunteer’s ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding that the volunteer raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation (e.g. medications, equipment, local doctors, pharmacists, construction tools, technicians, bank capitalization, coordinators, translators).
Here's a general breakdown of the costs (CAD unless otherwise stated):
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Donation goal: Medical ($1290​), Public Health ($1090), Engineering ($1290), Business ($1150)
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Airfare: ~$700-1000 (depending on the time of travel)
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Vaccinations: ~$0-$120 (depending on vaccinations that you or may not already have)
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Exit fee to leave Honduras: $40 USD
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US visa (if needed): $160
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Honduras visa (if needed): ~$30
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Brigade clothing (including taxes): T-shirt – $15.07, cap – $10.66, hoodie – $24.17
A unique feature of Global Brigades is the close student-community interaction. Students will have lots of opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture, as well as communicate directly with each family they are working with. Often times, by the end of the week, brigade groups feel a very strong connection to the family with whom they have been working—and the family to the students—and want to maintain a relationship with them.
Global Medical Brigades is a fantastic opportunity for pre-health students, or anyone interested in pursuing a career in the health field. Our Medical Brigades offer leaders the role to mobilize peers, travel abroad, and gain practical medical experience in rural communities in Central America and West Africa. Our one-week Medical Brigades allows students the opportunity to shadow local Honduran, Nicaraguan Panamanian or Ghanaian doctors, work in the pharmacies, perform triage — all aspects of a mobile medical clinic. The experience is invaluable for both personal and professional growth. Additionally, brigades serve as great topics for medical school application essays and as résumé items for volunteers’ professional development.
Global Brigades is unique in many ways. First, Global Brigades acts as an empowering movement by offering a Holistic Model for sustainable development and healthcare in the communities we serve. Unlike other organizations, we not only support our volunteers but also have an on-the-ground team that works with the communities to improve community health year-round. Global Brigades combats health discrepancies in our communities not only through medical clinics but also through public health and water infrastructure projects. We also send Medical/Dental Brigades to our partner communities every 3-6 months in order to provide sustainable medical care, until the community has the infrastructure to provide care to patients.
Specific volunteer experiences vary between brigades. Many of our doctors have been trained to create an inclusive and collaborative environment with the students. We encourage all our doctors to make the Medical Brigades an educational experience for the students, while still providing efficient and effective care for our patients.
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For patient safety, no volunteers will be allowed to do procedures that they are not licensed to do in their home countries.
Yes! Students can still be very active in Canada by taking part in various events that are geared to prepare for brigades, engaging in workshops on global health, Spanish, economics and education initiatives and fun activities for team bonding and networking.