News
July 6, 2009
An update on Honduras: Our leadership team and staff have remained in Tegucigalpa and are closely monitoring the political and social climate. We report that peace and order is experienced throughout the majority of Tegucigalpa and we have yet to see protests near our compound (outside of the city) or the communities we serve. We hope that the protests yesterday were the climax of the conflict and normalcy will come soon. We are disappointed with the current media sensationalism, specifically referencing the upheaval as a military coup when the decisions were made unanimously and democratically by congress and their supreme court (comprised of members of Zelaya's own party). We promise you a report from the ground that is as honest and to the point as possible, without any media hype. For your reference, the sentiment of the overwhelming majority, 70% of Hondurans are in support of the new leadership.
Poor communities in Honduras are now, more than ever, in need of empowerment and our assistance. That said, the safety of our volunteers remains our number one priority. We will be taking each brigade on a case-by-case basis on guidance of the U.S. Embassy. We are proceeding as planned for August brigades but have all plans in motion should we need to postpone the trip or move it to Panama. In the meantime, we encourage all to please stay the course and send positive energy for a peaceful and quick resolution.
June 29, 2009
Global Brigades is continuing to closely follow the current political situation in Honduras. We would like to assure all family and friends that all students and volunteers are safe, secure, and in no immediate danger. Please know we consider the safety of all our students and volunteers to be of utmost importance. GB has been and will remain in close communication with contacts at the US Embassy and Honduran partners to carefully monitor the situation. We will continuing providing updates as further information becomes available.
Posted by Office of CEO at 5:19 a.m.June 28, 2009
Global Brigades is fully aware of all of the political happenings in Honduras at this time and proper measures are being taken to address the situation. Currently, all brigade participants are safe and we are proactively working to get everyone home to the US. We are taking this situation seriously and will provide updates as news develops.
Posted by Office of the CEO at 10:47 a.m.June 27, 2009
Mount Allison's Club President, Laura Stymiest, was recently featured in an article in Telegraph-Journal for her efforts on her
recent Medical Brigade last February. Here are some of the highlights of the article:
Mount Allison Student Wins National Honour
"Laura
Stymiest, 19, of Fredericton, was the only New Brunswicker to make a
short list of young people on this year's crop of future leaders in
Canada"
"This
definitely gives me a big push and the motivation to keep going," said
Stymiest, a third-year honours biology student at the Sackville campus.
"It is all kind of adding up to my hope to be a doctor someday."
"Stymiest
co-founded the first Atlantic Canadian division of Global Medical
Brigades, a student-led organization that provides communities in
developing nations with solutions to improve quality of life."
"In February, she embarked on a medical mission to the rural communities of Honduras. Leading
a group of about 35 Mount Allison students, Stymiest co-ordinated
travel plans, recruited health professionals and translators while also
securing $35,000 worth of donated medication and supplies. The team medically treated 1,520 children and adults, while also providing dental treatment for another 200."
"I'm
getting a picture of what it looks like to work in the field and I
think it is something I want to do eventually," Stymiest said. "I would
like to do some work in Canada for sure and then maybe someday do some
policy-related work."
"What definitely drives me is the big divide between access to health care in developing versus non-developing nations."
"If
Laura has certain aspirations to do particular things she will meet
those goals and our world will be a better place because of it," said
Gayle Churchill, manager of student affairs at Mount Allison
University. "She is a leader at this university and someone who divides
her time over a number of activities while being highly respected by
her peers."
See the full article at: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/article/705440
Posted by Global Health Brigades at 12:50 p.m.June 17, 2009
UCSC in the News
The upcoming UCSC Global Medical Brigade was reciently featured in an article of Good Times. The Medical Brigade, which takes place in just one short week, will be the first first for this club. Some of the highlights are the article include:
"On June 21, Truong will lead a group of 20 UCSC students on a week-long
volunteer mission to Nuevo Paraiso, Honduras as part of Global Medical
Brigades (GMB), an international organization of more than 50
student-run volunteer clubs from around the world. GMB sends almost
1,000 volunteers to Honduras each year, where they “provide sustainable
health care to underserved villages.”
“Our main aspect is to give medical relief free of charge to the
people, but it’s not just about going there and handing out
medication,” says Truong. The organization recognizes the need to
address the roots of the problem in Honduras, where 53 percent of
people live in poverty or without access to healthy water resources,
and plans to do so with a newly instated Public Health Brigade. Three
Medical Brigade volunteers will set aside time each day to assist the
Public Health Brigade in tasks such as rebuilding lanterns and chimneys
(to lessen household pollution and improve ventilation) and educating
classes of Hondurans on hygiene —“like brushing your teeth and bathing
correctly, things we take for granted,” says Truong. "
“My own goal is to be able to put myself, not in a vacation kind of
trip, but an immersion kind where I will be learning a lot about how
much I am able to handle and put myself out there, especially as a
leader…Also, I want this trip to help me reassure myself that this
field is [what I] want to go toward.”
"Truong, Shahidi and the rest of the group hope to use their testimonies
to garner more interest among potential student volunteers and local
doctors and medical suppliers when it comes time to start planning for
next year’s trip. The group returns on June 27. Visit gtweekly.com for
a follow-up about their experience, and http://gmbslugs.weebly.com for the group’s official site."
See the full article at: http://www.gtweekly.com/20090615441957/news/education/slugs-catch-the-bug