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 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.

Greece: Global Brigades works in refugee camps in Greece:

The camps are managed by the Greek government which has partnered with NGOs such as the Danish Refugee Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization of Migration (IOM), a UN agency. These NGOs have site management teams in all of the camps in charge of coordinating all camp logistics and services provided to the residents. Global Brigades and the other NGOs offering services, only operate in the camps when IOM Site Management teams are present to ensure access to security.

The camps we currently work in are located on land owned by the Greek government. Many of the camps were built on old Army bases. Consequently, in several of the camps, we work in, Army bases are in close proximity which provides an added security benefit. There is an IOM (International Organization of Migration) SMS (Site Management) team within the camp at all times that provide us with additional security benefits.

While in the camps, Brigade Coordinators are responsible for maintaining a professional and safe work environment for the volunteers and camp residents. All coordinators are trained to respond to first aid emergencies. Transportation is available 24/7 during the brigade in case of emergencies

Global Brigade partners with government entities to sustainably run our programs. We have maintained very strong relationships with authorities in 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:
GB 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, GB’s community projects are only done in rural areas where crime is low (if barely existent) and where relationships have been long established.

Greece:
GB Greece has built and maintains very strong relationships with IOM and the SMS team. These authorities, as well as the Greek government, are aware and supportive of volunteer activities and collaborate on how we can strengthen programs through regular NGO working group meetings. Global Brigades and the SMS team are always connected through a camp Whatsapp group chat, mobile phones and email.

Prior to each brigade, all 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 towards our brigade operations in-country.

Greece:  As volunteer projects within refugee camps have become prevalent in the last couple of years the Embassy and DOS are well accustomed to accommodating for safety and concerns of volunteers.

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

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 by volunteers.

Before entering a community, the GB 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.

Greece:
Global Brigades Greece is not the only NGO actor operating within the camp. There are around 3-5 NGO actors that usually operate within camps which we have strong relationships with. Our team has been added onto all of the NGO actor security channels and we are able to receive immediate notice of any risks or concerns. The presence of other NGOs provides an added security benefit as they have been working with camp residents for years and can provide additional support and perspective.

A common misconception is that residents are not allowed to leave the camps. The camps on the mainland where we work are not detainment centers. Residents are allowed to freely come and go as they please. The same residents that you see in camp, you may see around the city in Athens running errands, etc. Considering these residents are treated as any Greek citizen would be and are equally subject to abide by Greek laws goes to show camps are as safe as other communities.

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:
Many of the NGO actors which operate in the camp drive from Athens every day and are able to access camp with their standard vehicles.

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:
• GB International Office, +1-206-489-4798, or email admin@globalbrigades.org

Honduran 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)

Greece Contact:
Tina Voulgari – Executive Director: +30 693-698-0665 (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.

We understand that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the way travel and international volunteering works. We have developed protocols following each of our programming countries’ government requirements. For more details click on each country flag

Panama
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Honduras