Stay connected by following us and engaging with us on social media! One of the best ways to stay in touch with Global Brigades is to check out our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! We often share community member testimonials, #MyGBStory posts from volunteers and staff, and our exciting initiatives. Don’t miss out!

Check out the Blog! Want to learn how to start a new Global Brigades Chapter? Looking for tips and tricks on how to write your Medical School Application? Interested in learning more about community banks and women’s empowerment? You can find all of that and more on our blog!

GB Week is an international celebration that aims to raise awareness about Global Brigades’ work and celebrate our collective impact. It’s an annual, week-long initiative for Global Brigades Chapters, staff, and community leaders to organize events on their campuses, in their local community and actively engage on social media.

As an organization, we make a huge impact as a result of the hard work and passion of three movements of people: volunteers, staff, and community leaders. This year-round dedication drives our organization. It is so important to take some time each year to mark and celebrate the positive impact we have all made both globally and locally.

Keep an eye on our social media for updates about the next GB Week!

Attend a Student Leadership Conference! Global Brigades Student Leadership Conferences are hosted across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. These events bring together leaders, staff members, board members and prospective volunteers to share best practices, learn more about Global Brigades’ sustainable development model, and think critically about volunteering abroad.

Check out our upcoming SLCs here!

At Global Brigades, we believe that service abroad and service locally within our home country are not mutually exclusive endeavours. Volunteers should think globally and act locally. Over the years, Global Brigades student volunteers have sought avenues by which they can apply skills learned through brigades to serve their own local community needs back in their home country. Local Initiatives are service projects designed to address the needs of local communities in student volunteers’ home countries. Through partnerships with third party organizations, local projects allow students to serve the very same communities that have been supportive of their Global Brigades experiences abroad in the past.

For a university Global Brigades chapter, Local Initiatives also serve to boost year-round student engagement and member retention, encourage students to be involved in Global Brigades chapters even if they are unable to travel abroad, and help to convey and promote the Global Brigades mission, vision, and values in communities at home.

Take advantage of your post-brigade excitement by growing the movement and getting others involved. Perhaps you were exposed to a different program of the Holistic Model that left you feeling inspired? Maybe you know a friend at another university that you know would love this experience? Feel free to fill out our New Chapter Referral form or Become a Chapter President form to get started!

As a student-led organization, our leaders on campus are the driving force behind our organization’s growth and development. Taking on a leadership position allows you to build professional skills while navigating complex team dynamics. Reach out to your brigade leader or Campus Chairperson to see what leadership opportunities exist on your campus.

While the news can feel overwhelming at times, being informed as a young adult allows you to become part of something bigger and connect with the rest of the world. It allows you to form your own opinions on important issues our world faces and vote with the experiences of others in mind. Don’t know where to start?

• Subscribe to “The Skimm” (their newsletter is a digest of news stories intended to be simple and easy to read)

• Check out podcasts that cover world events and other news (examples: New York Times’ The Daily, NPR’s Up First)

• Follow Instagram accounts that highlight news, current events or social justice issues (example: @nowhitesaviours)

For the same reason that you are asked to put your mask on first before you help others on an airplane, we must always be sure to take care of ourselves before taking care of others. While this seems obvious to some people, many of us struggle with the idea of putting ourselves first. Taking care of ourselves is the opposite of being selfish, as it strengthens us and enables us to support our loved ones better. We are no use to anyone if our energy is depleted because we have given every last bit of it away. Self-care is an antidote to stress, as it builds resilience so we can better cope with challenges.

One way to practice self care is through mindfulness and meditation. SKY Campus Happiness will equip Global Brigades university students & young professionals with a powerful daily SKY breathing meditation practice while also building connections with other student leaders in a dynamic, interactive virtual environment. SKY’s well-being program trains participants in the evidence-based SKY breathing meditation practice, breathing techniques, social connection, and mindful leadership! Please check out their Website and Youtube channel and keep an eye on your inbox for upcoming program dates.