Safety

The safety of our student volunteers is Global Brigades' number one priority and is the single most important consideration when entering a community or choosing a project. Each country that Global Brigades is operating in has implemented safety protocols and policies to decrease any risk of danger and to ensure that any emergency can be properly handled in a prompt and professional manner. Each team also has the responsibility of administering regular risk assessments of the current political situation, the location of compounds and communities and transportation provided to volunteers. Below you will find frequently asked questions and answers related to our programs in Honduras, Panama and Ghana.

How is preparation for the brigade and travel handled to Honduras?

Global Brigades has an in-house advising team and travel team that coordinates groups and books all travel for brigaders. In terms of safety, this ensures that our team has accurate information related to the travel arrangements of every brigader. Our teams also tracks of important information needed for flights, insurance and emergency situations. If any flights are cancelled or delayed our travel team is an emergency contact for students and parents and will be responsible for contacting the airlines and re-booking flights. If the arrival flight to Honduras is canceled or delayed the travel team will make sure that students have the information needed for the next flight and will work with the airline to make sure the group has lodging if needed. If the departure flight from Honduras is cancelled or delayed Global Brigades staff will remain with the students and make sure that they have necessary lodging and food until the next flight.

If you have any questions related to your brigader's flight information, please contact the president of the group or the GB advisor for that school. If you have overall travel questions please contact [email protected].

If you have an emergency and need to get in contact with a travel coordinator directly, please contact Danielle Starry:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 330-605-3576

Which city do volunteers fly into?

The majority of all flights arrive to and depart from Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Who picks up volunteers from the airport?

All Global Brigades volunteer's travel itineraries are provided to all staff in Honduras. The Brigade coordinators and staff will be waiting for every group at the airport and will have adequate transportation for the students and luggage. The students will then be transported to the compounds one hour outside.

How will I know when the volunteers have arrived?

All students provide our GB Advising team with emergency contact information and emails. All contacts will be notified by email of the safe or late arrival of a group.

What kind of transportation is provided?

Global Brigades uses trucks and buses to transport student volunteers and luggage. All of the vehicles are safe, registered, insured and prepared to be driving through Honduran terrain. All of the drivers are trained, safe and aware of all emergency protocols.

Where do the volunteers stay?

All Global Brigades volunteers stay an hour outside of Tegucigalpa in a very safe, rural area near Nuevo Paraiso. The majority of groups will be staying in one of the two compounds:

Rapaco
Rapaco is a beautiful classic hacienda style compound. It has the normal GB amenities such as beds, sheets, towels, a washer and dryer for laundry, an abundance of bathrooms and showers, and bottled water for drinking. It is a secure compound with security staff working around the clock. In addition Rapaco has a small area in which to play soccer and countless hammocks which provide some of the best naps in Honduras.

Posada Azul
The more rustic of our two main compounds, Posada Azul offers an incredible few of the valley below. It has the normal GB amenities such as beds, sheets, towels, a washer and dryer for laundry, an abundance of bathrooms and showers, and bottled water for drinking. It is a secure compound with security staff working around the clock. Posada Azul is also located just up the hill from the Flor Azul Boys School & Farm, whose students are always ready for a game on their full size soccer field.

How soon can I find out where the students are staying?

Lodging and accommodations are highly dependent on group size and number of groups arriving to Honduras in a given week. Therefore, Global Brigade staff will not have specific information related to lodging until about one month before a brigade. Please ask the president or advisor of the group for this information.

What kind of security and staff is provided?

Every brigade group has trained GB staff coordinators, trained drivers and a trained police officer with them at all times.

What is the relationship with the local government?

Global Brigades has had very strong and formal relationships for the past 6 years with the US Embassy, National Police, Local police of each community we visit and National Military in Honduras. All 4 entities are 100% supportive of all Global Brigades related activities and also have worked together successfully. We have not had any issues to date due to our very high level of security. We have security officers on call 24/7, even during non brigade times, to ensure that each entity is performing at a high level and always in the know of any changes or improvements of the plans. We only work in rural areas where crime is low, if at all present. We also have VERY strong relationships with the local governments of each community, region, and municipality and much research is done prior to bringing anyone into the community.

What is the involvement of US Embassy and Department of State?

The US Department of State is contacted by the GB Travel Team and is provided with the names of volunteers traveling to Honduras for brigades. Additionally, we are in close contact with the embassy and are notified of any safety advisories.

Are the communities safe?

We have very strong relationships with our communities and have been working in them for 6 years through Medical Brigades. For the remainder of the programs (Public Health, Water, Architecture, Microfinance), before entering a community, the Global Brigades Research and Evaluation team collects baseline data and assesses community needs. Once they have narrowed down the number of communities, Global Brigades staff will visit the community to ensure that not only is it safe in the community, but that it is also safe to transport the students to and from the community. Many of our staff members are local Hondurans who also know the communities very well. If we were to ever find out a community was unsafe, we would no longer travel to that community with any students.

How do I know which community my student will be working in?

Global Brigades works in the Francisco Morazan and El Paraiso regions of Honduras. Staff can provide students with their specific community location at least one month before the brigade. To see the list of communities that Global Brigades currently serves in Honduras please go here.

What if a volunteer gets sick?

Should a volunteer get sick or hurt during a brigade we have full time doctors on staff to properly handle medical situations. If the student needs additional medical attention they will be promptly taken to a clinic or to the proper location by a GB staff member.

Do brigade coordinators have cell phones?

Yes brigade coordinators do have cell phones, however, these are only to be used in case of emergency. If a student needs to be in contact with a family member or friend in the US, it is highly recommended that they purchase an international plan on their cell phone.

Do students have access to internet and phones?

The students will be staying in a very rural area, therefore, the internet is very unreliable and is only available once during the brigade. As we mentioned before if a students needs to be in contact with a family member of friend in the US, it is highly recommended that they purchase an international plan on their cell phone.

Can I see an itinerary of the brigade?

The president or advisor of the chapter will be able to provide anyone with an itinerary of the brigade. General example itineraries can be found on each program page under What a Brigades Looks Like.

Are the students ever alone?

Students are never alone, as they are always together as group and with brigade coordinators at all times during the week from airport pick-up to airport drop-off. During the last day of the brigade the group has the option to visit a touristy town, Valle de Los Angeles, to purchase souvenirs and have lunch. During this time the students are always instructed to stay within the town and to always be with a group.

What if the group has to be evacuated?

Global Brigades has established an Emergency Evacuation plan should students need to go home. All students are required to purchase travel insurance (provided by Global Brigades) that involves a contingency plan in case the situation escalates and evacuation needs to occur. Additionally, the Global Brigades travel team works with all students and airlines to ensure that the students depart immediately and safely.

Who do I contact in case of an emergency?

Each student volunteer will be provided with the contact info of their brigade coordinator one month prior to the brigade. If you do not have this information you may contact the Honduras team only in emergency situations.

Quique Rodriguez – Operations Director
011-504-9970-9478 (Honduran Mobile)

Denia Morazan - Director of Administrative Services
504-9781-8025 (Honduran Mobile)

Nancy Amador - Chief Financial Officer
504-9760-1195 (Honduran Mobile)

General safety precautions

Of course, as with any travel to foreign countries, we ask all students to remain aware of their surroundings. Should they feel uncomfortable for any reason at any time, they should immediately speak with their club president or a staff member. We will do everything possible to ensure that our students feel as secure as they can during their time down here.