What is the Global Brigades?
The Global Brigades is an international health organization that has worked:
-Honduras
-Guatemala
-Ghana
-Panama
The group has dozens of chapters at universities in six countries:
-United States
-United Kingdom
-Canada
-Germany
-Ireland
-Switzerland
Source: globalbrigades.org
• A Ball State international health group is traveling to Panama for Winter Break.
• They will construct a greenhouse and teach locals about sustainable living.
• The trip was at risk for a period because several members dropped out for financial reasons.
While most students will be traveling home to their families, students in Ball State’s chapter of Global Brigades, a student-led global health organization, are voyaging to Panama on Dec. 14 to participate in a humanitarian project for a week.
“We are all inspired to go out there and learn something new and different,” said Aisté Manfredini, president of Ball State’s Global Brigades.
The group will participate in an environmental project in the Piriati Emberá community, about three and a half hours from Panama City. Global Brigades will build a sustainable greenhouse with local trees and plants. They will take two days during their trip to educate local children and the community on sustainable farming and other methods to live sustainably.
Manfredini said poorly developed roads and little access to waste and recycling services causes the indigenous tribes to often burn trash or toss waste into rivers — something they are trying to change.
“It’s like a band-aid — you put it on and you leave,” said Derek Tepe, a sophomore natural resources major. “The program is ongoing and we are taking on what they left off.”
The trip almost didn’t happen. Manfredini said many students dropped out of the trip due to the cost, including the vice president.
To afford travel costs, students raised funds throughout the semester, selling Pulsera Bracelets and Buena Vida coffee in the Atrium. Students who participated but did not make enough to go on the trip are saving the money for a future brigade.
Manfredini funded her trip by sending out donation letters to coworkers, family and friends. She stressed that going on a trip is possible with some determination.
Tepe chose to go to Panama for more than the tropical environment. He said he and the group want to gain experience within their majors as well as connect with a different culture.
According to the Global Brigades website, a total of 100 volunteers from multiple universities have participated in the reforestation project in Piriati Emberá.
One of the biggest challenges the students will face is the language barrier.
Manfredini said two students are advanced in Spanish, but the Piriati Emberá tribe speaks a different indigenous language, so the group will have a translator with them at all times.
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