GLOBAL BRIGADES
Nicaragua 2016
My service focus is on my Global Brigades trip. In the spring of 2016, I traveled to Nicaragua with the medical team. We stayed in Managua between March 12th and March 19th. We traveled alongside the dental team, sending 50 volunteers and 10 physicians total. We set up two medical clinics and attend to over 1700 patients in the span of four days.
Prior to the brigade, I attended weekly meetings that would last about an hour. There was a volunteers retreat and training to include team building, cultural exposure, debriefing, and Spanish lessons. A minimum of 30 hours of volunteer team work, fundraising, and exposure was completed prior to the week-long trip.
During the clinic experience, I worked in triage and intake while interacting with the local community. I assisted the physician during the consultation, worked in the pharmacy to distribute medications and personal hygiene supplies, and worked in “Charla” to teach the children of the community about germs and the importance of dental hygiene. Lastly, I assisted in data entry and other miscellaneous tasks to ensure the effectiveness of the clinic. Clinic days last around 12 hours plus commute time; followed by a volunteers dinner and about another four hours of data entry. The final day of the trip consisted of digging, shoveling, carrying rocks, and collecting supplies for a new water system in collaboration with the water brigade.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Global Brigades follows a holistic approach and we need to build trust with the community as the first teams to enter. After the medical and dental brigades are completed, other projects tailored for the country's welfare are set up. Our brigade worked in two communities in Nicaragua to set up medical clinics.
CIVIC AGENCY
As part of the first brigades sent to the area, working in the diverse team itself as well as interacting with the community, we built many connections. The volunteer team met prior to and following the trip to continue building relations. The team is the first of many to seek to assist the community.
CAPACITY FOR REFLECTION
The community had been previously promised medical assistance by other organizations that never arrived. This was an opportunity to build trust between the community and global brigades. By providing them with the tools and resources necessary to succeed, it was an opportunity to be dependable and honorable. This helped to build trust and reflect on the social impact between the team and community as they welcomed us into their space.
CAPACITY FOR SOCIAL ANALYSIS
The village visited had many obstacles while trying to improve and gain resources. There is a certain level of respect amongst the community members and a special care provided for their elders. Our brigade is important as it is the first in a multi-step program to improve the area and provide aid. Entering a space that values its members and consistently provides care for their elderly, even those who aren’t relatives, showcases a community’s values. It is imperative to understand the interactions between the community as it allows for greater analysis of the dynamics at play. The opportunity to observe the culture helps to expand my understanding of the social characteristics and the quality of life in the society.