Greece
Vulnerable Populations Support Medical Brigade
Chapters work alongside local doctors to provide primary health care for asylum seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable populations in the GB Athens Clinic. Volunteer participation ensures asylum seekers and refugees have access to regular medical care and consults with the pediatricians, gynecologists, and ophthalmologists of the GB Athens Clinic. Volunteers work in intake, shadow physicians, provide health education workshops, and make sure our patients’ medical records are updated into our databases. Medical referrals are provided to specialists and the public health system for needs beyond the scope of the brigade.
Background about our work in Greece
In 2018, Global Brigades was invited to Greece to explore filling a void for health care services for the Refugee Populations. After the 2015 European Refugee Crisis, Greece became the main entry point to Europe for populations fleeing war and persecution. The vast majority of asylum seekers are stuck in transit in a country where many international health agencies lost funding to provide care and pulled out.
Our team traveled to Greece, validated the need, and grew enthusiastic about the enormous potential of adapting our tenants of development work: holistic model, empowerment of community members, and increased collaboration with local government and NGOs in this unique setting.
In 2019, we hired a local staff, and formed an official partnership with KEELPNO (the Greek health department) to support their PHILOS 2, the program previously responsible for coordinating and providing healthcare services in all camps. With our Pilots Medical Brigades we were able to provide much needed care in camps outside of Athens. This experience, and the strong collaboration with other local NGOs and the Athens Municipality, enabled us to identify the need for a consistent regular care for refugee populations living in Athens.
Consistent with our programmatic methodology, we started implementing Medical Brigades to build trust and gather insight to develop a unique holistic model for refugees and asylum seekers aspiring for integration. In 2020, we worked on establishing our own stable Polyclinic in Athens to provide free, consistent and broad health coverage to vulnerable populations. The Clinic, located in the center of Athens receives patients referred by other NGOs, residents of refugee camps and shelters for unaccompanied minors for regular check-ups, tests and vaccinations.
Medical Brigade –
7 Day Sample Schedule
To develop an understanding of the unique needs and sensitivities of asylum seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable populations, volunteers will go through intensive training prior to and during their brigade. For the majority of the Brigade, volunteers will help conduct medical services at the Urban Clinic in Athens on an appointment basis and conduct health workshops for patients. Unlike some of our other program countries, there will be more time to participate in cultural activities in the surrounding area of Athens.
Medical Internship –
14 Day Overview
Medical Internships provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of community needs and healthcare access. In addition to receiving introductions to Global Brigades’ Holistic Model and the medical program, interns prepare for their time abroad with virtual programming and telehealth clinic days before the in-country portion of the internship. During their two weeks abroad, participants shadow licensed healthcare professionals at mobile medical clinics that assist asylum seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable populations.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00am | Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Clinic Day | Intro to Refugee Crisis | Clinic Day | Preparation for Health Education Workshop | Health Education Workshop | Depart for Airport | |
| 10:00am | |||||||
| 11:00am | |||||||
| 12:00pm | |||||||
| 1:00pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | ||
| 2:00pm | Medical Presentation | Clinic Day | Introduction to the Holistic Model: Business Program | Clinic Day | Free Time | ||
| 3:00pm | Settle In | Athens Tour | |||||
| 4:00pm | In-Country Orientation & Introduction to Global Brigades | ||||||
| 5:00pm | Cultural Activity | Language class | Kipseli Walk: Visit to Business Clients & NGOs | Cultural Activity | |||
| 6:00pm | |||||||
| 7:00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| 8:00pm | Reflection | PA Talk | Reflection | Reflection | Reflection | Final Reflection |
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | Settle In |
| 4:00pm | In-Country Orientation & Introduction to Global Brigades |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Reflection |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Clinic Day |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Medical Presentation |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Cultural Activity |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | PA Talk |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Intro to the Refugee Crisis |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Clinic Day |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Language Class |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Reflection |
| Day 4 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Clinic Day |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Introduction to the Holistic Model: Business Program |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Kipseli Walk: Visit to Business Clients & NGOs |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Reflection |
| Day 5 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Preparation for Health Education Workshop |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Clinic Day |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Cultural Activity |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Reflection |
| Day 6 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Health Education Workshop |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Free Time |
| 3:00pm | Athens Tour |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Final Reflection |
| Day 7 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Depart for Airport |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | |
| 8:00pm | |
How Do I Join a Medical Brigade?
Get in touch with our team to start a Medical Brigades Chapter or join an existing group. Talk with our experienced staff about the impact you can make in under-resourced communities, available scholarship opportunities, and how this opportunity will connect you with other passionate students on your campus.
After filling out the form, we will be in touch to provide you with next steps.
Volunteer Donation Goal
In order to participate in a Greece Medical Brigade, all volunteers must meet a Donation Goal, this is not considered a payment, but support toward Global Brigades’ expansion in Greece. Once a volunteer meets the set Donation Goal, they are eligible to join us on-the-ground to see their fundraising efforts put into action by participating in the brigade.
During this Greece Medical Brigade, the volunteer’s ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding that the volunteer raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as equipment, local doctors, pharmacists, translators, and support staff.
Airfare is not included in the standard Donation Goal. However, Global Brigades’ travel team can work with volunteers to book airfare and incorporate the airfare expense into the volunteer’s Donation Goal.
2022-2023 Greece 7-day Medical Brigade USD –
2022-2023 Greece 7-day Medical Brigade CAD –
2022-2023 Greece 7-day Medical Brigade GBP –
Donation Goal Details
The donation goals listed are for volunteers joining an existing Global Medical Brigades (GMB) Chapter on a university campus, with a brigade group size of at least 12 volunteers. Scholarship opportunities are available for volunteers to meet their Donation Goal by starting or referring a new chapter. Once a volunteer meets their Donation Goal, they have up to 1 year to participate in a Medical Brigades.
| Impact Level | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | Scaled | 30 or more | $1,250 |
| Minimum Volunteers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | Empowered | 18-29 | $1,350 |
| Donation Goal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | Sustainable | 10-17 | $1,450 |
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Safety
Volunteer safety will always be our absolute top priority. Global Brigades recently engaged Askari International Security, an industry leader in international risk assessment, to complete a comprehensive risk/safety assessment of all brigade operations.
Lodging Facilities
Novus City Hotel
Brown Kubic Hotel
Brown Kubic Hotel is one of the current lodging facilities for Brigades in Greece. Global Brigades has done a safety review of this hotel. It is located right at the Center of Athens, only 10 minutes on foot from the GB Athens Clinic.
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This DONATION is non-refundable
This DONATION is non-refundable Global Brigades, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation will be used to further Global Brigades' mission and will be allocated toward the program you selected. This donation will not be utilized to fulfill a chapter or a volunteer's fundraising goal. Read Global Brigades, Inc's full Donation Refund Policy here.
Looking to donate to support a volunteer's fundraising goal? Find their Global Brigades Chapter by searching our Chapters map and then selecting their upcoming brigade. If you need help finding their chapter, you can ask the volunteer to send you their brigade's specific website link or you can contact us.
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