Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Donate Now!

The Global Architecture Brigade site has added us to their donation list. You can donate directly to our UNCC student chapter with just a few simple clicks. Joey and I have been working hard on grant and scholarship applications. Every little bit counts, we are getting very excited about this opportunity becoming a reality.

Spencer

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Exciting News from Global Environmental Brigade

Hey everyone,
here is an email I got from Michelle Menclewicz, the U.S. Program Director for Global Development Brigades:



Hey there Brigaders!

I thought you might be interested to know....

Global Brigades just had its first Environmental brigade in December and it was a huge success! The students at UC San Diego have paved the way for Environmental Brigades for both the students and communities in Panama. We can't wait to see more student groups make a difference in these communities!

Anna's (All-star GEB Director) brief description of the brigade:

"We installed two solar panels (after lessons at a university in PMA with
electrical engineering Panamanian students), built and shed using
traditional Kuna building techniques, helped with waste management, taught
environmental education workshops and skits, jumped off waterfalls in a
crystal clear river, had a beach day on a deserted island, ate lobster and
conch, ran around with a Smithsonian forester and the Director of the
Biodiversity Museum, and more! It was an amazing experience had by all and I
couldn't have asked for a better team of support."


Want to know more?!

Check out their blog and pictures:


Here are some direct quotes from the students who went on the brigade:

"I honestly believe that GEB as an organization is one of the best ways to bring students, international communities, and culture together in a way that shows humanitarian work is not only doing something amazing for someone else, but doing something amazing for yourself."

"This is my first time being involved in an organization such as GEB and after my experience in Panama, I regret not getting involved with the organization sooner in my collegiate career."

"I love that I can say that I've been to Panama, something that most could not say with pure conviction. Not only has this brigade allowed me to educate others about the environment, something very important to me; it has allowed me to expand my own horizons and I look forward to doing something very similar in the future."

"Our time in Panama was one of the most memorable and amazing things I have ever experienced."

"The water was clear, the coral reefs were beautiful, and the white sand plus the coconuts were as if we were standing in a postcard."

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I hope this gives you a better understanding of an Environmental Brigade! If you know anyone who you think would be interested in participating in our environmental projects or any Global Brigades project in Panama or Honduras please have them reach out to me!

We are so proud of our Global Brigades team and the brigaders from UCSD who made this possible!

GO 2010!
Michelle


--
Michelle Menclewicz
U.S. Program Director
Global Development Brigades

Mobile: 949-290-0986
menclewicz@globalbrigades.org
www.globalbrigades.org