GB Week: Why This Movement Matters—Now More Than Ever

Every year, GB Week gives us a moment to pause, not from the work, but within it.

It’s a chance to step back from planning meetings, fundraising, and travel logistics, and remember why Global Brigades exists in the first place: to bring students, professionals, and communities together in partnership to build lasting change.

GB Week isn’t about checking boxes or highlighting a schedule of events. It’s about reconnecting to the heart of our movement, and recommitting to the values that guide how we show up in the world

A Student-Led Movement Built on Collaboration

Global Brigades has always been more than a trip.

It’s a student-led movement grounded in the belief that meaningful impact starts with listening, collaboration, and long-term commitment. Across countries and campuses, students choose to lead not because it’s easy, but because it matters.

GB Week celebrates that leadership.

It honors the late nights spent planning, the conversations that challenge assumptions, and the moments of reflection that shape how students think about healthcare, equity, and their role in the world.

Why GB Week Matters Right Now

In a world that often prioritizes speed and surface-level solutions, Global Brigades continues to choose depth.

Depth in relationships with communities we work with.
Depth in preparation and reflection.
Depth in understanding the systems that shape health and opportunity.

GB Week reminds us that this work isn’t transactional. It’s relational. It’s built over time, through trust, humility, and shared responsibility.

This week is an invitation to reflect on that commitment. And to celebrate the people who make it possible.

Voices From the Movement

“Volunteering with Global Brigades was an eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of sustainable development and community collaboration. Working alongside several local leaders and fellow students taught me how collective action can create lasting impact. It’s an experience that strengthened both my professional skills, my passion for medicine, and my sense of global responsibility.”
 — Kalson Salah, Ohio State Medical Brigade

“For many of us, access to healthcare is a distant dream, a challenge we face daily. Your team arrived as a beacon of hope, bringing not only essential medical supplies and expertise but also a spirit of genuine compassion and kindness that touched the hearts of every person you treated. We saw the tireless dedication in your eyes during the long hours, the comforting smiles that eased our fears, and the gentle touch that made all the difference during a vulnerable time.”
 — Marlene Alvarez, Community Health Worker at Trio, Belize

“I believe our work in Global Brigades brings to life the holistic model we aspire to achieve. From the care we provide in the clinic, to the workshops we lead in shelters, to the support we offer to our business clients and the legal cases we study, each effort contributes to the same mission. Together, these experiences embody the impact we strive to make.”
 —  Lydia Papadopoulou, Operations and Logistics Executive at Global Brigades Greece

More Than a Moment, it’s a Source of Momentum.

While GB Week happens once a year, what it represents carries forward every day.

It lives in chapters recruiting new leaders.
 In volunteers preparing thoughtfully for Brigades.
 In alumni continuing to engage with global health and service.
 And in communities who remain at the center of every decision.

GB Week isn’t a pause from the mission. It is fuel for what comes next.

How to Be Part of GB Week

However you engage this week, by attending a Chapter or GMB event, sharing a story, reflecting with your chapter, or simply taking a moment to reconnect with your “why,” you are part of this movement.

And this movement is stronger because of you.

GB Week is a reminder: when students lead with purpose and collaboration, meaningful change is possible.