When Challenges Arise in International Development Work: Highlights from Fathayha Begum’s “Pandemic Pivot”

Aug 2, 2021 10:02:34 AM | Interview When Challenges Arise in International Development Work: Highlights from Fathayha Begum’s “Pandemic Pivot”

Hear from Global Brigades' CEO Shital Vora about how we found new ways to continue to make impact in our programming countries amidst pandemic challenges.

Published: August 2nd, 2021

Written by: Marketing Associate, Ashley Farhat

“The entire world has been disrupted on an extraordinary scale. However, for Global Brigades this new normal is simply yet another challenge to adapt to.”

Finding a Way Through the Pandemic

Sustainability is rooted in the ability to adapt to change. When Covid-19 swept away our world’s normalcy, Global Brigades found a way to continue to make an impact in our programming countries amidst travel restrictions, PPE shortages, and a plethora of challenges new to our organization and the world. As for many others during this time, the internet served as more resourceful than ever, and thus virtual TeleBrigades were initiated within just weeks.

“COVID hit and everything changed, there was no more travel, no more brigades. We had to quickly put our heads together and create a virtual programme that would make the same impact, have that same immersion, given the circumstances, and that is where we are today.” – Shital Vora, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Brigades

Student Volunteer participating in a Public Health TeleBrigade.

“Implementing sustainable systems with community empowerment at its heart is key.”

Making A True Impact Virtually

Our in-country staff is vital to the achievement of our vision, serving as our main point of contact to communities and their members. This has been showcased throughout the entire process of implementing virtual TeleBrigades. Amidst COVID, in-country community health leaders are trained to educate their fellow community members on practices to keep themselves safe. 

“We’re not just putting these programmes and infrastructure in, we’re actually training and having the community members be leaders of these initiatives. So that these things are embedded long afterwards. So, it is true change, it is true impact.” – Shital Vora, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Brigades

GB Honduras In-Country Staff Member, Carlos

Learn More From Fathayha Begum and Shital Vora

Read more about our path to redirecting international education and volunteer work amidst COVID in Fathayha Begum’s “Pandemic pivot: ‘The world has a lot of work yet, that needs to be done” featuring GB Co-Founder and CEO, Shital Vora.

Written By: Global Brigades