About GHRBHuman Rights Brigade volunteers work to provide financial literacy, micro-enterprise counseling, and promote community-based credit and savings cooperatives. A Brigade consists of working, on a household and individual level, to conduct workshops on financial literacy topics and small business development consulting. Volunteers work in small groups to get to know their clients and address the financial and/or business needs and challenges of the client. Human Rights Brigade are designed for volunteers of all backgrounds to be able to fully engage and contribute in the implementation of economic development.
Volunteers serve as economic development catalysts by investing into the community credit and savings cooperatives. The investment is turned into seed capital for loans or is used to match savings accounts of those participating in the financial literacy workshops. Working side-by-side with community members affords volunteers the opportunity for cultural exchange, micro-finance, and consulting experience. Clients benefit by learning personal financial management techniques and business skills, while gaining access to credit and savings opportunities. Between brigades our in-country team maintains relationships with the community bank to provide follow-up and measure outcomes. |
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Global Human Rights Brigade Officers 2013-2014
President: Alexandra Cruz
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Vice President: Giovanni Cruz
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Outreach Chair: Now Recruiting!
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Fundraising Chair: Now Recruiting!
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What Does a Human Rights Brigade Do?
Human Rights Brigades volunteers work with Panamanian lawyers to provide pro-bono legal consulting to rural communities. Volunteers offer services through a free legal clinic, where volunteers shadow and assist lawyers as they provide legal consulting to community members. Volunteers also work to incorporate
unregistered communities to empower them with rights and government benefits that they would not have received otherwise. Human Rights Brigades primarily works with rural communities that are under resourced and largely unaware of their legal rights. Additionally, volunteers provide legal capacity building workshops on
various legal concepts to empower communities through education. Between brigades, Global Brigades' in-country staff works to secure legal outcomes and provide follow-up to the community
unregistered communities to empower them with rights and government benefits that they would not have received otherwise. Human Rights Brigades primarily works with rural communities that are under resourced and largely unaware of their legal rights. Additionally, volunteers provide legal capacity building workshops on
various legal concepts to empower communities through education. Between brigades, Global Brigades' in-country staff works to secure legal outcomes and provide follow-up to the community
Why Panama?
Panama is the current focus of Human Rights Brigades, where since 2007, more than 1,800 student volunteers have traveled to implement Brigades’ sustainable development programming. Human Rights Brigades communities are selected based on high need for legal resources and reception to receiving legal education and guidance.
Important Statistics about our Community Partners:
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Program Contribution
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