Senior Nursing students, Olivia Harter and Rylee Pfoutz. Photo Courtesy of SAU Global Brigades.
A team of St. Ambrose students spent their spring break this year in Panama on a trip with Global Brigades, assisting rural communities by providing dental and medical care to those in need.
Senior nursing major Olivia Harter says, “Overall, our purpose was to help people in their communities with areas they were lacking and to help promote overall well-being and safety.”
Global Brigades is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to “uniquely implement a holistic model to meet a community’s health and economic goals. This model systematically builds community ownership and collaboratively executes programs with the end goal of sustainably transitioning to a relationship of impact monitoring.”
SAU students spent eight days in Panama and visited two communities, Cerro Cama and Colón. While there, they provided health education about water sanitation and drinking clean water, hand washing, teeth brushing, and other hygiene practices. They also triaged patients, examining their health history and providing them with the necessary care, whether it was dental cleanings or extractions, or giving a medical diagnosis and prescribing medications or antibiotics.
Harter adds that the trips are beneficial for all majors, not just nursing majors.
“We had students who were nursing majors, education majors, psychology majors, occupational therapy majors, and more. It doesn’t matter your major or area of expertise; anyone can come and make a difference.”
Students Reflect on Impact, Growth, and Connection
Rylee Pfoutz, another SAU senior and nursing major who was on the trip, says this experience really changed how she thinks about community health and justice.
“I honestly got everything and more out of this trip. I met new people and made friendships with like-minded students and staff that I hope to keep. I got to help some of the most deserving and kind people, and I feel like I grew so much as a person. Seeing how kind and appreciative people were, even when they might have been struggling, was eye-opening. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Harter shares the same sentiment, saying she will “forever have a family in Panama.”
“It was amazing to see how much a group of 25 could accomplish in a foreign country in a short amount of time. I was blessed to have this experience and work with such great individuals. It felt really good knowing our group went down there and left an impact on multiple communities.”
Pfoutz and Harter both recommend future Global Brigades trips to other students.
Pfoutz says she was inspired after seeing other students participate in service trips.
“I love the idea of traveling, experiencing new cultures, and helping others. I think if you can, you should definitely go on a brigade, or at least join the SAU Global Brigades Club. And bring your friends. I pushed a couple of my friends to go, and I’m so glad they did. Global Brigades does a great job of balancing the service work with fun activities, so you get to help people, experience new things, and still have time for fun.”
More About Global Brigades
Global Brigades is a university-powered movement dedicated to changing, saving, and improving lives around the world. According to the organization’s website, its main focuses are on health and well-being, sustainable infrastructure, and economic empowerment.
The organization reports that its volunteers have made a significant impact, conducting nearly 2 million patient consultations, investing more than $12 million in community banks and businesses, providing nearly 70,000 people with access to clean water, and training 789 community health care workers.
With more than 2,000 chapters worldwide, including one at SAU, Global Brigades has raised a total of $148,797,145 to support its mission, according to its website.
As Global Brigades continues its work around the world, St. Ambrose students say the experience has inspired them to carry those lessons of service and global health into their future careers.
Pfoutz added, “Even though there’s always help needed everywhere, I think it’s incredible that groups like Global Brigades organize these trips so we can give back in other countries.”
