The Brown University Brigade (July 23rd-July 31st, 2011)

The Brown University Brigade came to us from different areas mostly concentrated in the Northeast region of the United States. They were a diverse and energetic group that came together to partner with the Guachipilincito community. During the short time they were here for they accomplished many goals. One of them was establishing a relationship with the community to create a healthy relationship with the newly constructed health center. This included meeting with the local health committee and visiting people’s homes. Another goal was to see patients in surrounding communities and within the health center. Over the week they managed to see over 300 patients. Lastly, the brigade helped celebrate the clinic’s inauguration at the end of the week. All of this was accomplished while having fun and coming together as a team. The Brown brigade helped to continue a long-term relationship with the Guachipilincito community that will last for many years.

. A picture of the whole brigade during a birthday celebration of one of the local employees. As you can see it was a great group.
.
A picture of the whole brigade during a birthday celebration of one of the local employees. As you can see it was a great group.

The brigade started to implement a health database for the community. Here members of the brigade are working overtime to find ID numbers of patients.
The brigade started to implement a health database for the community. Here members of the brigade are working overtime to find ID numbers of patients.

After many hours of organizing the pharmacy the brigade was ready to see patients.The brigade brought many of medications and also had a pharmacist to work with the doctors
After many hours of organizing the pharmacy the brigade was ready to see patients.The brigade brought many of medications and also had a pharmacist to work with the doctors

Reflections from brigade members:
“Thanks all for a very successful Brigade and a momentous launch of the Guachi clinic.  As we discussed, it was the great team effort that made it all possible.”
“I am very proud to have been a part of what was accomplished during the brief period in Guachi.”
“The list of ‘what got done’ spans from seeing patients, screening, setting up the charting and data system, setting up the pharmacy, orienting the new nurse, providing screening to an outlying community, and opening the clinic for business.  Sorry to have missed the grand opening celebration — hope it went well.  As for bringing sons along, would put that in the ‘priceless’ category.”

“I had such an amazing week with you all and can’t even begin to say how much the trip has impacted my thoughts on just about every aspect of life.”

Brigade Reflection Quote: Adventure

Shoulder to shoulder is an incredible adventure. The smiles and the gratitude of the patients we treated was a humbling experience. These people struggle with very few basic human needs met and we come from a country with so much! It was a complete pleasure to provide dentistry to these patients. The participants on on the trip were diverse wonderful people with so many hidden talents, Tango Dancing! Spanish fluency? Every participant had something to contribute and the cooperative skills of all of us created a memorable experience and an impact on the whole community. I would highly reccomend the trip to anyone with a sense of adventure and a willingness to contribute to those who are suffering. Spending three weeks with my daughter was definitely a bonus!!
Kate

Brigade Reflection Quote: Poverty

To me Should to Shoulder is life altering and faith affirming. Living in the United States and, especially for me, in a city and around suburbs, you think you have an idea of what poor means. Before this trip poor to me included those people living in government provided housing, relying on welfare checks, foodstamps, disability, etc facing difficult decisions on how to afford living. I still consider this a terrible situation in my mind and feel for those in that position, but after traveling to Guachipilincito I have learned the true definition of this word. Poor is having little to no money at all, no transportation, no access to medical care, and no clean water. Poor is not being able to afford to feed your young children more than one meal a day. Poor is walking miles in the heat with no shoes on to solicit much needed medical care. However, in these poor people, I found the richest supply of love and faith and contentment I’ve ever seen. The pure happiness and joy the people of this region exuded for each and every day was incredible. The thankfulness and the countless blessings they bestowed upon myself and the members of the brigade were sincere and intimate. Returning to my life in the states has been a different experience. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t recount how the simple things in life are the most beautiful, and how thankful and full my heart should be for what I’m able to do and what I have. I hope to continue to return the wonderful people in Honduras many times more and who knows what other lessons I could learn….  Maura