Squads are virtual or in-person international service-learning programs with a skill-based focus that support the health and economic development objectives of community partners abroad. Since 2004, our organization has collectively mobilized more than 70,000 international volunteers to help resolve global health and economic disparities around the world.

Squads Abroad is the high school division of Global Brigades. Global Brigades is a 501c3 international non-profit that empowers communities to meet their health and economic goals through student volunteers and local teams. 

Learn more about Squads at squads.org.

Squads Abroad is unique in many ways. First, Squads Abroad acts as an empowering movement by offering a Holistic Model for sustainable development and healthcare in the communities we partner with. Unlike other organizations, we not only support our volunteers but also have an on-the-ground team that works with communities to improve community health year-round. Squads Abroad combats health, economic, and educational discrepancies in communities not only through medical clinics, but also through public health, water, and economic infrastructure projects. We also work with our parent organization Global Brigades to provide regular access to ongoing support until the community is ready to transition into a relationship of impact monitoring.

Squads Abroad volunteers travel to Central America, West Africa, and Southeastern Europe to participate in a one-week volunteer opportunity in remote communities. Squads Abroad allows volunteers to participate in various activities to support health, economic, and educational outcomes in under-resourced schools. Volunteers with all levels of experience and skills are welcome and encouraged to participate in our volunteer programs.

The safety of the participants is Squads Abroad’s number one priority and is the single most important consideration when entering a community or choosing a project. Each country that Global Brigades & Squads Abroad serves in has implemented safety protocols and policies to decrease any risk of danger and to ensure that any emergency can be properly handled in a prompt and professional manner. 

Before entering a community, the GB Research and Evaluation (R&E) team collects baseline data, assesses community needs and secures buy-in from the local leadership. Each community is visited by the operations team of the local Global Brigades office to ensure that it is secure and safe for transporting the volunteers to and from the community. If the in-country leadership team ever feels that the safety of participants is compromised in any way, students would be immediately withdrawn from the community.

Please check out our Refund and Cancellation policy.

Volunteers fundraise to support both the logistics of their time in-country as well as Squads Abroad’s Holistic Model. Once a volunteer meets their program's donation goal, they are eligible to join us on-the-ground to see their fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Global Squad.

When a volunteer participates in a Squad program, the volunteer’s ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding that the volunteer raised supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as equipment and supplies, translators, and support staff. Funds raised are also allocated to execute our initiatives in healthcare, WASH, and economic development in all of the countries where we work.

Visit our parent organization Global Brigades’ financials page to learn more.