Glb Handbook

Welcome to Global Brigades! Dear Brigaders, It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to Global Brigades – the largest international student-led community development movement. What you’re about to embark upon is nothing less than a journey. A journey of inspiration, hard work, connection, commitment and more than anything – an international experience like you’ve never had before. It may sound grand, it may sound lofty. But just ask a fellow brigader. What you and your classmates have before you is an opportunity to make history. The people’s lives you will change are real, including your own! The partner organizations and communities you will work with will thrive because of your leadership and dedication. The most important step now is the first step – to get involved and to make a difference. Global Brigades programs in Panama provide hands-on international community development experiences. This is a unique opportunity to apply your education, intellect, and creativity to help micro-entrepreneurs, indigenous communities, or small farmers to realize their dream of escaping poverty and experiencing true empowerment. We encourage students to use this experience to build skills, networks, friendships, understanding, resumes, and a stronger connection to our global community. Thank you for your interest and leadership in Global Brigades. As a student-led movement, your brigade experiences and your club achievements will be exactly what you make them. Ask for more. Share new ideas. Keep the momentum alive. Wherever this experience takes you and your team, we’re here supporting you, every step of the way! Welcome to the GB family, Catherine Markman Catherine Markman CEO, Global Development Brigades

How to use this manual: This is a guide for new leaders of Global Law Brigades (GLB)Clubs in universities that describes the what-is and how-to of GLB programs. It is a manual meant to guide the club leader through on-campus brigade club formation, project execution abroad, and network expansion. Inside is a collection of GLB’s best practices, examples, and tips to ensure a high-quality approach to our mission as a student-led strategic development organization. Additional resources and templates are also available in the form of “Manual Supplements,” which can be obtained from the GLB Regional Advisor, or Law Brigades Director, Diane Dunn. Section I:

About Global Brigades and Law Brigades

Section II:

How to start a club

Section III:

Preparing for the Trip

Section IV:

The Brigade: Logistics, Housing, Transportation, and Food

Section V:

The Next Brigade: Project Assessment and Brigade Transition

Section VI:

GLB policies on conduct and payment

Section VII:

GB Panama Contacts

Some icons are repeated to catch your attention… WebSource: Templates and information are available on the GLB web site

Conference Call: Participate in a free conference call with regional advisors and country directors

Important Deadlines: Read Ahead and mark these dates on your calendar now! Online Payment Due: Make your 100% tax deductible payments on the Brigades Fundraising Site (BFS) Email: Contact your Regional Advisor or Law Brigades Director with questions and periodic updates

Table of Contents I. About Global Brigades and Law Brigades About Legal Empowerment What is a Law Brigade? Why Panama? How We Work in Panama What can a Brigade do?

II. How to Start a Club Achieve Official Club Recognition Club Relationship and Responsibilities Club Requirements and Performance Club Recognition, Benefits of Club Leadership, and Opportunities

III. Preparing for the Trip 1. Receive your Project 2. Recruit Club Members 3. Airfare and Payments 4. Prepare the Project 5. Fundraise 6. Health & Legal Requirements 7.Ready for Take-Off

IV. The Brigade Logistics and Housing Transportation and Food

V. The Next Brigade Project Assessment Brigade Transition

VI. GB Policies Conduct Payment

VII. GB Panama Key Contacts Your Comments

I. About Global Brigades and Law Brigades Global Brigades Mission: To empower students, professionals, and partner organizations with tools and resources to dramatically improve the health, economic, and environmental conditions in the world’s most in need communities. Accomplishments: Since 2005, more than 4,000 volunteers from 60 university clubs traveled with GB to implement health and economic development solutions for more than 50,000 beneficiaries in Central America, Ghana, India, and Vietnam. Currently we are focused on strengthening our multi-disciplinary brigade programs in Honduras and Panama. Current Focus: In Panama, our Global Development Brigades programs focus on community development projects within the categories of Law, Business, Architecture, and the Environment.

Program Missions: Global Law Brigades (GLB) is a secular, international volunteer network of students and law professionals who collaborate with local partner organizations serving at-risk communities to improve quality of life by implementing legal empowerment, human rights, environmental protection, and business law strategies for community development. Global Business Brigades (GBB) seeks to create sustainable economic development solutions to improve impoverished communities and their individual inhabitants. We advance this goal by empowering students to identify, improve and expand micro-enterprises in local communities. Global Architecture Brigades (GAB) is dedicated to the design and construction of socially responsible solutions to architectural problems in developing nations. University students utilize extensive community dialogue and independent research to create efficient, appropriate, and elegant structures to be embraced and utilized by those for whom they were built. Global Environmental Brigades (GEB) seeks to mitigate ecological degradation and develop sustainable environmental practices. The organization empowers university students with an educational and hands-on experience abroad to develop strategic environmental solutions in cooperation with local communities and organizations.

About Legal Empowerment Some of the world´s leading international organizations are working on legal empowerment to lift communities up out of poverty. Check out what the World Bank and the UN are saying about legal empowerment… The World Bank

“In developing and transitional countries around the world legal services organizations (LSOs) are working with poor people to enable them to gain greater power over their own lives. As lawyers for the poor, LSOs promote safety, security and access to justice and help poor people solve problems and overcome administrative barriers. While LSOs' work is about justice and making the rule of law a reality for the disadvantaged, it equally is about poverty alleviation and poor people's empowerment. LSOs help improve the material circumstances of the poor and empower them to improve their circumstances and participation in public life.”

The UN Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor (CLEP) “One of the staggering facts about poverty is that the vast majority of the world´s economy lives their daily lives in what is often referred to as the informal or extralegal sector.”

Legal Empowerment includes: •Access to Justice •Property Rights •Labor Rights •Business Rights

“When the majority of the world’s populations live their lives in the informal sector, and the formal economy is dwarfed by the informal, the result is lower growth, less revenue and less room for investment in health, education and infrastructure.” Naresh C. Singh, Executive Director, UN Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, Making the Law Work for Everyone, p. iii. The CLEP´s full report is available free online in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic at: www.undp.org/legalempowerment/

Law Brigades builds partnerships with LSOs in Panama, and uses the UN CLEP report as a program guide!

What is a Law Brigade? A Law Brigade consists of pre-law and law students who collaborate with legal professionals to work with disadvantaged communities to develop and implement legal empowerment strategies. Law Brigades are one-week experiences abroad that include hands-on work alongside community members to promote legal empowerment. Law Brigades currently operate in Panama with projects that complement Business, Environmental, and Architecture Brigades to alleviate poverty, foster human rights, and promote community development. Law Brigades programs create first-hand opportunities for youth and civil society to understand domestic and international legal issues in developing regions including international humanitarian law; migration and refugee issues; business licensing and organic and fair trade certification procedures; micro-enterprise laws; and, environmental and human rights concerns. We empower college students and law students to build relationships with established local and international legal, humanitarian, environmental, and development organizations. Law Brigades creates opportunities for volunteers to work together with communities served by these organizations. Our Values Include: • Fostering human rights • Respecting local culture • Preserving the environment • Promoting legal empowerment

Why Panama? Disparity and Needs: Financial incentives attract foreign investment in Panama. Unfortunately, the locals are often left out. Therefore the income gap is widening: while Panama City is currently building 200 new skyscrapers, the rural areas remain impoverished and underdeveloped •Highest inequality level, 5% of population share 60% of income • Average per capita income: US$4,400 • Population living below US$1.50 a day: 16.6% • Poverty in rural areas: 60% • Poverty among indigenous communities (nearly 10% of Panama´s 3.5 million people): 98%

Resources: Excellent networking resources with Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge). “The City of Knowledge is an international complex for education, research, and innovation. It has been developed to promote and facilitate synergy between universities, scientific research centers, businesses, and international organizations. The City of Knowledge is governed by a private, non-profit organization, The City of Knowledge Foundation, which was created in 1995.”

Accessibility, Infrastructure, and Safety: Many of the disadvantaged communities in Panama are easily accessibly with less than one day travel time National infrastructure is conducive to Global Brigade´s projects, and is one of the safest locations in the Latin American region for this type of work.

How We Work in Panama The GB Panama chapter is our newest Country Program! • GB Development Brigades programs in Panama empower local partner organizations to better serve under-resourced developing communities. Global Law Brigades volunteers contribute: • • • •

consulting and research sweat equity capital investment success metrics

• With our in-country directors and logistics teams, and our US Coordinators we have several brigade trips scheduled for 2009. Get ready to schedule your brigade! • In order to implement sustainable student-led projects, we collaborate with partner organizations including: • • • • •

US Peace Corps – Panama www.peacecorps.gov Earthtrain www.earthtrain.org Planting Empowerment www.plantingempowerment.com CREA Panama www.crea-panama.org Patronato de Nutrición www.patronatodenutricion.org

What can a Brigade do? Examples of Projects Include: •Access to Justice and Rule of Law: Collaborating with women´s organizations like Mujeres Unidas en Salud y Desarrollo (MUSADE) Law Brigades can help create pocket size Legal Resource Directories that will increase awareness of and access to free and low cost legal services for women in need. •Legal Discovery Process to Assess Community Needs: Consulting with local communities and legal experts to assess legal regulations for micro-enterprises and land use Law Brigades can help raise awareness of a range of viable options for developing and implementing legal strategies. •Alternative Dispute Resolution: Working with local partner organizations, Law Brigades can help by conducting interactive capacity-building workshops for alternative dispute resolution techniques including nonviolent communication skills, developing codes of conduct, negotiation, and mediation. •Land Use and Stewardship/Property Rights: Developing proposals and securing local legal experts Law Brigades can help local partner organizations working in communities to negotiate agreements and contracts for sustainable land use, increasing options for livelihood and improving quality of life for indigenous and small farming communities. •Business Rights: Providing local legal expertise for micro-enterprises including establishing legal personality or business licensing for organizations Law Brigades can help local partner organizations working in communities to navigate legal administrative procedures, and establish risk management and ethical guidelines for small businesses. •Labor Rights: Establishing and documenting good labor practices and business processes for micro-enterprises Law Brigades can help with preparing and submitting applictions for organic, fair trade, eco-tourism, and other certifications.

II. How to Start a Club Join an expanding network of university chapters by starting Law Brigades Club at your university! Take a leadership role in this exciting student-led international community development movement by becoming a club president or club officer. The first step is to contact the Law Brigades Director, Diane Dunn, at [email protected] to request a Regional Advisor for your geographic region. Regional Advisors are past club leaders or previous in-country directors/coordinators who have volunteered to help you every step of the way to prepare for your brigade trip. Your Regional Advisor is your source for sample materials, fundraising and recruitment strategies, troubleshooting, and expertise on all club matters. Once you are assigned a Regional Advisor, they will continue to follow up with you, via phone and email, to remind you of upcoming deadlines and provide any additional information you may need along the way. As a Club Leader, you act as a representative of the Global Law Brigades program on your campus. You are also your university’s ambassador to the national network of Global Brigades clubs. In addition, you will represent GLB and your university internationally with developing communities and partner organizations during your trip abroad. Your responsibility is to lead your team throughout the process of setting up the club, preparing for the trip and implementing the project. You will also help with project and leadership transition at the end of the brigade. Remember, you’re not on your own, Global Brigades’ mission is to empower students to form brigades and make a difference, and it is our responsibility to give you the tools you need.

Resources available to you include: · GLB Regional Advisor · Previous club leaders at your university · GB country directors · GB national advisors · GB founders · GLB website: www.lawbrigades.org · This manual and manual supplements

Note that on the GB management pyramid above, we have Club Leaders at the base. Global Brigades is student-led! You are our best resource!

Achieve Club Recognition A Global Law Brigades Club is official on two levels: it is recognized by your university and by Global Brigades as an official chapter. The benefit of being official on both levels is that you can take advantage of resources provided by each institution to gain support and retain structure on your campus. 1. Achieve official club recognition on your university campus. • Recruit a leadership team of friends and fellow students to join your club. • Find a faculty advisor and customize a club constitution • Submit an application to your school's Association of Students or other governing body that approves club affiliation. Universities have different requirements for club registration, check in advance! 2. Choose a week for your brigade • Contact the GLB Director, Diane Dunn, and request a week for your brigade • Select a Sunday-Sunday week and coordinate this week with your academic calendar (i.e. during Winter, Spring or Fall break) 3. Register your club on the GLB website and Global Brigades Fundraising Site (BFS). Email your Regional Advisor to: • Get Listed on the GLB club page • Add your institution to the Brigades Fundraising Site (BFS) • Get a globalbrigades.org email address ([email protected] ) • Receive an Info Session Powerpoint Presentation • Secure your brigade dates • Go over important policies and deadlines • Ask questions and get answers! • Remember, you only have to achieve club recognition from Global Brigades once, but check your university’s policy on club continuation. TIP: Forming the leadership team When choosing 3-4 dedicated students to join your leadership team, it is helpful to choose students from a variety of majors so that your club is multi-disciplinary in constituency and perspective, and so that you have more access to student volunteers and contacts outside your field of study. You may want to consider assigning roles according the tasks listed below. •Treasury (manages funds) •Travel Lead (collects deposits & books tickets) •Fundraising (internal & external) •Membership (Recruits new members and legal professionals for your brigade)

Club Relationship & Responsibilities National and Club Relationship GLB university clubs are separate groups that affiliate with GLB National. There is a distinction between the Global Brigades, Inc. 501c3 status and that of GLB clubs. Clubs are led by student volunteers who are GLB members and who adhere to GLB mission and vision by following closely to the guidelines and regulations of GLB National. GLB National provides the guidance and support to empower students who volunteer in direct service. There is consistent mutual dialogue and learning between GLB university club student members and GLB National.

Club Responsibilities Below is a breakdown of key responsibilities and duties of creating a successful club. It provides an overall outline of GLB values and objectives. Club Building •Attract new members •Retain existing members •Provide a setting for the free exchange of ideas and information Education •Create internal listservs •Inform members of GLB events and activities with weekly meetings and listserv announcements •Keep all levels of communication open and accessible to current members and potential newcomers •Collaborate with other clubs and GLB National to learn and refine best practices •Expand knowledge of legal empowerment, human rights, and sustainable community development principles and practices •Promote activities that expand on legal empowerment, human rights, and sustainable community development Partnership and Networking •Partner with other GLB clubs to increase impact of local clubs •Partner with local organizations that focus on legal empowerment and human rights •Provide ample opportunities for club members to engage with other like-minded organizations and departments to create open dialogue within campus

Club Requirements & Performance Club Requirements In order to better prepare you to maintain a successful club, GLB has developed a list of Club Requirements. Clubs that are unable to meet the minimum requirements are considered Associate Clubs and will receive help from GLB National to become official clubs. If your club faces challenges that inhibit you from fully complying with the minimum requirements, please contact GLB on our official website. In conjunction with Club Requirements, we have developed a system to encourage you become a Gold GLB Club, the highest level of achievement. The benefits of becoming Gold GLB Club include expansion of the scope and complexity of your projects. GLB National can showcase your success, help you with strategic partnerships, and advise you on grant writing proposals.

Club Performance GLB has three categories of clubs to reflect club minimal requirements and levels of performance. Associate GLB Clubs (1 year) •Members must officially register online •Sign official GLB club forms •Seek at least 10 founding members •Must conduct one brigade •Hold one annual campus fundraising or awareness event •Coordinate with GLB Advisors

Silver GLB Clubs (2-3 years) •Official University organization •A minimum of 20+ dues paying members (to be administrated and determined by each club) •Conduct at least 2 brigades •Successful transfer of leadership/power of club members •Hold 2 annual campus fundraising and awareness events

Gold GLB Clubs (3+years) •Established club •At minimum 30+ dues paying members (entailing 40% non seniors)* •Conduct at least 3 brigades •Complete at least 2 legal empowerment projects •Hold 2 annual fundraising and 2 annual awareness events •Hold professional forum/conference to present legal empowerment project In addition to the system above, we also evaluate each club’s professionalism, innovation, leadership, and generated social impact.

Club Recognition, Benefits of Club Leadership, and Opportunities Club Recognition GLB National annually publishes club performance (Gold GLB Club, Silver GLB Club, Associate GLB Club) on our website at www.lawbrigades.org. This is a great opportunity to showcase your club’s accomplishments to the network and friends. GLB relies on the innovation and passion from its members to implement successful legal empowerment projects in collaboration with our partner organizations in developing countries. As clubs successfully accomplish their projects, they gain the opportunity to pursue more complex endeavors and lead GLB’s approach to legal empowerment, human rights, and community development. Exceptional clubs and individuals will be recognized during the Annual Award Show at the GLB Annual Conference that features seven categories including: Outstanding Student, Outstanding Club, Most Innovative, Greatest Community Impact, Most Influential on Campus, Most Credited by In-Country Directors. The Annual Award Show allows you to be recognized by your peers and GLB National.

Benefits of Leading a GLB Club Club leadership provides personal and professional benefits to each person who becomes part of GLB. •Teaches you leadership skills •Enables you to hone your academic skills and talents to real world issues •Provides you with real world experience •Helps you create a national network of likeminded individuals •Helps you develop professional skills •Make a real difference in the world by creating positive social change

Opportunities with GLB National: •After graduation, GLB offers internship opportunities at the National level: Regional Advisors: Advise and assist GLB clubs in assigned geographical regions. Advisors focus on club and project operations and are the key contact between individual clubs and GLB National

To explore the possibility of getting involved at the national level contact the GLB Director, Diane Dunn. Positions are generally restricted to individuals who have prior experience in GLB operations domestically and abroad.

III. Preparing for the Trip By now you have started a Law Brigades Club on your university campus and secured a week for your brigade, and you’re ready to start preparing for the brigade trip! You’ll need to start preparing about 2-3 months in advance, in order to complete the seven pre-brigade tasks described on the next few pages. There are basically seven pre-brigade tasks: 1. Receive your project 2. Recruit club members 3. Book Tickets (NOTE: you may need to apply for visas for non-US citizens!) 4. Prepare the project 5. Fundraise 6. Take care of health & legal requirements 7. Get ready for take off! Time management is important, so you should create a timeline and set due dates to stay on top of specific tasks. There are a few specific deadlines regarding booking tickets, making payments, and getting vaccines. It’s a good idea to read ahead in this manual, look for deadline icons, and mark them on your timeline. There are three main conference calls you should plan to participate in. You will receive invitations from your regional advisor with an appointment, a call-in number and a code for a free conference call. Sometimes your Regional Advisor will also attach an agenda with action items. It’s important to attend these calls, as it gives everyone a chance to check-in, address issues, and answer questions as they arise.

1.Project Description

2. Project Check-in

3. Brigade Overview

1. Receive Your Project Each brigade is assigned a legal empowerment project to implement in collaboration with a local partner organization and/or community. The project can be implemented with some preliminary preparation during the brigade week. Your project assignment is based on Global Brigades criterion for sustainability, community needs, skills of your team, as well as the interests of your team. Your regional advisor will set up a conference call with you and the GLB Director. You can share the conference call invitation with your leadership team, your faculty advisor, and any one else you would like to participate. During this call, you will determine your project assignment. The GLB Director will be able to tell you about the legal needs and issues you will address, the cultural context, the partner organization and other relevant background information.

During or soon after the call, the GLB Director will email you a PowerPoint presentation which will include your Project Description. The slides will contain background information, a project title, partner organization contact information and a breakdown of basic project goals, objectives, needs, resources, proposed method and potential for sustainability. During the call, you’ll want to be able to tell your advisor and GLB Director the following: •Status of your brigade club •Status on securing a faculty advisor •Status of club leadership •Special skills/interests of your brigade •Anticipated brigade size: 10, 15, 20 or 30 participants? •Expected brigade dates: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall?

TIP: As the GLB Director will be calling from Panama via Skype, you could easily set up a laptop in a classroom and use the call to conduct an information session for potential new members, get new members involved in project preparation from the start, or give sponsors a good idea of the work your club will be doing in Panama

2. Recruit Club Members Using the project description, info session PowerPoint presentation, recruitment toolkit, website content, and any other resources you wish to draw on, build your brigade team. The minimum number of members for a brigade is 10 and the maximum is 20. The ideal number is 15 members. If you have 30 members it may be possible to arrange two brigades in separate communities during the same week.

Nine Key Recruiting Strategies: 1. Promote and publicize club events and brigade opportunities throughout the year using email listservs, recruiting tables, posters, Facebook, class announcements, chalkboard/whiteboard announcements, etc. 2. Participate in campus events including organization fairs, club days, freshmen orientation, and similar events. Take advantage of departmental listservs to create visibility among large sections of the campus population and specific interest groups. Target a diverse student population, and make sure announcements are titled with key words (Legal Empowerment, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Women´s Rights, Land Rights) rather than simply Global Law Brigades. 3. Hold several information sessions. Use PowerPoint presentations and supplementary materials in the recruitment toolkit supplement. Tailor materials to your audience and try to convey the importance and value of participating in a Law Brigade. 4. Provide clear next steps for potential members on how they can get involved. At end of every recruiting event provide: •General club meeting times and locations •Trip payment deadlines and processes (see travel policy supplement) •Contact information to receive more information about the club and upcoming brigade trip 5. Follow up with possible new members. Get full names, emails, and numbers of all interested parties. Create a recruiting email listserv (Google groups tools are great for this!) to convey information to interested parties. 6. Team effort! Make sure every current club member is responsible for actively seeking out future club and project members. 7. Contact Information! Bulletin boards, flyers, posters, listserv announcements and all other forms of publicity must have meeting times, locations, contact phone numbers and emails available year-round. Plan early to secure consistent meeting locations and contact information. 8. Diversity! Make sure your recruitment is directed toward a diverse audience, including freshmen and sophomores, Spanish speakers, and students with diverse fields of study. A diverse mix of club members will ensure successful brigades and a sustainable club. 9. Be creative and have fun! Once you have 10-15 club members, email your regional advisor, and go on to booking tickets!

3. Airfare and Payments The Global Brigades partner travel agency will help your brigade secure tickets as a group. Payments for both the tickets and in-country costs are made through the online Brigades Fundraising Site (BFS) according to the following procedure. Payment policy details can be found in the Travel Supplement. 1. Reconfirm the brigade dates with your members and GLB Regional Advisor. 2. Email GB contact at STA Travel to request available flights and approximate prices to relay to group: STA Contact: Brenda Dang Agents: Georgia Michlig or Abby Hartman Office: 972-538-8854 Fax: 972-315-9568 Email: [email protected] * For questions over the weekend, please contact your Regional Advisor.

3. STA Travel Agent researches optimal group flight and relays a quote to the Travel Lead. 4. ONE WEEK after initial info session club leadership must submit a $200 deposit on BFS. TWO WEEKS after initial info session all GLB participants must submit a $200 deposit online using the BFS. The Travel Lead is responsible for ensuring that all club members understand deposit due dates, payment timelines and policies upfront. 5. When ALL $200 deposits are collected on the BFS, email APF Travel to relay the following information: •Travel Dates and Preferred Times (we recommend Sunday-Sunday) •Departure City (airport) and Destination City (airport) •Number of Passengers •Names of Passengers 7. The APF Travel Agent will email a travel contract to the Travel Lead and CC your Regional Advisor to officially reserve flights for participants. Your Regional Advisor will update your university’s BFS page to reflect the remaining payment due. 8. FOUR WEEKS before departure: Final payment for airfare is due! The Travel Lead is responsible for reminding all participating club members to submit online payments and/or checks made out to Global Brigades to cover outstanding balance for airfare. 9. TWO WEEKS (14 business days) prior to departure: Total $850 payment for in-country costs due! APF Travel will email a reminder travel itinerary to all confirmed passengers, the Regional Advisor, and the GLB Director. Make sure each club member prints a copy!

4. Preparing the Project Every project will require different degrees of pre-departure preparation, and all projects benefit from any research and resources that can be gathered at the University base. The Legal Empowerment Action Plan (LEAP) is an exercise that will help you prepare the project as a group. The LEAP integrates three essential elements: Capacity Building, Legal Investment Fund, and HandsOn Work. It’s fun to prepare the project as a group! Set-up regular project preparation meetings at a designated on-campus site to get every one involved in researching, asking questions, collecting resources and forming your plan. For meetings, you may want to prepare an agenda, have some one take notes and set up a task list for the next meeting. Remember that your visit to Panama is an introduction to the legal issue and community involved, and you will necessarily be gathering a lot of information, assessing the situation, and problem-solving on the spot. Advance planning and formulating the LEAP gets you thinking, raises questions, inspires research, and helps you feel a little more prepared to engage on the project. Remember, your brigade is student-led development, so your club will plan how to execute the project! Note: once you arrive in Panama, it is likely that your LEAP will change based on the new information and perspectives that you will gain from your hands-on experience with the partner organization, community, and the region. This is part of the fun and adventure of applying your research and knowledge in real world situations! To be successful in professional situations you must be able to adapt quickly to new information and perspectives, and your brigade will give you a crash course in creativity and adaptation! You can ask your GLB Director to review your plan with you at any point, contact the partner organization for feedback and input, or run it by an expert at your university. Using your Project Description, Brigade Itinerary, and your club´s independent research to formulate the LEAP. Ok, so with 15 students, a Legal Investment Fund of $1500 and one week on site, HOW? By integrating capacity building, investment and hands-on work, you can make a measurable, positive and sustainable impact during your week on site.

To discuss your LEAP with the Country Director, or with a contact at the partner organization, ask your Regional Advisor to set up conference call.

Email your brigade’s LEAP to your Regional Advisor at least ONE WEEK before departure!

5. Fundraising Each brigade brings a Legal Investment Fund to Panama, which the team uses to invest in legal services, capacity building, legal fees or other related expenses. The minimum input for this fund is $100 per student, a sum that directly support s legal empowerment for the community Remember: the minimum goal is $850 to cover the program costs and the legal investment fund of $100 per brigader, but we encourage each club to fundraise more so there will be more resources for positive community impact. Why the required $100 donation? Each Brigade’s Legal Investment Fund is guaranteed to contribute up to $1500 to ensure that the legal needs of the community are financially sustainable. This fund can be utilized in a variety of ways. •Payment for local legal services and expertise •Capacity building to train community member(s) who will maintain follow up and advocacy efforts on behalf of the community •Payment for legal fees for business licensing, certification applications, etc. •Scholarship fund for community member(s) who wish to pursue legal education and/or professional training Fundraising more than the minimum is strongly encouraged, and will allow your brigade to invest in additional resources towards implementing your project, and making a greater impact. Fundraising is most successful and efficient on an individual basis. The Fundraising Toolkit is a collection of materials individuals can use to promote the GLB program and garner support. Have your club members send out a customized Support Letter to their friends and family asking for donations and warm wishes. Your brigade can also solicit monetary donations or matching contributions on behalf of the club from local businesses, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations. The sample Sponsor Letter can help you get started with approaching potential donors. Whenever possible, bring the sponsor letter and an informational brochure with you and meet potential donors in-person to discuss your brigade. The online Brigades Fundraising Site (BFS) makes it easy for individuals to solicit donations, point donors to the automated payment system, and keep track of climbing funds. The fundraising toolkit contains a manual with step-by-step instructions on how to set up the website and use it to collect funds. Remind club members to keep a record of donors and sponsors they have received donations from so they can send thank you letters/cards after the trip. All funds uploaded online onto your university’s fundraising webpage are 100% tax deductible!

6. Health and Legal Requirements Your brigade must comply with a few health and legal requirements regarding vaccines, passports, and insurance before departing the U.S. When your club members register online with the secure BFS they will record their birthdate, citizenship, passport number, emergency contact, health conditions, and other details necessary for international travel. Global Brigades uses this info to compile reports for each brigade to assist your club with tracking travel and addressing any concerns that may arise in connection with planning your brigade. FOUR WEEKS prior to the Brigade: Vaccinations are usually given at the school health clinic, or at any travel medicine clinic. Check for the latest health information with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention at: www.cdc.gov or call: 1.877.394.8747 Confirm that all volunteers are current for: •routine vaccinations •mandatory vaccinations •recommended vaccinations. Currently the only required vaccine for Panama is Yellow Fever: this must be taken four weeks before departure. Each brigader should share travel plans with all doctors they are currently seeing for medical care. Make sure brigaders get any medicines they may need for: diarrhea, motion sickness, as well as epi pens and benadryl for those with allergies, etc. Passport & VISA: You must have a valid passport to travel to Panama – check the expiration date! Before leaving the U.S., make two copies of the inside page of your passport. Leave one copy with a trusted individual at your university (i.e. an advisor) so that it can be faxed to you in case you lose the original. Stash one copy in your wallet or some where you will have it on you at all times. When you enter Panama, you will be issued a 90-day tourist visa, keep this document on you with your passport copy. Information about visas can be found on the Panama Embassy website: www.embassyofpanama.org/cms/immigration3.php Country-specific information can be found at the Migration Department website: www.migracion.gob.pa/eng/servicio.php?cont=paisvisa For any questions, contact your Regional Advisor or Program Director! Emergency Travel Insurance: All brigaders will purchase emergency SOS insurance, which is included in the airfare purchase, and will show up on the invoice from STA Travel at a cost of $35. If an emergency occurs while on the brigade the SOS insurance will cover medical and evacuation needs. Students may also be covered through their current health provider or through their University.

7. Ready for Take-off! You’ve spent three months recruiting, fundraising, and preparing the project. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush! ONE WEEK before departure: You will receive an invitation to participate in a Brigade Overview conference call. This call between you, your leadership team, your faculty advisors, your Regional Advisor, and the GLB country director is meant to go over in detail what to expect during the brigade week. This is your time for you to ask any last minute questions and alert us to any particular requests or needs. During or after the call you will receive a Welcome Packet which contains your itinerary, details on accommodations, food, and activities. You may want to organize a final meeting with all club members, to make sure everyone is prepared for the upcoming trip. Distribute the Welcome Packet and walk through it to answer questions and share travel tips. What to Bring: •PASSPORT and TWO copies of passport •yellow fever vaccination card •other important documents (i.e. visas) •flashlight/head lamp •non–perishable snacks •school supplies/bubbles (for local children) •spending money ($250 should be plenty) •bug spray (over 30% deet) •prescription medication and travel medicine •waterproof windbreaker/poncho •lightweight long pants, light sweatshirt •closed-toed shoes •hat, sunglasses, sunblock •camera/video camera •water bottle •shower sandals, towel •Swim suit (hey, you never know….) •travel-size toiletries (in checked luggage due to new TSA regulations on liquids)

How to Pack it: Panama is hot, humid, and wet. When on community visits, whatever you wear may get wet, muddy, and dirty, so don’t bring your favorite jeans, etc! In the city you’ll want to look presentable, but there is no need for high heels, expensive jewelry, or formal clothes. Leave hair dryers and most major electronics (ipods are ok) at home. Try to pack light. A large backpack or duffle bag should provide plenty of room for everything that you need to bring. We may moving back and forth daily between your accommodations and the community, so you may want to bring a small back pack for day trips. Medicine: keep in original prescription bottles, and always in your carry-on luggage. Be sure to follow security guidelines for liquid medicines. Bring some plastic ziplock bags to keep your camera, wallet, etc dry.

IV. The Brigade! Law Brigades are one-week experiences abroad that include hands-on work in collaboration with local partner organizations and alongside community members to promote legal empowerment, human rights, and sustainable community development. The week is a mix of educational workshops, cultural experiences, community engagement, project implementation, and fun activities! Frequently Asked Questions: •Who will pick us up at the airport? Every brigade is met at the airport by Global Brigades incountry coordinators wearing Global Brigades polo shirts. Your transportation will be waiting to pick up your group and your luggage. •Is Panama safe? Panama is very safe compared to other Central American countries. However, safety is always a concern when travelling internationally. As in most large cities, brigade members should take precautions against theft, stick to well-traveled areas and be alert to pickpockets. Do not display unnecessary signs of affluence or carry large of sums of cash, and be aware of your surroundings when using ATMs in public areas. Demonstrations and protest marches over various social political issues occasionally occur in Panama City, especially near the state university, and on main streets and highways. Brigaders will always stay with the group, and will be accompanied by GB coordinators. •What if someone gets lost? Every brigader will receive a wallet-sized ICE card (In Case of Emergency) with our coordinators’ cell phone numbers and accommodations’ addresses to keep on their person while in Panama. •Can I drink the water? Water is potable in Panama City, and brigaders will always have access to safe drinking water as needed. •What if I get sick? GB in-country coordinators are equipped with emergency medical kits, and always have an emergency plan to transport brigaders to medical facilities if emergency medical attention is needed. All brigade participants must have emergency SOS travel insurance (see p. 22 for more info about emergency SOS insurance. •How do I call home? Upon your arrival in Panama, an email will be sent out to your emergency contact, notifying them of your safe landing. Some U.S. cellphones have coverage in Panama City, and pre-programmed cell phones will be also be available to “rent”, should you want to call home during the trip. Please note that in some communities, cell service is not available. •Is there somewhere for me to store valuables? Your passport and any other necessary valuables will be stored securely at the Global Brigades headquarters in Panama City.

Logistics and Housing All in-country accommodations, all meals, and transportation are pre-arranged by Global Brigades, and are included in the in-country costs. While conditions in the rural or poorer areas of Panama are rustic, brigaders can be sure to have access to accommodations, food and transportation that is clean, safe and comfortable. Logistics Team in Panama: Global Brigades logistics services in Panama are provided by Wayra, managed by Pablo M. Garrón, who has twelve years experience working with the U.S. Peace Corps – Panama. Wayra carries accident insurance that covers GB volunteers, and develops emergency contingency plans for all brigades. Wayra handles all transportation, lodging, meals, and emergency services for our programs in Panama. Wayra (Logistics Company) Address: El Dorado, Av. Brostella. P.H. Don Manuel Mr. Pablo Garrón , Manager Phone: (507) 236 – 2789 Cel: (507) 6671 - 2545 Email: [email protected] Accommodations: Brigades will utilize accommodations at the Centro Para el Desarrollo Sostenible for all or part of the time in Panama. The Centro is a secure location with accommodations that are regularly utilized by government organizations, and the U.S. Peace Corps for conferences and training sessions. Brigades will stay here at the beginning and end of their trips. Additionally, some brigades will spend three to four nights in communities that are in more remote locations. Centro Address: Centro Para el Desarrollo Sostenible Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente Panamá (ANAM) Entrance to Farallon, Km. 115, Interamerican Highway Cocle Province, Panama Camping: Brigades that are housed in remote communities will pitch tents, and will be provided with camping mats and mosquito nets as needed. Please note that the camping supplies are rustic, so if you prefer to use high-tech camping equipment you may want to bring your own gear. You may also want to bring along a lightweight nylon travel hammock that you can hang up anywhere for a nice afternoon siesta! Camping is fun!

Transportation and Food Transportation: Brigades will travel within Panama in coasters (small buses), taking advantage of Panama’s Interamericana highway. When required allterrain vehicles will be available. Some locations (such as Emberá Purú) require transportation by boat.

Coaster!

Food: Meals at the Centro Para el Desarrollo Sostenible will be “comida tipica” prepared by the on-site kitchen staff. For brigades staying in remote communities the food will be prepared by local community members and supervised on-site. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions! Vegetarian options can be arranged (advance notice please!). GB will also snacks, peanut butter and jelly, and fresh fruit. Remember you can also bring some of your favorite trail mix, protein bars, and snacks to share!

Traditional meal at Emberá Purú fried fish and plantains served in a banana leaf dish eat with your hands!

Brigaders in a boat to Emberá Purú!

GB Community Director, Andrés Ramirez, with a Kitchen Crew at Emberá Purú

Chicken noodle soup at Emberá Purú … Que Xopá! As they say in Panama = What Soup! (i.e. What´s up?)

Comida tipica… In Panama a typical dinner could include rice, chicken, and beans or lentils.

V. The Next Brigade! Global Brigades programs strive to support the long-term sustainability of projects by partnering with local organizations, andcontributing consulting expertise, capital investment, sweat equity, and success metrics. We develop and implement week-long phases of long-term projects, and develop complementary multi-disciplinary development programs across law, business, architecture, and environmental brigades. The long-term success of your brigade, and positive impact for developing communities in Panama rely on maintaining enthusiasm, and transferring information and responsibility to brigaders who will follow your footsteps in the next brigades! Project Assessment: Post-brigade Assessment Report: The ultimate success of our brigades depends on careful preparation for the next brigade. The preparation begins with your Post-brigade Assessment Report and knowledge transfer to incoming students and/or other GB clubs. Post-brigade Presentation: The Post-brigade Presentation provides excellent opportunities to thank donors, and recruit new members for your club. Students often return to a busy schedule and quickly forget important details from the brigade, and it is important to encourage reflection immediately when your return to your campus. Celebrate! Make your Post-brigade Presentation a celebration! You can present awards to outstanding members of your club and donors. This will help you to reflect on the successes and lessons learned during your brigade experience, and collect knowledge that can be transferred to the next brigade. Use your project description, your Legal Empowerment Action Plan, pictures and notes from the brigade, and the project assessment report to create a presentation about your brigade. Media: The presentation can include any media you like - just remember to capture as much detail as possible! Show videos and slideshows of your brigade set to music. If you have lots of research and notes, write a case-study report or article for a newspaper, magazine, or online publication. Consider creating an on-line photo album (via Google’s Picasa, PhotoBucket, Shutterfly, etc.). Make a YouTube video and send out the link. Publicity: Organize the presentation on campus, and invite everyone who has been involved in your brigade or your club. Open the celebration to the entire campus community, and invite sponsors, faculty members, family and potential recruits to attend.

Brigade Transition Global Law Brigades intends to ignite the largest student-led legal empowerment movement on the planet! As you help expand the GLB network, help us also maintain the quality of the services we offer to our local partner organizations and developing communities in Panama. By being intentional in project and leadership transition, you ensure that future leaders and incoming members are prepared to expand the GLB network in a manner that maintains a highquality approach to the Global Brigades mission. Remember, Global Brigades is a student-led strategic development organization - in keeping with our values and philosophy, we want to continue to recruit members who are committed and motivated to making an impact. Project Transition: Project transition is the transfer of knowledge and strategy from one brigade team to the next. The key goals are to maintain momentum, improve impact, and minimize reinventing the wheel. The main tools to transfer knowledge and strategy are the project assessment report and the Post-brigade presentation. You may also want to help your partner organization transfer the project to a new brigade by providing an email introduction and staying in the loop during the first few exchanges.

Email Post-brigade Assessment Report to: 1. Regional Advisors 2. Program Director 3. Partner Organization

Schedule a conference call with your Regional Advisor and Program Director for check-in, guidance, and assistance with project transition.

Leadership Transition: Changing leadership can be a very precarious event for any club. Minimize risk by having established systems and processes that new officers can easily manage. Having achieved official club recognition is an important milestone. Make sure the next leader knows how official club status is maintained on campus. Make sure to transfer all valuable best practices like recruiting listservs, meeting places, a donor database, etc. The best place to start looking for a new leader is among current brigade members!

VI. Policies For your safety and security, there are a few GB policies in place regarding alcohol consumption, conduct, and pricing. Please make sure all volunteers understand and comply with the conditions of these policies, and sign any necessary waivers before departure. Conduct: Alcohol Consumption: Global Brigades (GB) does not promote underage consumption of alcoholic beverages; however, we are aware that under Honduran/Panamanian law, the legal drinking age is 18 years. If the volunteer chooses to consume alcoholic beverages in Honduras or Panama, they understand that they will do so responsibly and will accept restraint from the supervising host organization. In addition, alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited during the course of all professional collaborations and activities in Panama. Code of Conduct: All brigaders must sign the “Statement of Responsibility” agreement that specifies a mutually agreeable code of conduct for GB volunteers, staff, and affiliates in Panama.

Pricing: Pricing: Brigade prices are based on flat rate of USD $850 per person, plus airfare, regardless of group size. The quoted trip price consists of the following two elements: In-country Costs: USD $750 The In-country costs cover the cost of meals, accommodation, airport pick-up and drop-off, in-country travel (but not airfare), security, volunteer coordination, program development, country manager expenses, community team recruitment, logistical support and project consultants. Legal Investment Fund: USD $100 The Legal Investment Fund covers the capital investment that a brigade applies towards legal empowerment and/or legal services for their project.

VII. GB Panama Global Law Brigades Key Contacts CEO Global Development Brigades: Catherine Markman is the CEO of Global Development Brigades. She is a Global Brigades Co-Founder, and previously held the role of Director of Global Business Brigades. She has spent the last ten years working in both the private and non-profit sectors in the role of business in sustainable community development. As a Manager for Deloitte Consulting LLP, Catherine worked with Fortune 500 companies in international expansion efforts and helped build Deloitte’s Center for Non-Profit Leadership. Additionally, her prior experience includes launching a workforce development program for the U.S. Department of Labor, building infrastructure development models for India’s Planning Commission and working in a strategic capacity with a variety of international social enterprises and national organizations including the United Way, Peace Child, Israel and Goodwill Industries. Catherine graduated magna cum laude from Boston University and received her MBA from Oxford University, England. Email: [email protected]

Executive Director, Global Law Brigades: Diane Dunn is the Director of Global Law Brigades. She is based in Panama, where we are building collaborative relationships with local organizations like the U.S. Peace Corps, Patronato de Nutrición, Earthtrain, and Planting Empowerment. Law Brigades programs focus on legal empowerment, human rights, and community development. Diane´s professional and academic experience includes work with domestic and international organizations on legal empowerment, violence prevention, environmental justice, peacebuilding, disarmament, and migration. Diane also worked with the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) under the direction of Dr. Carlos Vargas Pizarro, who presented Costa Rica's case at the International Court of Justice in the Advisory Opinion on “Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons” (1995). Diane has a MA in International Law and Settlement of Disputes from the UN Mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) in Costa Rica, a MS in Journalism from University of Oregon, and a BA in Mathematics from UC Riverside. Email: [email protected]

Your Comments: Your comments on this handbook will help us improve it! Please take a moment to comment on the usefulness and accuracy of the information in this handbook, and please share any suggestions or insight as to how to make the next brigade experience better. You can email your feedback to your Regional Advisor or Program Director.

I. About Global Brigades and Law Brigades About Legal Empowerment What is a Law Brigade? Why Panama? How We Work in Panama What can a Brigade do?

II. How to Start a Club Achieve Official Club Recognition Club Relationship and Responsibilities Club Requirements and Performance Club Recognition, Benefits of Club Leadership, and Opportunities

Your Comments: III. Preparing for the Trip 1. Receive your Project 2. Recruit Club Members 3. Airfare and Payments 4. Prepare the Project 5. Fundraise 6. Health & Legal Requirements 7.Ready for Take-Off

IV. The Brigade Logistics and Housing Transportation and Food

Your Comments: V. The Next Brigade Project Assessment Brigade Transition

VI. GB Policies Conduct Payment

VII. GB Panama Key Contacts