Global Brigades

Gillian Gibson, 22, Mayme Lefurgey, 21, and Laura Stymiest, 20, are making a difference of global proportions. In 2008, the three Mount Allison University students formed a campus chapter of Global Brigades, the world's largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization.

"A friend of mine had been in Honduras and recommended the Brigades as a way to expand my interest in international medicine," says Laura, who recently completed her third year in honours biology and international studies at the Sackville university. "Gill, Mayme and I approached the university for assistance in making Mount Allison's first Global Brigade a reality."

With umbrella groups in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland, Global Brigades partners with student volunteers and professionals who work together to improve economic and health conditions in Central American communities. Since its launch in 2005, more than 4,000 volunteers from 110 university clubs have helped 100,000 people.

"Mount Allison was only the third club in Canada and the first in the Atlantic provinces," says Gillian, who recently received the university's top female achievement award along with an honours degree in international relations.

"The initiative grew from a small idea into a project with enormous potential," says Mayme, a recent honours sociology graduate who was also recognized for her student activism and community involvement while at Mount Allison. "Instead of signing up for an established brigade, we wanted to share this opportunity with others."

"We were delighted at the positive reception the group had at Mount Allison," says Gillian. "Few, if any, other groups enable students to travel overseas and work alongside physicians."

And that they did. For two consecutive years, these three young women who met during their freshman year flew south for their spring break — but not to party.