Greece
Volunteer in Greece to participate in sustainable primary healthcare clinics for refugees and other vulnerable populations in Athens. Your participation ensures asylum seekers and refugees have access to regular dental care and consults with the support of dentists from the Seeds of Humanity Clinic with which Global Brigades partners with.
What You’ll Do During a Dental Brigade in Greece
When your Dental Chapter travels to Greece, you’ll work alongside local dentists at the Seeds of Humanity Clinic in Athens on an appointment basis to:
- Provide primary dental health care for asylum seekers, mainly pediatric patients
- Work in intake
- Shadow dentists
- Provide health education workshops
- Make sure patients’ medical records are updated in our databases
Dental referrals are provided to specialists and the public health system for needs beyond the scope of the Brigade.
To develop an understanding of the unique needs and sensitivities of asylum seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable populations, you’ll receive intensive training before and during your Brigade.
Unlike some of our other program countries, there will be ample time to participate in cultural activities in the surrounding areas of Athens.
Background About Our Work in Greece
In 2018, Global Brigades was invited to Greece to explore filling a void for health care services for the Refugee Populations.
After the 2015 European Refugee Crisis, Greece became the main entry point to Europe for populations fleeing war and persecution. The vast majority of asylum seekers are stuck in transit in a country where many international health agencies lost funding to provide care and pulled out.
Our team traveled to Greece, validated the need, and grew enthusiastic about the enormous potential of adapting our tenants of development work. We clearly saw how our vision of our holistic model, empowerment of community members, and increased collaboration with local government and NGOs in this unique setting could support the needs of asylum seekers.
In 2019, we hired a local staff, and formed an official partnership with KEELPNO (the Greek health department) to support a program previously responsible for coordinating and providing healthcare services in all camps known as PHILOS2.
With our Pilots Medical Brigades, we were able to provide much-needed care in camps outside of Athens. This experience, and the strong collaboration with other local NGOs and the Athens Municipality, enabled us to identify the need for consistent regular care for refugee populations living in Athens.
Consistent with our programmatic methodology, we started implementing Medical Brigades to build trust and gather insight to develop a unique holistic model for refugees and asylum seekers aspiring for integration.
In 2020, we established our own stable Polyclinic in Athens to provide free, consistent, and broad health coverage to vulnerable populations. The Polyclinic, located in the center of Athens, receives patients referred by other NGOs, residents of refugee camps, and shelters for unaccompanied minors for regular check-ups, tests, and vaccinations. Volunteers directly support the permanent clinic to address the need for stable and consistent medical attention.
In 2024, Global Brigades partnered with the Seeds of Humanity Clinic, where patients, mostly refugees and asylum seekers, receive access to dental services such as cleanings, extractions, fillings, fluoride treatments, and regular check-ups, which can significantly help improve their oral health. Volunteers’ participation directly supports this partnership and permanent clinic to address the need for stable and consistent dental attention.
Dental Brigade –
7 Day Sample Schedule
Planning your Dental Brigade in Greece? Check out this sample itinerary which outlines the typical 7-day trip your Chapter will attend.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00am | Airport Pick up and Transport to Lodging Facility | ||||||
| 7:00am | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | |
| 8:00am | Dental Program and Screening Workshop Talk | Walk to Seeds Clinic | Walk to Seeds Clinic | Walk to NGO | Metro to the Acropolis | ||
| 9:00am | Dental Clinic | Dental Clinic | Dental Screenings | Visit to The Acropolis Museum and Acropolis | Transport to Airport & Airline Check in | ||
| 10:00am | Walk to Seeds Clinic | ||||||
| 11:00am | Dental Clinic | ||||||
| 12:00pm | |||||||
| 1:00pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | |||
| 2:00pm | Lunch | Workshop Preperation | Cultural Activity | Walk to the Lodging Facility | Transport to the Shelter | ||
| 3:00pm | Settle In | City Center Walk | Final Workshop | Workshop at Shelter | |||
| 4:00pm | Introduction to Global Brigades | ||||||
| 5:00pm | Workshop Briefing for Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors | Kypseli Walk/ GBG Business Program | |||||
| 6:00pm | Rest | Language Lesson | Rest | Rest | Transport to the Lodging Facility | ||
| 7:00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| 8:00pm | 1st Reflection/Expectations Setting | Refugee Talk & Unaccompanied Minors | Intake Station Data Input | Empowerment Talk | Reflection | Final Reflection/Celeberation (Rooftop) | |
| 9:00pm | Movie Night | Greece Quiz and Greek Language Lesson | Reflection | Intake Station Data Input | |||
| 10:00pm | Intake Station Data Input | ||||||
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! | Lights Out! | Lights Out! | Lights Out! | Lights Out! | Lights Out! |
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | Airport Pick up and Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 7:00am | |
| 8:00am | |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | Settle In |
| 4:00pm | Introduction to Global Brigades |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Rest |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | 1st Reflection/Expectations Setting |
| 9:00pm | Movie Night |
| 10:00pm | |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | |
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Dental Program and Screening Workshop Talk |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | Walk to Seeds Clinic |
| 11:00am | Dental Clinic |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | Lunch |
| 3:00pm | City Center Walk |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Language Lesson |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Refugee Talk & Unaccompanied Minors |
| 9:00pm | Greece Quiz and Greek Language Lesson |
| 10:00pm | Intake Station Data Input |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | |
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Walk to Seeds Clinic |
| 9:00am | Dental Clinic |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Workshop Preperation |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Workshop Briefing for Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors |
| 6:00pm | Rest |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Intake Station Data Input |
| 9:00pm | Reflection |
| 10:00pm | |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! |
| Day 4 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | |
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Walk to Seeds Clinic |
| 9:00am | Dental Clinic |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Cultural Activity |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Kypseli Walk/ GBG Business Program |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Empowerment Talk |
| 9:00pm | Intake Station Data Input |
| 10:00pm | |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! |
| Day 5 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | |
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Walk to NGO |
| 9:00am | Dental Screenings |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Walk to the Lodging Facility |
| 3:00pm | Final Workshop |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Rest |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Reflection |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! |
| Day 6 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | |
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Metro to the Acropolis |
| 9:00am | Visit to The Acropolis Museum and Acropolis |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm | Transport to the Shelter |
| 3:00pm | Workshop at Shelter |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Transport to the Lodging Facility |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Final Reflection/Celeberation (Rooftop) |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out! |
| Day 7 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | |
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | |
| 9:00am | Transport to Airport & Airline Check In |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | |
| 11:00pm | |
Costs and Fundraising
In order to participate in a Dental Brigade, all volunteers must meet a Donation Goal by fundraising as part of their commitment to a Brigades Chapter. This is not considered a payment for a specific trip, but support towards Global Brigades’ Holistic Model.
Donation Goals for Greece Brigades start at $3,180 USD*.
Once you meet a set Donation Goal, you’re eligible to join us on the ground to see your fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Dental Brigade.
When you participate in a Dental Brigade, your airfare, ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding you raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as equipment, local dentists, pharmacists, translators, and support staff.
Global Brigades’ travel team will work with your Brigade to book airfare**.
Once a volunteer meets their Donation Goal, they have up to 1 year to participate in a Dental Brigade.
*coming from outside the US, Canada, or the UK? Talk to our team about donation goals.
** for UK Chapters, airfare is not included in your Donation Goal
Donation Goals for 2025 Greece 7-Day Dental Brigades
| Volunteers | Donation Goal (USD) | Donation Goal (CAD) | Donation Goal (GBP) |
| 8+ | $3,180 USD | $3,810 CAD | £1,180 GBP |
*Chapters with less than 8 volunteers must be paired with another chapter.
Sustainable Health Fund
A portion of each Donation Goal supports our Sustainable Health Fund which enables year-round health care in partner communities carried out by our local teams. Specifically, the Fund supports initiatives of the medical program that enable sustainable transitions such as the Community Health Workers/Entrepreneurs, Patient Referrals, Community Pharmacy, and the ongoing impact evaluation of the program.
Safety
Volunteer safety will always be our absolute top priority. Global Brigades recently engaged Askari International Security, an industry leader in international risk assessment, to complete a comprehensive risk/safety assessment of all brigade operations.
A full explanation of safety precautions and procedures can be found on our “Safety & Insurance” page.
Safety Highlights in Greece
- Global Brigades is an active member of OSAC (the Overseas Security Advisory Committee) and receives up-to-date security and safety briefings from the U.S. State Department.
- We have established relationships with local partners and organizations to gain trust and access to the refugee and asylum seeker population.
- Full-time local Global Brigades medical personnel are on-call at all times.
- We adhere to the IVPA standards of international volunteering.
Lodging Facilities
Global Brigades does an annual safety review of all lodging facility partners each year. Lodging facilities provide pillows, bedsheets, and towels. Facilities are typical hotels with showers, toilets, and sinks with running water) as well as filtered clean drinking water.
Novus City Hotel
Brown Kubic Hotel
Brown Kubic Hotel is one of the current lodging facilities for Brigades in Greece. Global Brigades has done a safety review of this hotel. It is located right at the Center of Athens, only 10 minutes on foot from the GB Athens Clinic.
To Spiti
To Spiti lodging facility is run by Global Brigades Greece for volunteers. It is located at the center of Athens, opposite the city’s second-largest public park, Pedion Areos (meaning Fields of Mars). It is an approximate 20 minute walk from To Spiti to the Greece Polylinic.
Join a Dental Brigade in Greece
Get in touch with our team to start a Dental Brigades Chapter or join an existing group traveling to Greece. Talk with our experienced staff about the impact you can make in under-resourced communities, available scholarship opportunities, and how this opportunity will connect you with other passionate students on your campus.
After filling out the form, we will be in touch to provide you with the next steps.
This DONATION is non-refundable
This DONATION is non-refundable Global Brigades, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation will be used to further Global Brigades' mission and will be allocated toward the program you selected. This donation will not be utilized to fulfill a chapter or a volunteer's fundraising goal. Read Global Brigades, Inc's full Donation Refund Policy here.
Looking to donate to support a volunteer's fundraising goal? Find their Global Brigades Chapter by searching our Chapters map and then selecting their upcoming brigade. If you need help finding their chapter, you can ask the volunteer to send you their brigade's specific website link or you can contact us.
By making this donation, I agree to the no-refund policy
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