FAQ

What does the cost of traveling on a brigade include?

Cost includes all travel from point of origin (home city or other US city of your choosing) to Cuba, within Cuba, and returning from Cuba to point of origin, and all room and board in Cuba (except during any free time we might have).

Do all brigadistas have to be interviewed and approved?

Yes. To prioritize the collective safety and security of the VB, and to ensure that all applicants are informed of recent changes to the brigade structure as well as program details and expectations, all applicants will be contacted for an interview.

What kind of voluntary work does the VB do in Cuba?

We do the work that is asked of us. The VB was founded in 1969 as a work project for US Americans to support the largest ever sugar harvest in Cuba. Accordingly, the first brigades worked cutting sugarcane. Subsequent brigades have continued this legacy in other areas of agricultural work as well as in construction and light manufacturing work. Recent brigades have planted and harvested fruits and vegetables in urban gardens, aided in post-hurricane housing reconstruction, painted university buildings, and assembled notebooks in a small factory.

Can I maintain communication with people in the US while in Cuba?

Some US cell phone companies provide roaming data/cell service in Cuba at an additional cost. Please check with your provider to find out what options are available for you. Our group will have access to Wi-Fi (sometimes free, sometimes for a small fee) at various points throughout the program, but not consistently. At the camp where we stay outside Havana, there are several internet-connected computers available for use at designated times throughout the day.