Volunteer in Nicaragua

  Nicaragua

Granada,  San Juan del Sur

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All year round; Monday preferred start dates

Description:
Projects Available

Orphanage Assistance/Street Children
Work in local orphanage homes or shelter for abandoned children. All of these children have come from poor families and suffer from malnutrition and neglect. Assist the limited staff to care for these children. Organize recreational activities, educational activities, sports, arts, crafts, and be the nurturing heart and helping hand that can encourage the children and local staff.

Teach/Tutor
Assist the local teachers at public schools and community centers with their English classes and other subjects, and provide an inspirational native tongue to the students. Or, act as a role model for struggling teenagers and adults through informal education classes. Most of these students have dropped out of school, but want to look at alternate opportunities to continue their education.

Social Welfare Development
Work in facilities that help the poor communities of an area. Provide support to at-risk and at-need women and children to learn values, manner, and life skills to become self-sufficient and obtain a higher level of education. Past projects range from tutoring, cleaning, carpentry, program development, sewing, cooking, childcare, business skills training, administrative, date entering,

Health/Medical Clinics
Work alongside community health and medical clinics. Be a friend to patients, assist medical staff, and organize health/nutrition classes. Knowledge of nutrition, health and medical field are preferred for these project.

Environment/Ecology Conservation (in San Juan del Sur only)
Learn and practice how to be a living example of nature conservation. Assit the local community build and repair water filters, and work on agricultural sites. Duties include restoring and improving the grounds, plantations and facilities. Interact with the local communities and expand your knowledge with reasons, benefits, and ways to be more environmentally friendly.

Building/Construction Maintenance (in Granada only)
Lend an extra hand with a variety of laborious jobs. Assistance for building, painting, gardening, and wiring are needed for a variety of projects. Experience and knowledge helpful but not required.

Highlights:
Cultural Embrace Offers
* Guaranteed volunteer placement and pre-departure preparations
*Volunteer projects vary
* Basic, clean & comfortable housing with at least 2 meals a day, 6 days a week
* First week (~15-20 hours)of Spanish language lessons. (Additional lessons available upon request before or during volunteer placement)
* Airport or bus station pickup and transfer
* Medical Traveler's Insurance
* Arrival Orientation
* Cultural & Volunteer Kit: useful information to prepare you for your adventure abroad
* Full-time pre-departure and local support
* Visa assistance (if applicable)

Cultural Embrace will assist you with the process to obtain the proper visa, but we have no control or guarantees of government issuances and visa availability.

Qualifications:
- Volunteers must be at least the age of 18 (or with parent consent.)
- Most projects minimum commitment of 1 week, maximum 12 months.
- Basic Spanish skills. Most programs include Spanish language course, and additional classes can be added before or during your volunteer project.
- Enjoy working and serving others in an underprivileged and struggling environment
- Open to foreign cultures and living abroad.
- Dependable and dedicated to full-term of commitment
- Responsible and conscientious with volunteer projects and accommodations

Cost in US$: From US$1050 for 1 week

Credit Available: yes

Salary / Pay: International Traveler's Medical insurance is included

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Cultural Embrace's typical participant is someone that wants to be more than a tourist; we want you to interact with the local culture and community you are visiting. Strong, independent, initiator, flexible, adaptable, open minded, with a good sense of humor.

Age Range: 33

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Nicaragua Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

Cultural Embrace's Mission Statement: Our mission is to encourage people to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity. We believe that visiting a place firsthand allows one to truly experience the authenticity of a culture and develop his/her own impressions. Our goals are to provide quality service and opportunities for people to explore their world and enlighten their eyes, mind and heart. Traveling is a reciprocated flow of communication and interaction between people...the more you seek, the more you learn. "Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences"