VOLUNTEERING IN NICARAGUA
Don’t let anyone tell you, find out for yourself through the volunteer program in Nicaragua, a country that has so much to offers you. It’s a unique place for its biodiversity, for its volcanoes, jungles, lakes, beaches, natural reserves, colonial cities and mainly its happy people, always ready to welcome you with open arms.
With our volunteer programs in Nicaragua we seek to work hand in hand with the children and young people who are the country’s future. Work with the most vulnerable communities and improve the quality of life of local people that are in situations of poverty.
Nicaragua is considered the second poorest country in Latin America and the safest in Central America.
Although education is free and compulsory in Nicaragua, many children don’t continue to study because of various factors such as: accessibility of schools, unemployed parents and children working to help support the home. Many of them don’t complete their primary and secondary education and in some cases never go to school. The volunteer programs help many children become motivated, develop their skills and explore their knowledge.
This is general information, you will find specific information on each project in its section. Depending on each program, different information will be included and there will be different arrival and cooperation timetables.
PROGRAMS IN NICARAGUA
SCHOOL REINFORCEMENT
Design, create and put your creativity into practice in the school reinforcement volunteer program with children and young people.
Empowerment of young pregnant women
Accompaniment, motivation and willingness to help are all part of this experience with women from vulnerable communities.
TIMES AND DATES OF COOPERATION
You can participate all year round in the following volunteer programs in Nicaragua:
- School Reinforcement
- Empowerment of young pregnant women
- Community Development
ARRIVAL DAYS
For a better organisation of airport pick-ups and incorporations into the programs, volunteers should arrive on Fridays. In case you cannot arrive that day, we will organize the pick-up any other day of the week.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
The accommodation that we provide in Nicaragua is in the homes of families selected by the organization.
The family homes have bedrooms and bathrooms and you will be provided with 2 meals a day (breakfast and dinner), lunch will be provided in the center.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING
Our volunteers are an important pillar for the development of all volunteer programs that we work on. Therefore, you don’t need to be an expert to participate in our programs in Nicarague. All that is required is the desire to help and a number of other minimum requirements such as:
- Be of legal age.
- Availability to do various jobs.
- Be a communicative, participative and committed person.
- Respect the people and the community we work with.
- Be aware of the culture and customs of the country.
- Ability to work in a team.
PROGRAM COST
The cost of the volunteer programs in Nicaragua starts at €400 for 2 weeks.
WHAT IS INCLUDED ?
- Pick up at the airport
- Accommodation in the house of the family
- Meals during your volunteering
- Orientation and induction to the program and country
- 24/7 support from the Adventure Volunteer team
- Monitoring and evaluation of the program
- Certificate of participation
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Flight to Nicaragua
- Compulsory medical insurance
- Internal transportation or excursions
- Return to the airport on the last day
- Trips inside or outside the country
ARRIVAL AT YOUR DESTINATION
We will pick you up from the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport which is located 11 kilometers from downtown Managua. You will be met by the local coordinator of the organization, who will take you by public transportation to the family home where you will stay until the end of your project.
Depending on the time of your arrival, you will be given your orientation the same or the next day. We will then tell you in a general way the basic rules of the house and of the place where it’s located and we will also explain everything you need to know about the program that you will take part in.
You will have a room with bathroom. The house also has a kitchen, a common area and a WIFI connection. The accommodation in selected host families includes two meals a day. Each volunteer will have keys for access to the house.
CLIMATE
From May to October it’s the rainy season and you will find temperatures between 27 and 32 ºC. From November to April it’s the dry season and temperatures are between 35 and 40 ºC.
CURRENCY
The official currency is the Cordoba. During your trip you will be able to use both the local currency and dollars. You can exchange currency in the country of destination, go to your bank before traveling or withdraw money with credit cards in Nicaragua. We also recommend exchanging some money at the airport.
FLIGHT
Your flight must have as its final destination the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, formerly called Managua International Airport, from where you will be transferred to the family home. Flights cost between 500 and 800 euros depending on the season. You can find flights with the following airlines: Iberia, Delta, American Airlines, United and Copa.
TOURIST SITES
Nicaragua offers a variety of tourist activities such as: hiking in the mountains and volcanoes, exploring city centers, doing water sports and enjoying the country’s gastronomy. Among its most important cities are León, Granada and its capital Managua. Its official language is Spanish, 70% of its population are mestizo and 5% are indigenous.
CITY OF GRANADA
It’s located south of Managua and close to the most beautiful beaches of the Pacific Ocean. It’s also known as the Great Sultan, for its landscapes, colonial houses and hospitality. In this small but exotic place you can find the Mombacho volcano, the cocibolca lake and its archipelago. It’s visited by many tourists from all over the world due to its natural and historical attraction.
NATURE RESERVE – MOMBACHO VOLCANO
It lies south of the city of Granada, where you can hike through the cloudy forest located in the Pacific of Nicaragua and appreciate its flora and fauna. The volcano is extinct and is now home to many species of birds, mammals and amphibians. It also has a museum which you can visit and learn a little more about the essence of this place.
ZAPATERA ISLAND
It’s part of the Archipelago National Park of Zapatera, where you can see the zapatera lagoon in the ancient crater of the volcano currently sleeping. You can also take walks and excursions in the archeological and wooded areas or enjoy a day of fishing in the calm waters of the lake.
OMETEPE
It’s the product of a volcanic activity located in one of the largest lakes in Central America and unique for having two volcanoes in the middle of its lake. If you like outdoor adventures and nature, climbing or walking this island is the right place for you.
CITY OF LEON
Another destination to visit and spend a weekend surrounded by places that show you their culture and history. You can also do sandboarding, a sport that is done in the black ashes of the Cerro Negro volcano.
HOW TO BOOK?
From the moment you fill out the registration form for a program in Nicaragua, your place is reserved for 7 days.
To confirm your place definitively, you must pay a deposit of €150 within these7 days. Once the deposit is paid, your place will be guaranteed and you will formally become part of the Adventure Volunteer family.
As soon as you pay the program deposit, we will send you an email to confirm that your place is guaranteed. After that, you will receive another email with more additional information explaining everything you need to know to prepare your trip correctly. The rest of the payment is made one month before your incorporation to the project.