Volunteering through organisations other than NSC.
NB. Information about language schools in Nicaragua will also be found at the end of the page.

The following organisations provide facilities for volunteers. We have links with most of these but cannot accept any responsibility for occurrences arising out of their volunteer programmes. More information about some of these organisations can be found under Our Partners >>

Bristol Link with Nicaragua (BLINC)        www.blinc.org.uk
BLINC is an organization in Bristol, UK, that works to support the community within Puerto Morazan, a very poor area of Nicaragua. They have developed links between schools in Puerto Morazan and Bristol and have invested over £20,000 in two secondary schools in the area. Volunteers would be working within these projects.
* Volunteers need to either speak Spanish or be committed to learning whilst in Nicaragua
* Volunteers looking to work with children would need to be CRB checked
* For any additional information on projects you will need to contact Alix Hughes (UK Co-ordinator) on Alix.Hughes@uwe.ac.uk

CECOCAFEN
CECOCAFEN is the Organisation of Northern Coffee Cooperatives and is responsible for 2000 small-scale fair trade coffee producers based within four communities. CECOCAFEN provide a Fair Trade Coffee Trail around these communities to give individuals or groups an understanding of the fair trade process.
* On 25.07.05 the costs per day ($20-25) included food, lodging (with a Nicaraguan family) and community guide but not transport.
* Activities include meeting the producers, visiting local sites, picking coffee…
They also provide opportunities for volunteers to stay for longer periods (10-12 weeks) to participate in community projects or environmental or social research. For more information email turismo@cecocafen.com

Creative Corners      www.creative-corners.com/destinations/nicaragua/
Creative Corners is a UK based not for profit volunteer organisation that specialises in creative projects for creative people. Current projects in Nicaragua are with teen mums and babies, and with street children.

Grupo Fenix     www.grupofenix.org
Study future-solar power at The University of Managua then build solar systems and ovens with war survivors in rural villages. This way you learn about why the people of Nicaragua are so special and help the world's poorest people enjoy powering their modest schools and medical centres. The solar ovens are helping to abate the biggest killer of women in Nicaragua, lung cancer, from the burning of imported kerosene used to cook food in their homes . The solar ovens also save money for the families as once the ovens are paid for the sun's energy is free.

Jubilee House, Centre for Development in Central America    http://www.jhc-cdca.org/
Jubilee House is a Nicaraguan organisation that provides micro-enterprise loans to co-operatives working to become sustainable. They are specifically looking for volunteers that would have experience in business management, agriculture or medicine/health but are also looking for volunteers without these skills.
* They do require a sum for your board, transport and food.
* You can volunteer as an individual or part of a group.

Pro-Nica     http://pronica.org/about/
ProNica is a not-for-profit corporation which provides practical opportunities, in a variety of organizations, to promote Quaker testimonies such as peace, equality and community.
* Minimum placement is 6 months
* Must be fluent in Spanish and be signed as healthy by a medical physician
* Must be comfortable working in a community that values the principle of working to ‘heal the wounds of war and creating conditions of peace
* Primarily the placements start on the 1st February and 1st September and each applicant would need to undertake a Nicaraguan Spanish immersion course

¡ Sí a la Vida !     www.asalv.org/
¡Si a la Vida! is a Nicaraguan Street Kids Project in Managua. It provides a program of study, work and recreational activities to rescue many youngsters from glue addiction and the dangers and hopelessness of life on the streets. Volunteers would work in the residential centers in Managua and on the Island of Ometepe. Volunteers typically work directly with the kids in sports, arts, handicrafts and tutoring, as well as pursuing activities that take advantage of specialized skills such as health care, construction and agriculture. Volunteers also accompany Nicaraguan staff working in the streets and markets of Managua.
* Minimum placement is 6 months
* Must be fluent in Spanish and be able to communicate with children
* On 25.07.05 monthly living costs are approximately $200-250 per person or $350 for a couple, not including transportation to and from Nicaragua

UCA-Miraflor     www.miraflor-uca.com
UCA Miraflor is a union of small agricultural cooperatives whose members farm on the Miraflor Nature Reserve near Esteli. Their aim is to follow farming practices compatible with the maintenance and improvement of the environment. As Eco-tourism is growing in this area, they are looking for volunteers to aid them in training their tourist guides in English.
* Volunteers can work long-term (6 months) or short-term. Costs varying depending on length of stay
* Volunteers should speak Spanish and preferably TEFL trained
* There is the opportunity to live with a Nicaraguan family within the Miraflor Nature Reserve
* For more information please contact Maggie Jo St John at maggiejo@miraflor.freeserve.co.uk


Language Schools in Nicaragua

Nicaragua Spanish Schools     http://pages.prodigy.net/nss-pmc/#intro
NSS is a cooperative consortium of three independent Spanish language schools in Nicaragua (In Estelí, San Juan del Sur and Laguna de Apoyo). They provide a combined Spanish language, cultural immersion and educational tourism program.
* For prices check http://pages.prodigy.net/nss-pmc/prices.htm
* The school can place you as a volunteer in a host of local organizations, including local public service, health, education, cultural, and ecological conservation organizations
 

CENAC Spanish School     http://www.ibw.com.ni/~cenac/
CENAC offers one-to-one Spanish lessons that also provide the opportunity to live with a Nicaraguan family.
* On 25.07.05 price for one week was $140 (classes and accommodation with family)

Hijos del Maiz     http://www.hijosdelmaiz.net/