Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Volunteering in Southern Nicaragua

Country forums / Central America / Nicaragua

Hello

I have the opportunity to spend some time in Nicaragua and am interested in volunteering. I'm an agronomist, so would be interested in something related to agriculture or gardening. I have been to Nicaragua several times and speak Spanish at an intermediate level. I've been to Ometepe and liked the area, but would be open to other places too (my home town is a sister city with San Juan Oriente, so that's a possibility)

Can anyone recommend a situation for me? I can pay, but don't want something that is just to make money for an intermediary organization. I'd like to spend one or two weeks, with the possibility of returning if it's a good situation.

Thanks

Maria Alicia

Check the web page for CICRIN.org - heartfelt work appreciated there..

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Hi Maria!

My girlfriend and me did a one week volunteering program with UCA Tierra y Agua ( www.http://ucatierrayagua.org/)
which was absolutely great! They have locations all around Granada, like 6 different farm-cooperatives.

We stayed in the communidad "Los NorteƱos" with the family Lopez. They were very helpful and nice..
They have different tasks for volunteers, we did a classification of birds, which meant running through the jungle
and try to spot different kinds of birds and try to get a good picture for a little brochure for the communidad.

The UCA Tierra Y Agua tries to help farmers build a second income with rural tourism, which is great. And they do take volunteers too since there are still a lot of things to improve. We payed 14 Dollars per peron per day which includes three tasty meals and accomodation. So worth it!

The office of the UCA Tierra y Agua is located in Granada, approx. 100m from the busstop (to rivas). We just went there and the next day we were in the communidad :).

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Hi Isabelia,

Have you been to the Community Nicaragua Libre?
I have the opportunity to do my six month internship with UCA in that Community. I'm studying tourism management so my tasks will be to develop marketing strategies to increase tourist numbers and develop new touris pt attractions.
Would you recommend working for UCA?
Do you remember what their office in Granada was like? Size, how many people worked there?
Any other recommendations you can give me?

Thanks,
Doro

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