Description

Granada, Nicaragua - Located on the outskirts of the beautiful colonial town of Granada, Nicaragua, this opportunity gives the volunteer a chance to work with children one on one, not only in the school, but within its community as a whole.

The project started in 2002 with its main focus on education at a very basic level. There are currently seven rural schools associated with this project; all are on the outskirts of Granada. Volunteers live in the town of Granada and travel out to the schools each day by bus, bicycle or on foot. Work in the schools is done with the approval of the local government department of education. The communities welcome the organization's involvement and assistance.

As a volunteer you will assist in a kindergarten class, tutor children in the early grades with their reading, writing or math, and teach classes such as; sports or arts & crafts as a group. The children in the lower grades all go to school in the mornings, children in the higher grades vary from school to school. In addition to these school hours, volunteers will spend two hours or so most afternoons tutoring children in their homes in the community, playing and coaching children's team sports, taking children from 'your' school to the doctor or dentist office, etc. Each school we work with has a group of volunteers; you would work in that one community for the duration of your stay.

There are also volunteers who teach English in the schools with children from grades 3 to 6. The English team will usually work in several schools during the course of a week. The hours vary, and include lesson planning as well as face-to-face teaching with the children. There are three groups teaching English, each consisting of 2 or 3 volunteers.

Project Details
* Project Duration: Min 4 weeks - Long Term
* Project Costs: USD 1,145 for first 4 weeks, USD 150 per week after.
* Project Location: Granada, Nicaragua; all schools are located on the outskirts of town.
* Arrival Airport: Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)
* Airport/Bus Pickup & Drop-off: Upon arrival at the airport volunteers will take a bus to * Granada (approx 1.5hours). At this time, there is no terminal in town. Buses simply drop off in front of their office. If arriving via Honduras or Costa Rica, arrival times can vary by several hours depending on border crossing time. We do our best to coordinate and have someone there to meet volunteers as they arrive or shortly after.
* Activities: Assist and teach kindergarten through Grade 6 in one of seven schools.
* Working Hours: Monday to Friday up to 8 hours a day, all other time is free with the exception of a Tues night volunteer meeting.
* Getting to the Project: From Granada, all projects are reached by bus, bicycle, or on foot.
* Requirements: Minimum Age 18

Highlights

Nicaragua offers a number of cultural activities, ranging from theatre to religious sites. There are many historical buildings and attractions to see such as the Cathedral of Leon, the Church of Jaleva and Parque Central in Granada, and the colourful markets of Masaya. For nature enthusiasts, Nicaragua offers 78 national parks, including sanctuaries, refuges, and reserves, each teaming with unique wildlife and flora not seen outside of Central America. Some of the more popular National Parks include the Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge, Mombacho Cloud Forest Reserve, and Indio-Maíz Biological Reserve.

For outdoor enthusiasts, sport fishing, golf, canopy tours, scuba diving, and boating offer exciting activities and memorable experiences. Deep sea fishing in Nicaragua is considered to be the best in Central America where the sparkling Pacific Ocean offers exceptional opportunities to catch Marlin. Fishermen can fly fish in places like Lake Nicaragua and or hire a boat at Bluefields and try their hand at catching Bonito and Sierra Mackerel. Golfers can enjoy their favorite pastime at Nicaragua's famous Nejapa Golf and Country Club or the Iguana Golf and Beach Club. A number of establishments, such as the Selva Negra Resort, offer horses for rent, while equestrian centers in Rancho Santa and Montecristo offer guided horseback tours through spectacular countryside and rain forests. Nicaragua's fastest growing sport is surfing. If your surfing travel plans have you considering Central America (Panama, or Costa Rica) You may want to stop and consider coming here instead. With amazing breaks and relatively untouched beaches, Nicaragua may not be the most popular surf destination in Central America, but it's without a doubt the best!

Travel Types

• BackPacking Abroad
• Birdwatching
• Camping
• Climbing
• Cooking
• Dancing
• Deep-Sea Fishing
• Eco Tours
• Fishing
• Heritage Tourism
• Hiking
• Homestay
• Mountaineering
• Native Culture Studies
• Nature Tours
• Off Road / 4X4 Driving
• Photography
• RainForest Tours
• Scuba
• Snorkeling
• Soccer/Football
• Sports
• Student Tours
• Surfing
• Trekking
• Volunteering

Qualifications

We ask that our volunteers have an intermediate or higher level of Spanish. All work in the schools and the villages is conducted in Spanish and there is very little English spoken in Nicaragua as a whole. Beginners in Spanish are encouraged providing they intend to study while they are in-country and are staying long-term.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 1,145

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

What's Included
* Accommodation: Each volunteer has the option of staying in the volunteer house, local home-stay or a local apartment. We ask that volunteers do not stay in the villages that they work in.
* Training: Pre-departure "Introductory Package" will be mailed and in-country orientation is conducted in several parts presented by several people whom work with the project.
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, phone/Skype with one of our trained AAV staff and 24 hour emergency support.
* Insurance: All AAV volunteers will receive basic travel & medical insurance included in their package.
* Bonus: "Welcome Package" with local tips and coupons to help you get settled quickly and enhance the duration of your stay!
* Ask about the low cost accommodation option at the volunteer house!
* Ask about adding Spanish Language Classes to your trip!

What's Not Included
* Airfare: However, we would be more than happy to help you find and schedule your flight.
* The above pricing is variable, depending on the accommodation option selected.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Our international volunteers come from all edges of the globe with a variety of backgrounds. Everyone is welcome! A typical AAV volunteer is adventurous, outgoing and dedicated. Our volunteers all carry an open mind and a big heart!

Age Range

Minimum Age Requirement of 18 (unless accompanied by a guardian)

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living
• Guest House
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 1-6

Application Process Involves

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone/Video Interview

Typically The Application Process Time is

48hrs

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

All Access Volunteers's Mission Statement

To provide a unique volunteer experience and assist in the long-term sustainability of our partner organizations throughout Latin America.

Year Founded

2009