Volunteer programs in Nicaragua

About Nicaragua

About Nicaragua

The Republic of Nicaragua is situated on the Central American isthmus, a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses over the sea. It is located in the northern hemisphere, positioned between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer.

Nicaragua shares its borders with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south, while the Pacific Ocean lies to the west, and the Caribbean Sea is to the east. Currently, Nicaragua has a population of approximately one million inhabitants.

The country’s capital city is Managua, which also serves as its largest city. Originally founded as an indigenous settlement, Managua boasts a rich cultural heritage and abundant biodiversity.

Climate in Nicaragua

Just like the other Central American countries, Nicaragua has a tropical climate.

Given its subtropical climate, Nicaragua has two distinct seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The wet season occurs between June and November, with the dry season taking place between December and May.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone

Nicaragua generally adheres to Central Standard Time (UTC-6) and switches to Central Daylight Time (UTC-5) during Daylight Saving Time.

Currency

The official currency is the Nicaraguan córdoba, although American dollars are also accepted throughout the country.

Location

The volunteer programs take place in the Nicaraguan town of Camoapa.

Stay

The stay begins as soon as the volunteer is picked up at the destination.

Meals

Meals included in the project/destination will be provided at the accommodation. However, meals for journeys to the destination, volunteer excursions, etc., will not be included.

Pick up times

Volunteers are required to adhere to the designated pick-up times for each destination/project. Those who arrive outside these specified times will incur an additional cost.

VOLUNTEER programs

Where are the volunteer programs located?

The volunteer programs take place in the Nicaraguan town of Camoapa.

Programs

  • Teaching volunteers program
  • Women’s empowerment volunteer program

Requirements and costs

  • Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old at the start of the program.

 

  • The costs of the volunteer programs start at 450 euros for 2 weeks. Every additional week thereafter costs 160 euros. You can consult all the costs in Program Costs

 

What is included?

Airport

Volunteers need to make their way to the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, situated 11 km east of the city center.

Please note that the pickup service is not included and comes at an additional cost of approximately 70 EUR.

Gastronomy

Much like many former Spanish colonies, corn and rice are commonly found in Nicaraguan cuisine. Nicaragua offers many highly original dishes, such as the nacatamal, which is made with specially prepared corn dough.

In the Pacific area, the most popular dishes include vigorón, baho, Indio Viejo (meaning “Old Indian”) and cheese soup, amongst other typical dishes.

Transport in Nicaragua

Whether you’re looking to move from city-to-city in the same region or move from one destination to another in a different region, Nicaragua offers several forms of transport—for single-person or group travel—such as urban and inter-city buses (known as “interlocales”), taxis, motorcycle taxis and “pepanos” or “caponeras” (bikes with a passenger compartment).

Start/Duration

Volunteer programs in Nicaragua: Between March and November, volunteers will work in shifts of 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon, with the option to work for more than 3 hours per shift if desired.

Volunteers can arrive at the destination any day before 10:00 PM.

Please note that the project is closed between December and February.

Volunteers can participate in the volunteer program for a minimum period of 2 weeks and a maximum period of 3 months.

Tourist attractions in Nicaragua

Nicaragua boasts a wide range of national holidays and many historic destinations.

If you’re looking for suggestions of things to do during your free time in Nicaragua, here are some of our most-recommended destinations:

  • Granada: The city of Granada is one of Nicaragua’s most visited cities. Alongside León, Granada is one of Nicaragua’s biggest colonial cities. As such, these two destinations are oozing with history.
  • Managua: The region was home to various indigenous tribes. As such, it offers a fantastic mix of history, architecture and wonderful wildlife.
  • Ometepe: Ometepe is the world’s only island with two volcanoes (the Concepción and the Maderas) in the middle of a freshwater lake. This city offers an incredible landscape brimming with flora and fauna.
  • San Juan del Sur: San Juan del Sur is an extraordinary bay visited on a daily basis by many surfers, offering access to several virgin beaches.
  • León: This colonial city is the departure point for excursions to the area of volcanoes and hot springs.

Program goals

The objective of the project is to train young people to become social leaders. Volunteers reside in a multicultural environment, collaborate as a team to execute tasks or institutional projects, accompany beneficiaries in their daily lives or during workshops, and assist with the needs of the centers and homes.

To achieve this, we work use three key approaches:

Social inclusion

Social Inclusion of children, young people and grandparents in situations of social risk.

Attention to Centers and Homes

Attention to centers and homes for the protection and restitution of rights of socially vulnerable children, adolescents and older adults.

Social action

The committed volunteers will collaborate with the community, engaging various stakeholders in society to ensure the full realization of the rights of all individuals.

Our programs

Teaching volunteer program – Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, the quality of education is generally low, and many children who have access to basic education require additional help with reading, writing, mathematics, and other subjects. This volunteer program focuses on conducting workshops and training sessions to support children in the community. The main objective is to provide academic assistance and support in various subjects. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own pre-planned activities to engage with the children, including: Activities:

  • Delivering educational and recreational activities.
  • Teaching of basic literacy and numeracy.
  • Providing extra-curricular support for subjects like mathematics, English, and others.
  • Assisting teachers with academic and administrative tasks.

Minimum stay: 2 weeks.

Closed

: Holy Week, 1 May, 14 and 15 September, 19 July and Christmas holidays. IMPORTANT: the mentioned activities will not occur daily but will depend on the specific needs of the project. The work routine will be determined in coordination with the project’s requirements and the guidance of the technical team. Additionally, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own materials, including pre-planned activities, games, English-language books, educational toys, art supplies, and more.

Women development volunteer program – Nicaragua

The women development volunteer program in Nicaragua seeks to provide development tools for the women who attend the center, looking for an opportunity to study and/or work. We primarily work with pregnant women and mothers. Activities:

  • Conducting workshops and discussions aimed at equipping women in the community with tools for development and independence.
  • Providing resources to help women overcome their fears and adversities.
  • Offering psychoeducation on gender equality and women’s rights.
  • Organizing professional development workshops for women at the center.
  • Facilitating sexual education workshops and discussions to prevent early pregnancies.
  • Teaching basic literacy to create opportunities and enhance personal skills.

  

Minimum stay: 2 weeks.

Closed: Holy Week, 1 May, 14 and 15 September, 19 July and Christmas holidays. IMPORTANT: The mentioned activities will not occur daily; instead, their frequency will depend on the specific needs of each activity. The work schedule will be established and implemented in accordance with the project’s requirements and will be guided by the decisions of the technical team.

accommodation and meals

Accommodation in Nicaragua

Volunteers will stay in the houses of selected local families, sharing a bedroom and bathroom with other volunteers. They will also receive three meals a day.
All of our selected families have experience hosting volunteers. We currently collaborate with two local families, each having their own set of household rules. For instance, smoking is prohibited in the bedrooms, and there is an 11:00 PM curfew (except on Saturdays). Both volunteer houses are equipped with Wi-Fi, and volunteers will receive their own set of keys.
The volunteer house is conveniently situated in the town center, just a 10-minute walk from the project site.

program costs

The total cost of the volunteer program is divided into 2 parts. The registration fee, which is paid to book your placement in the program, is €210; and the program fee, which is paid afterward.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PERIODPROGRAM FEE (EUROS, €)*PROGRAM FEE (USD)
2 WEEKS

450€

508$

3 WEEKS

610€

689$

1 MONTH (4 WEEKS)

770€

870$

5 WEEKS

930€

1050$

6 WEEKS

1090€

1231$

2 MONTHS (8 WEEKS)

1410€

1593$

10 WEEKS

1730€

1954$

3 MONTHS (12 WEEKS)

2050€

2316$

4 MONTHS (16 WEEKS)

2690€

3039$

5 MONTHS (20 WEEKS)

3330€

3762$

6 MONTHS (24 WEEKS)

3970€

4486$

If your currency is not specified in the table, you can convert your costs here.
***The costs that are given in euros are estimates, owing to constant fluctuations in conversion rates.

What is included in the fee that I am paying?

What additional costs will be incurred by the volunteers?

Visa, flights, travel insurance (obligatory), vaccines, return to the airport, and other personal expenses.
(*** Volunteers in Nicaragua will generally find that €20 (approx. 25 USD) is enough to cover basic weekly expenses.)

Contact

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UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?

At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…

The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.

If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.

Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.

And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.

You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.

If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.

It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity. 

Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.

Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.

We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.

We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.

The advantages of corporate volunteering include:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.

If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. 

Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.

Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.

Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.

There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.

Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.

An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.

And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.

There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.

Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.

We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.

It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.

Some of the benefits include:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.

When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.

Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.

Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.

At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…

And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.

If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.