Overview
Short-Term Building Projects in Nicaragua

Have you ever wished to volunteer overseas and help vital community development initiatives, yet feel you don’t have the time to join many of the volunteer programmes on offer? Then this short-term Nicaraguan volunteering project is for you! This project is designed to enable its volunteers to have funded, worked on and completed an individual project within a week, which is aimed at improving the standard of living for underprivileged families.

Volunteers joining this community development project will assist to build energy efficient stoves that are designed for cleaner air and less wood consumption, to benefit the environment as well as local families economically and medically. By volunteering in Nicaragua on this project, you have the opportunity to help the communities surrounding Esteli, Nicaragua, whilst experiencing their unique culture and learning some Spanish.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

Watching the smoke puff out of the chimney, when just a few days ago this smoke filled their living space and their lungs - incredible, immediate impact!

Aaron Keane

What Difference Does This Project Make?

The stoves bring economical, environmental and medical benefits to the communities of Nicaragua. The families that have stoves only have to collect or buy up to a third of the firewood they used to and spend less on medicines for chronic lung illnesses, benefiting them economically. Environmentally, the deforestation of trees is essentially reduced by two-thirds per family. And medically, with no smoke inhalation due to the chimney, the health of the families is greatly improved. Alongside other community construction projects aimed to improve hygiene levels and standards of living, this project can really work hand-in-hand with the communities for a better life for the adults and children.

Highlights

Working side-by-side with local rural families; starting and finishing each chosen project, funded by you, within one week; having one-on-one Spanish classes; going on an exciting adventure trip for half a day in the surrounding areas; and being based in beautiful, thriving city of Estelí.

Location

Estelí, also known as ‘El Diamante de las Segovias’ (the Diamond of the Segovias), is situated 150km north of Managua and offers its visitors a genuine Central American ambience. The city is surrounded by mountains and valleys dotted with small agricultural communities in which the project work will be undertaken, all within 10-15 kms from Estelí.

Field Conditions

Living with local families in Estelí in comfortable but basic accommodation gives you an enriched cultural experience and provides the valuable opportunity to practice your Spanish! All accommodation provided is private, has washing facilities and includes three meals a day; packed lunches will be provided when working in the communities.