Overarching Goal and Objectives:

Goal:

to build leadership and life skills of youth in the Americas through exchange, civic engagement, and collaborative community development

Objectives:

1. increase active youth involvement in communities
2. increase knowledge and awareness of cultural, environmental, and health issues
3. collaborate with community members on Community-Based Initiative (CBI) process
   

Project Specific Activities:

Volunteers will have the opportunity to support local health center activities by working at the puesto de salud in their community 2-3 days a week.  Activities at the health centers will include providing health information to patients, both kids and adults, and assisting nurses with administrative duties.  On the other 2-3 days of the week, AMIGOS Volunteers will be co-facilitating educational activities at schools for kids ranging in age from 5 to 12.  These classes will focus on preventative health and environmental issues.  Sample topics for these activities from 2007 include personal hygiene, dental hygiene, malaria, the water cycle, the importance of trash pick-up, and deforestation.

Additionally, Volunteers will collaborate with youth counterparts or health volunteers from the Ministry of Health (brigadistas) to implement Community-Based Initiatives (CBIs).  Community fundraising will be incorporated into the CBI process as well.  Example CBI projects from 2007 include renovating a community park, repairing school playgrounds, and establishing community libraries.

Project Area:

This project is located in the western part of Nicaragua in the Pacific Lowlands region between the nation's capital city of Managua, Lago de Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 40 volcanoes dominate the landscape of this lush area, which also serves as the repository for much of Nicaragua’s Spanish colonial heritage. AMIGOS headquarter city will be Granada, a beautiful colonial city that sits on the western shore of Lake Nicaragua. This lovely city is the very heart of Nicaraguan folklore and crafts and possesses historical and cultural richness. Host communities will be located within 2-3 hours of this location, in the departments of Granada and Rivas.

Project History:

AMIGOS work in Nicaragua began in 1970 and ran consecutively until 1978. During this time, programs implemented included human immunizations, vision screening and dental hygiene education. Due to the civil war in 1978-79 and the ongoing disruptions during the 1980s, AMIGOS suspended programs in the country. AMIGOS returned to Nicaragua in 2000 to work with CARE on a latrine construction project in the department of Leon. In 2003, AMIGOS partnered with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health to open a project in the departments of Masaya and Carazo. In addition to the Ministry of Health, AMIGOS formalized their relationship with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education in 2006.  

Currently, AMIGOS has two projects in Nicaragua: one in Chontales with Plan-Nicaragua and the other in the departments of Granada and Rivas with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.  Although AMIGOS has been working with the Ministry of Health for five years in Nicaragua, this will only be the second year working in the departments of Granada and Rivas.

Partner Agencies:

Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes de Nicaragua
Ministerio de Salud de Nicaragua

Further Actions:

• Apply to Volunteer
• Apply to Serve on Project Staff
• View Photos from the 2007 Granada/Rivas Project!