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AMIGOS partners with Fundacion Mujer y Desarrollo Comunitario Economico (FUMDEC) and Asociacion de Desarrollo Integral (ADIC) in the department of Matagalpa. AMIGOS Volunteers support our parnter agencies in this region with a variety of initiatives, including programs focused on the promotion of community and environmental health, the empowerment of youth and women through capacity building activities, and community-led development projects.</div>
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OUR WORK IN MATAGALPA</h3>
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AMIGOS Project Staff and Volunteers work with local youth and community members to carry out the following activities:</p>
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<strong>I. Community Service</strong></p>
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Community-Based Initiative Process (CBIP):&nbsp;Volunteers collaborate with their host community in the implementation of a community-specific project. &nbsp;Projects in 2012 included: creating a school book exchange, repairing the roof of a school, and organizing a cultural festival.</li>
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Extracurricular Activities: Together with local youth, Volunteers will plan and lead games and envinronmentally themed activities for children ages anywhwere from 5-12. &nbsp;In 2012, Volunteers focused on five different themes: Hygiene, Sustainable Water and Soil Management, Safe Water and Healthy Watersheds, Risk Management and Preparing for Disasters, and Trash Clean-Up, Recycling and Composting.</li>
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<strong>II. Intercultural Exchange</strong></p>
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Living with a host family: Volunteers will have the opportunity to be immersed in Nicaraguan culture by living with a host family. &nbsp;AMIGOS prefers that each Volunteer is assigned to their own host family, however, occasionally two Volunteers are placed with the same host family. Volunteers are expected to act as part of the family, helping out with chores and taking part in day to day activities. &nbsp;Volunteers will learn about the local culture, while also providing host families with insight into their own habits, ways of being in the world, and lives back home.</li>
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Eating local food: Although eating arrangements vary from one community to another, a common strategy is for Volunteers to have a rotating meal plan, in which they eat with different families in the community.</li>
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<strong>III. Youth Engagement</strong></p>
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Nicaraguan Youth: This project will likely have National Volunteers from other departments in Nicaragua serving as AMIGOS volunteers alongside US-based Volunteers.</li>
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Local Volunteers: &nbsp;Prior to Volunteer arrival, local youth will be trained by AMIGOS project staff on the basic program structure and planning and facilitation skills.</li>
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Forming youth groups: Volunteers are encouraged to be creative and form youth groups in their communities (i.e. afterschool girls group, reading club, sports club, ect.) when possible. &nbsp;This will provide local youth with a structure within which to continue activities started throughout the summer and ensure sustainability of summer initiatives.&nbsp;</li>
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ABOUT OUR PARTNERS</h3>
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<strong><a href="http://fumdec.org/site/">Fundaci&oacute;n Mujer y Desarrollo Econ&oacute;mico (FUMDEC)</a></strong></p>
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FUMDEC seeks to improve the status and position of women by enhancing their bargaining power and political autonomy to foster economic and social development. FUMDEC supports women to realize their full potential as active citiizens and economic, social and political leaders. FUMDEC serves women in 60 communities throughout many municipalities of Matagalpa and Jinotega. Their core program areas include gender and empowerment, local economic development, civic participation, and support for female youth in rural areas.&nbsp;</div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.panamaverde.org/" target="_blank">A</a><a href="http://adicnicaragua.org/">sociaci&oacute;n de Desarrollo Integral</a><a href="http://adicnicaragua.org/">&nbsp;(ADIC)</a></strong></div>
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ADIC envisions a world with greater citizen participation and leadership, improved quality of life, gender equality and social justice. ADIC&#39;s mission is to contribute to improve the quality of life in communities by forming and strengthening communities organization to promote active citizenship and community led development. ADIC supports many community based projects and capacity building activites for children, youth and adults in rural Matagalpan communities.</div>
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<b>FURTHER ACTIONS</b></h3>
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<strong><a href="http://www.amigoslink.org/amigos-involving-youth-across-americas" target="_blank">Involving youth from across the Americas</a></strong></p>
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<b><strong><a href="http://www.amigoslink.org/amigos-partner-agencies" target="_blank">Read about our Partner Agencies</a></strong></b></p>
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<b><strong><a href="http://www.amigoslink.org/college-experience-amigos" target="_blank">Read more about our college divisions</a></strong></b></p>
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<a href="http://www.amigoslink.org/amigos-health-safety" target="_blank"><b>Health and Safety</b></a></p>