Dates: November 5 – 16, 2011
Length: 12 days
Cost: $1,350 plus intl. airfare

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to the Nicaragua program!

Nicaragua shares its coastlines with the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, living up to its’ name which means surrounded by water. Contained within its coastlines are extensive rainforests, 75 nature reserves, and Central America’s biggest lakes, Lake Managua, and Lake de Nicaragua home to the extraordinary Ometepe Island. This island is made up of two volcanos: Maderas, which is dormant, and Concepción which is currently active. Ometepe Island will be our home for the duration of our stay.

During this program you will not only experience the natural beauty and history of Nicaragua, but also come to know its people through cultural immersions, service projects, and home stays. As you explore the island you will spend time with people in a unique way that will give you an intimate look at life on the island while being of service to its citizens. You will benefit as well, having spent time with people few travelers ever really get to know.

The Projects

Visit Si a La Vida
Si a la Vida is a nonprofit organization that works to rehabilitate street boys, rescuing them from the streets of Nicaragua and providing a new home on Ometepe. Here the boys move from the world of the streets to a world of respect. Having suffered from poverty, neglect and abuse these boys are provided housing, education, food and a chance for a stable healthy life. You will meet the boys of Si a La Vida and have an opportunity to work on a project together as way of learning about their culture and sharing yours. This personal experience with the boys of Nicaragua is bound to be culturally rich and unforgettable for all. Meeting the boys and spending time learning about their lives and dreams can be a life changing experience.

Registering Citizens
A birth certificate is an essential document in Nicaragua. It is required to obtain an ID card, attend high school, work outside of an agricultural area, or get a passport. To obtain a birth certificate you simply need to register at a government office. However, for those living in remote rural areas without the means to travel this can be an impossibility.

Our project will be to bring the official paperwork to these remote citizens; traveling with a member of the local government to officiate. We will visit rural remote areas, hiking up into the coffee and plantain fields to meet citizens at local schools and houses to sign kids, and some adults, into recognition. This can mean a huge change in the life of a farmer, and a chance for a better future.