Volunteer Opportunities in Nicaragua
“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.”~ Helen Keller
Interested in volunteering and giving back to the local community while here? Chica Brava gives back in a variety of ways and can arrange volunteer opportunities for you while in San Juan del Sur. Please check out the options below and inquire with us for more information!
Chica Brava Camp Bella: Each year, we host a charitable surf camp empowerment program for underprivileged young women in Nicaragua. In previous years, we focused exclusively on aiding in the rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking. In 2015, we expanded our outreach program to include a broader mission of combatting cultural gender inequality in Nicaragua and overcoming the negative effects of generations of gender oppression, particularly in the domestic setting. This year, we are focusing on our local community and excitedly welcome you to get involved as we change the lives of 13 young women from San Juan del Sur. Click here for more info or write to us at info@chicabrava.com to find out how you can get involved.
Chica Brava Bi-Monthly Beach Cleanup: Occurring on the first Sunday of every other month, Chica Brava invites all schools and friends in the local area to join the beach cleanup sponsored by Chica Brava. Anyone who attends the beach cleanup will receive a Chica Brava ‘beach cleanup’ tank top and all supplies needed to participate in the beach cleanup such as rubber gloves, trash bags and F-U-N! This is a way to not only cleanup our local San Juan del Sur Bay, but it is a new initiative to bring our entire community, expat or local, together as one for the same common purpose. Click here for more info or let us know if you’re interested!
Chicas Adelante: A community outreach program for young women in the community formed as a collaboration between Chica Brava and Escuela Adelante. The respective teams from Escuela Adelante and Chica Brava convene for monthly meetings with a select group of young women who have shown hard work and dedication, and a true desire to succeed given their circumstances. Click here for more info!
Escuela Adelante: The name ‘Adelante’ suggests forward moving momentum, and that’s exactly what this program is all about. Based at the Biblioteca Movil, Escuela Adelante is an 40 student bilingual after school English Prep program, that prepares students for a higher level of education and schooling. The pedagogy is based on language support and exchange between the foreign and local culture, uniting the two and creating a positive learning environment for all. Click here for more information or write to us at info@chicabrava.com to find out how you can volunteer at the school.
San Juan del Sur Biblioteca – The San Juan del Sur Biblioteca is a free public library started in 2001 that has over 12,500 books in Spanish and English. The Biblioteca offers two different programs that help the children and community of San Juan del Sur which you can participate in while here. The Children’s Program is a free afternoon class for children that includes theater, story hour, science projects, crafts, study area and English classes. The Biblioteca Movíl is a mobile library project which goes three days a week into the rural areas to schools to deliver books, read stories to the children, assist in arts and crafts, play games and help with the process of lending out library books. This is a great experience to see the rural part of Nicaragua and bring exciting new activities to children. For additional information, please visit their website at www.sjdsbiblioteca.org. If you would like to participate in either of these initiatives while here let us know and we will set it up!
Donations are always welcome in Nicaragua. You might find yourself short on “free-from-surfing-time” while here, so another great way to help out is by bringing down any of the following items:
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Books
- School supplies
- Art supplies
- Bilingual dictionaries
- Baby formula
- Adult diapers
- Soccer equipment
- Basketball equipment
- Volleyball equipment
- Baseball equipment
- Softball equipment