We organise internships and volunteering with several organizations in Leon, that assist women and children/adolescents with legal, social and psychological advice and support, as well as carry out prevention programs in the areas of human rights and women's rights.
CECAMO (Centro de Capacitación de la Mujer Obrera)
CECAMO is an association which deals mainly with women who are victims of domestic and sexual violence (also children and young people in similar plights). The center offers social work, counseling and legal process accompaniments, home visits, psychological care and support of victims.
There are also regular projects such as educational seminars or research on topics such as human and women's rights.
Objectives of CECAMO include the defending of and education and raising awareness on human rights, with a focus on women's and children's rights; they provide direct assistance to the victims, advocate prevention of mental and physical violence in Nicaragua, as well as the strengthening of the community.
In CECAMO, there for internships and volunteering opportunities with the following activity options:
* Participation in discussions with women by social workers, psychologists and lawyers in the Women's Counselling Centre, home visits, court hearings and meetings
* Help in initial discussions with clients
* Help in initial discussions with clients
* Documentation and administration
* Preparation of documents, workshops and awareness campaigns for human rights
* In case of special knowledge, your own projects/activities can be implemented
* Preparation of documents, workshops and awareness campaigns for human rights
* In case of special knowledge, your own projects/activities can be implemented
An internship or volunteering opportunity is also available for male participants. When the Nicaraguan men see other men working at CECAMO, there is a lower hurdle for them, and they feel freer to come along with their wives or to contact CECAMO directly in case of problems.
Project funded by the Ministry of Education
A project funded by the Ministry of Education was founded in 1989 to protect the rights of children/adolescents/women and take prevention measures in the areas of:
* Commercial sexual exploitation
* Child labor
* Prostitution
* Domestic and sexual violence
* HIV/AIDS
* Child labor
* Prostitution
* Domestic and sexual violence
* HIV/AIDS
The project employs 21 staff in León, including social workers, psychologists, lawyers and "promoters”, who promote the rights of children/young people and women in the city.
The aim is to support women, adolescents and girls to secure their dignity, self-worth and security in an environment where they feel valued, a sense of belonging and respect and which they can trust. The organization is committed to maintaining justice, peace, and providing education and a caring society, human rights, gender equality and personal fulfillment.
Volunteers and interns can support the social workers, psychologists or lawyers in their work, depending on prior knowledge and interests. The minimum internship duration for this project is 6 months.
IXCHEN
IXCHEN is an organisation that supports and represents women throughout Nicaragua in its 10 offices. IXCHEN was founded in 1989 by a former politician who saw the need for specific help and advice for women.
IXCHEN is a centre which focusses on helping women to come up for their rights in the ‘machista’ Nicaraguan society, where men normally are the dominant gender. Major issues addressed are: domestic violence, family planning, health and cancer prevention. The office serves all day as a consultation centre, where women from the whole region arrive to get some help in handling their often very personal problems. Also, for the cancer prevention program, visits are made to more rural areas, although the funding of this program is in danger at the moment.
Ixchen is located a little outside of the Leonese city centre, but very well located right at the central bus station, so that women of rural areas can easily visit the centre for help.
Apart from the director, an attorney (for help during law suits in case of domestic violence), a psychologist/social worker, a General Practitioner, a gynaecologist, a nurse, a lab assistant, a secretary and two security workers work at the center in León. Most workers are female.
The work has often to do with informing and educating local women, who often only have very basic education, about topics such as birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and supporting them in the things they have experienced such as domestic violence. A background in social work or nursing is very helpful for volunteers, and advanced knowledge of Spanish is definitely necessary.
Volunteers should also have the capacity to be open to understanding and respecting cultural differences, which can be quite shocking sometimes. For example many Nicaraguan rural women are really convinced that their men have the right to beat them and to have relationships with several women at the same time.
Some examples of activities that could be part of the work are taking basic vital signs, giving advice on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, assisting during intake, writing and administrating patient dossiers, preparing and equiping rooms for intake and examination, and assisting the doctor, nurse and/or social worker when asked.
Volunteers should be of female gender to reduce the distance with the patients and to stimulate an open interaction ‘between women’. As already said, your level of Spanish language has to be advanced to perform the tasks.
Info Box
Location: León, Nicaragua
Availability: All year, Start date flexible Minimum Duration: Internship - 1 month (See Text); For qualified volunteers, smaller durations are possible Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: Spanish Accommodation: Room with host family, Shared Accommodation |
Supervision Possible: Yes
Qualification Of Supervisor: Lawyer, Social Worker, Psychologist Minimum Qualification Of Intern: None Further Contribution To Project: None |
Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Relevant knowledge Further Contribution To Project: None Expectations: Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude? |
I. World Unite! Service Package
Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.
up to 60 Days | 61-90 Days | 91+ Days | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Person
|
590 EUR | 690 EUR | 790 EUR | |
2-4 Persons
(Rate per Person) |
500 EUR | 600 EUR | 700 EUR |
Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies
The World Unite! Service Package includes:
- Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
- Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
- Preparation Session via Skype, together with further participants
- Assistance with visa extension in Nicaragua or arrangement of visa (depending on duration of stay) and other official permits (if required), but not the official government fees for it/them
- Pick-up and Transfers from/to Managua International Airport (MGA) on arrival and departure
- Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
- Orientation and Introduction in León
- Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
- 24 Hours emergency support by local support team
- 50 USD Contribution to your project
- Local SIM Card with 250 C$ air time
- Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
- Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
The Rates do NOT include:
- Accommodation and Meals (see below)
- Travel to/from Nicaragua (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
- Official fees for Visa (see below)
- Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
- Personal Expenses
- Vaccinations
- Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
- Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.
II. Accommodation Costs
You can choose between the following options:
Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.
All Rates in US-Dollar! Convert Currency | Short-time stay (1-31 Days) | Long-time stay (32-365 Days) (You pay proportionally per day) | |
---|---|---|---|
WG / Gastfamilie | |||
Room with host family |
1 Person (Single Room) |
10 USD/Day |
150 USD/Month |
2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room) |
6.50 USD/Day | 100 USD/Month | |
Optional: Meals | per person | Breakfast: 2.50 USD, Lunch 3.50 USD, Dinner 3.50 USD | Breakfast: 2.50 USD, Lunch 3.50 USD, Dinner 3.50 USD |
Optional: WiFi Internet | 1 USD/Day | 20 USD/Month | |
Optional: Use of kitchen (incl. cooking gas) | 1 USD/Day | 20 USD/Month | |
Hotel | |||
Hotel incl. Breakfast |
1 Person (Single Room) |
16 USD/Day with Fan 30 USD/Day with AC |
360 USD/Month with Fan 700 USD/Month with AC |
2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room) |
13 USD p.p./Day with Fan 18 USD p.p./Day with AC |
180 USD p.p./Month with Fan 350 USD p.p./Month with AC |
For incomplete months you will pay the exact amount proportionally per day.
In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.
In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.
Overview of other costs:
- Visa 10 USD on arrival at the airport for most nationals for a maximum of 90 days. Any extra month 20 USD. If you stay for more than 180 days, you need to leave Nicaragua and go to Costa Rica. When returning to Nicaragua, you get an additional 90 days for 10 USD.
- If meals are not included: around 70-150 EUR /100-180 USD)/month
- Small local expenses (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
- Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month
How do I pay?
Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.
The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.
Other Projects That Might Interest You:
These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.
Learning Spanish in León!
Learning Spanish is always helpful, and you can choose the intensity of your lessons. We recommend, however, a maximum of 10 hours per week. These are individual lessons with a teacher. Sometimes, students of similar knowledge levels can take lessons together. The cost of lessons does not vary according o the number of participants though.
The cost for Spanish lessons: 1 Student 8 EUR
Check "Language Training Required" in the registration form and specify the number of hours desired (minimum 20 hours).
Travel Health Insurance
We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.
Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.
Check out our video on León !
Philippa from Germany completed a 9-month internship in the kindergarten, "Los Ositos" in León, Nicaragua. In this video, she takes us through the city of León. We also meet the Spanish teacher Aura Cristina and our (former) supervisor, Ninoska.
León - Colonial City in Nicaragua
León (175,000 inhabitants) is an old Spanish colonial city, located at a distance of around 90 km from the capital Managua and the international airport. The attractive beaches of the Pacific coast are only 15 km away and are easily and inexpensively accessible by public bus.
The city has a special atmosphere which makes one think of its wealthy past. For a long time, the university city has been the country's intellectual hub. Particularly during the university terms, the city is full of young people and has a vivid student life. Tourism is not yet developed much, but is constantly growing.
Problems of the country that participants will face during their volunteering or internship placement are the lack of development, poverty, high unemployment and insufficient educational, medical and social systems, particularly in the rural areas. Many rural Nicas migrate to the cities or leave the country altogether. Around 20% of all Nicaraguans live outside their own country.
Coordinator in León
Our coordinator in León is Katherine from Nicaragua and Stefanie from Austria.
Recreational Activities in León
In León there are numerous bars and night clubs; almost every night one can find live music somewhere. There are cinemas and a theater. At the House of Culture one can take dance, music, drawing, ballet and taekwondo lessons. The Nicas love fitness; there is a gym at almost every street.
The beaches of the Pacific coast (Poneloya und Las Peñitas) are only 15-20 km away. It is possible to surf. Around León, there are ranches where you can do horseback riding. There are several small towns around León where you can visit colonial or Indian ruins and see local handcraft production sites. In a day trip, you can visit natural parks with crater lakes or mangrove lagoons where boat trips are possible, and where you can see many birds and alligators.
Throughout the year, there are many festivals which are often religious.
On a multi-day trip, you can see the less explored paradise, "Corn Island", on the English Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.
Getting To León
You book your flight to the airport of Managua (MGA). Also compare airfares to popular holiday destinations in the Caribbean and southern United States (e.g. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Las Vegas, Panama, Santo Domingo, Cancún), from where you can book a cheap flight at
www.spirit.com or www.copaair.com to Managua. From Managua airport you will be picked up and brought to Leon.
In the case of other locations in Nicaragua, we give you detailed information about travel. In most cases, you take a bus from Managua Airport and then you are picked up from the bus station near your place of work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?
No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the Managua airport even at night.
Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?
Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.
During my stay, can I travel around the country?
Of course, you can do this - most of our participants do so. However, when the travel destination is too far away, it may not be possible over a weekend; these, we would recommend you keep for before the projects begins or after the completion. You could even plan these out during holidays (e.g. Semana Santa). We will notify you of the destinations and the recommended time to visit.
Is it safe to travel in Nicaragua alone as a single female traveller?
There is no problem travelling alone, if you keep in mind certain safety rules that are applicable to almost any other location. We will advise you on the same.
Is Nicaragua not one of the most dangerous countries in the world?
No. In the Americas, including North, Central and South America, Nicaragua has the lowest crime rates after Canada. There are, of course, poverty related crimes, such as pick pocketing and robbery using knife threats. You should therefore, avoid stepping out alone at night, travel in small groups, avoid deserted areas and carrying valuables with you.
Some neighbouring countries of Nicaragua, especially Honduras, can be dangerous, and we do not recommend that you travel there.
Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Nicaragua?
The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Leon, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so. In addition, there are also many tourists on the road, whom you can easily meet at bars, shops, etc.
What vaccinations do I need?
Our Info - PDF that you get as a participant, gives detailed information on health care. Also refer to Recommended Vaccinations
Where will I live?
In León, you live with host families. Since León is a university town, it has a long tradition of families providing rooms for young people on rent. The houses are all in the historic city of León. Usually they have a patio, which you can reach via a lockable door from the street. From there, you usually have a separate entrance to your room from where the family lives. The families generally, have 1-4 such rooms, where often more of our participants or Nicaraguan students live. You can decide how much interaction you want with the family. You can find more details in the tab "Accommodation".
How free or bound am I in my accommodation with the host family?
In general, your room has a private entrance from the patio and you have two keys, both for patio as well as for your room. You can choose to live largely independent of the family, if that is your preference; yet, the families look forward to interacting with you and you practise the language with them. However, it is not allowed that without the consent of the host family, you invite non-World Unite! participants to visit or stay there.
Does my accommodation have internet facilities?
Yes, wifi internet is provided to you at a monthly extra charge.
How can I do my laundry?
In León, there are many laundromats. These are very cheap and wash with large and modern washing machines. You can bring a big bag of laundry in the morning and get them washed and ironed by that afternoon.
Can I cook in the accommodation ?
Yes, the families allow the use of the kitchen, but may charge a small monthly fee for additional consumption of electricity and gas. The families also offer meals for you, if you want to eat with them. This, you can decide when you arrive. Details are in the tab "Accommodation".
I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?
Yes, this is possible.
What language skills do I need?
For most projects, basic knowledge of Spanish is expected. For some projects, English will suffice, and others require a solid knowledge of Spanish. This is stated in the info-boxes of the respective projects.