Considering La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua? Volunteers who come from around the world to participate in our Children’s Education Volunteering program go out into the schools and assist the teachers, tutor young children, run sports programs, introduce children to computers, teach English, and help stimulate an interest in learning.
La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua – Stay Overview
La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua – Quick Checks
Hours & Roster: Depends on position, see ‘Tasks & Roles’
Selection process: Message us about your relevant experience, why you’d like to help with us & the dates you would be available. Prove to us that you’ve read through our profile & your profile must be complete (description and photo). Please specify which position you’re applying for.
La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua – Tasks & Roles
For all positions, we prefer that volunteers have at least an intermediate level of Spanish. As well you need to be enthusiastic and we expect you to respect the commitment that you have made in giving your time to volunteer. Motivating the children to attend school every day is an important part of the volunteer’s role in the schools so you must set a good example both with attendance and punctuality. The majority of our volunteers work in schools with young children. Nicaraguan schools have two sessions each day, half of the primary school students attend school in the morning, and the other half attend in the afternoon. Normal school volunteers work from 7:30 am to noon five days a week, and English teachers work from 12:30 pm – 4 pm four days a week and they do lesson planning on Friday mornings. A team of volunteers will work in each school where we are helping, assisted by a local intern. Roles available are:
- SUMMER SCHOOL TEACHER/ASSISTANT (DECEMBER AND JANUARY ONLY): During December and January, La Esperanza runs a summer school program for the children living in the barrios (kindergarten and grade 1 level). During this time, volunteers and local interns take full responsibility for creating, planning, and teaching lessons. We also run some special English courses during the vacation months of December and January. The minimum time commitment for this position is just 2 weeks and you should have an intermediate or better level of Spanish to be able to fully engage with the kids.
- LEARNING CENTER ASSISTANT (BEGINNING NOVEMBER): Our new learning centers will provide safe, clean places where children can come to continue their learning in an informal environment once school is over. They will contain books to read, maths worksheets and manipulatives, spaces for drawing, coloring, and writing, computers with educational games, and much more. Volunteers will work with local interns to support the children to learn how to use the resources available to them and to create a fun, positive learning environment through crafts, games, etc. The minimum time commitment for this position is just 2 weeks, and you should have an intermediate or better level of Spanish to be able to fully engage with the kids.
- Kindergarten Assistant – you work with preschool-aged children in the kindergarten classrooms. Together with the teacher, you encourage learning through games and crafts. This work is especially rewarding since the kids are extremely friendly and open-minded. This position is available from February to November. You should have an intermediate or better level of Spanish to be able to play and chat with the kids. Kindergarten assistants work in the mornings, Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to noon. Friday’s classes often end early.
- As a Grade 1 Tutor/Classroom Assistant you work with students in the classroom and help them with reading, writing, math, etc., and help them keep up with the work assigned by the teacher. The teacher may ask you to work one on one with students who need extra help. This position is available throughout the Nicaraguan school year which starts in February and ends in November. You should have an intermediate or better level of Spanish to understand the problems the kids have and assist them. Grade 1 Tutor/Classroom assistants work in the mornings, Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to noon. Friday’s classes often end early.
- As a Primary School English Teacher you teach English to primary school students in grades 4, 5, and 6. You will work in a team and teach in two schools per week, alternating each day. You will also have an assistant with you who will help you with the students and teaching. English team volunteers work Monday through Thursday and do lesson planning on Friday mornings. Depending on which schools you would be working from 12.30 – 4 pm or 1 – 4.30 pm. This position is available from February to November and requires an advanced or better level of English as well as a basic or better level of Spanish.
La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua – Living
Sleeping: We have four low-cost housing options available. The houses all have fully equipped kitchens, fans, washing machines, TVs, and Wi-Fi Internet connection, and are situated in the historic town center of Granada, a short walk from our office.
Linen & Laundry: Sheets are provided, plus we employ local women who do the basic cleaning.
Eating: Food and meals are not included. Volunteers often cook together in the volunteer houses.
Transport: Managua is the capital city and the closest major airport (MGA) to Granada. Some volunteers find it cheaper to fly into San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). From Costa Rica, you can travel by air-conditioned coach directly to Granada. Including border crossing time, the ride is about 8 hours. As of April 2013, the bus ticket is $27 and the border crossing fees are about $15. Normally you would need to stay overnight in San Jose both arriving and leaving, so don’t forget to factor this into the cost. For arrival in Managua, we can send our regular taxi driver to meet you at the airport. He charges $30 for the 45-minute trip and will bring you directly to your volunteer house. Another alternative is Paxeo’s private shuttle which you can book online.
La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua – What Else…
Amenities & Preferences
- Accommodate 50 volunteer helpers.
- Travel insurance is recommended.
- No gender preference, all nationalities welcome.
- We can accommodate couples in double rooms. As well we can accept volunteers who come together as friends.
- Minimum age is 18 years old. We do not have a maximum age. As long as you can walk or cycle every day to the schools (around 40 minutes), we can accept everybody.
- Volunteering with La Esperanza Granada can give you great experiences. You are working in an international group, you are having great responsibility and you are living and working in a completely different culture which will teach you a lot.
- As a volunteer you will receive a volunteer card. This card will give you a discount on a lot of restaurants in Granada.
- Join La Esperanza Volunteering Granada, Nicaragua Community of Volunteers: There are usually 20 – 40 volunteers from all over the world. Most come individually, sometimes with a friend, and sometimes with couples. They work in teams, whether they are working as kindergarten assistants, tutoring small children in primary schools, teaching English in the schools, in community research, with children’s activity groups, playing sports, etc. Volunteers are never sent out into the community on their own and you will always have others to share the problems/joys and experiences with. Volunteers are assisting the local teachers, helping in the schools, or at times in our office, and volunteers are actively working, however, as a volunteer, you are not replacing an employee, or taking a job away from a local person.
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