The mission of El Porvenir is to improve the standard of living of poor people in Nicaragua through sustainable self-help water, sanitation and reforestation projects.
Goals[edit | edit source]
- To improve the health of poor people, especially the children, and to reduce infant mortality.
- To lessen the physical burden on women and children of carrying water.
- To support self-help, community-initiated efforts in rural villages.
- To transfer to the villagers skills which they can use to improve their lives.
- To preserve the watersheds on which the water projects depend.
Activities[edit | edit source]
Each year, El Porvenir offers one-week and two-week work trips to Nicaragua. Groups of 10-15 people work in a village assisting Nicaraguan families in the construction of water, sanitation, or reforestation projects. The group is accompanied at all times by a bilingual El Porvenir staff member. Neither Spanish nor construction skills are required, though both are useful and welcome.
Costs[edit | edit source]
Work trips cost $800 to $1075 and the fee covers the following expenses:
- Cost of project materials, tools and equipment
- Pre-project organization, materials purchase and delivery
- Reservations, airport transfers, special arrangements
- Lodging, meals and transportation within Nicaragua
- Services of group coordinators/interpreters
- A recreational weekend at the beach or in the mountains
- Health/accident/baggage insurance
Dates[edit | edit source]
- July 24 to 31, 2008 — Open
- August 9 to 18, 2008 — Open
- October 4 to 13, 2008 — Elderhostel Service Program
- January 31 to February 7, 2009 — Open
- February 20 to 28, 2009 — Open