ORGANIZATION RECORD

Location: Nicaragua

Website: http://www.avodec.brightnewideas.org/

Mission: Improve the quality of life and community partners through the identification and promotion of leadership and community volunteer in communities of Nicaragua.

Year Founded: 1998

Preferred method of contact: Skype is preferred, but email is better for detailed communications (logistics, etc.)

Project Information:

• Availability for Summer 2017: AVODEC is currently in partnership with two Nourish groups through Summer 2017
• Future Project ideas:
  • Can expand projects to different communities
  • Accountant/financial literacy training for women’s groups
  • Irrigation/water harvest, agriculture, and education
• Accommodations: AVODEC is working on accommodations so students can stay with people in the community
• Skills:
  • Partner wants to be involved in project intern recruitment process and strong pre-project communications
  • It would be ideal to have interns who speak Spanish as the language barrier can be difficult
• Reported cost to interns:
  • Program in-country costs (reported by partner):
    • Accommodation: $10/day/student
    • Ground transport: $60/student
    • Suggested tourist spending money: $60/student
    • Other (staff costs): $20/student,
    • $300-$400 per student for unexpected expenses (medical emergencies, etc)
  • Average Total costs (reported by interns – includes airfare, accommodation, visas, vaccinations, spending money, etc.): $1,733
  • Range of reported intern total costs: $1,100-$3,000

Partnership History:

• Summer 2016
  • Chapters: University of Central Florida, University of Miami
    • Project: Worked closely with the women’s cooperative to construct a small pig farm and facilitating training sessions in essential skills like financial management, marketing, and business administration
    • Investment: $2,600
    • Project team: 3 interns
  • Chapters: College of Charleston, Randolph-Macon College, and University of Texas – Austin
    • Project: Worked with AVODEC to provide the resources needed to install a native chicken farm, providing a source of income and practical business skills for local families.
    • Investment: $3,500
    • Project team: 4 interns
    • Project Blog

• Summer 2015
  • Chapter(s): Randolph-Macon College and University of Texas – Austin
  • Project: Build and organize a library for the community. Complete a water irrigation system and create a training manual for how to install the system for the community members.
  • Investment: $2,000
  • Project team: 0 interns

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