We’ll kick off our trip in San Juan del Sur, a small beachside town known for its world class surfing for beginners and experts alike. We’ll stay as a group and the only guests in the home of Carlos and Jessica Ruiz, a young Nicaraguan couple who have converted their home into a small hostel. In the mornings we’ll venture outside of San Juan to the ‘campo’(rural areas) and work with local schools and communities on projects focusing on education, nutrition and health. We’ll work side by side with the people of the community in a cooperative sustainable manner to build empowerment and create lasting change.
In the afternoons, we’ll head off to one of many sunny, sandy beaches where our local surf instructors will provide us with a safe and exciting day of catching waves, snorkeling and soccer on the beach. When the sun sets we’ll head back to San Juan del Sur and enjoy a delicious home-made meal and get ready for another day with more surf and service. Snorkeling, boogie-boarding, fish tacos and sometimes just lying on the beach, will complement these days and expose us to the aquatic wonders that San Juan del Sur has to offer.
With just a couple of days left in our trip, we’ll make our way towards Managua and stay at Laguna de Apoyo, a crater lake lying inside an extinct volcano and surrounded by a nature reserve. We’ll soak up the sun, play on the lake and enjoy our last days in this ecologic gem. Before heading back home we’ll spend the morning helping some very special kids at a very unique school outside Managua and do some last minute shopping at the market in Masaya before boarding our plane for home.
Project Snapshot: Reef protection and Lionfish Capture on Bay Islands, Honduras
Problem:The Lionfish is an invasive non-native species damaging the reef and reducing the population of the native species.
Solution:Work with local marine biologists to remove the lionfish from the area through capture and the training of natural predators.
Impact:Restores balance to the natural marine environment and protects the livelihood of the local people.
Project Snapshot: Solar Power
Problem:Lack of electricity.
Solution:Working cooperatively with local NGO’s and solar companies to install community level solar power for off-the-grid communities.
Impact:Green renewable energy provides electricity which creates access to education, modern construction, public information through radio and internet and improvements to water and sanitation.
Project Snapshot: Soil & Water Conservation
Problem:Deforestation and torrential rains compromise the integrity of farmlands and river beds and remove nutrients vital to a successful harvest.
Solution:On susceptible areas of farming parcels and ephemeral stream beds we use rocks and boulders to build low retaining walls and low head dams.
Impact:Retains important nutrients in the soil allowing for a more abundant and nutritious crop. In stream beds, it retains more water in the basin, allowing for improved water table levels, retention of the richest soils for horticulture and a consistent and cleaner source of domestic water.
Project Snapshot: Horticulture
Problem:Poor nutrition, lack of vegetables in diet, financial restrictions of traditional horticulture.
Solution:Through a simple and appropriate design using rope, rebar and anti-viral mesh, a small green house can be inexpensively constructed to enable families to supplement their diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Impact:In agrarian communities where rice and beans is the staple of the diet and sometimes its only ingredient, nutrition improves when it is supplemented with fresh, organic vegetables with little added work.
Project Snapshot: Education
Problem:Poor education due to lack of infrastructure and proper government assistance.
Solution:Provide student-lead lessons in English and extra-curricular activities in the arts.
Impact:Exposes local students to native english speakers and allows for diversity in classroom activites and exposure to new ideas.
Project Snapshot: Eco-stoves
Problem:Existing ‘open flame’ adobe stoves use for cooking in the home lack ventilation and create smoke-related health issues.
Solution:Using local materials construct an eco-stove which burns more efficiently and ventilates smoke through the roof.
Impact:Reduces the amount of wood needed for cooking, reduces deforestation, reduces lung disease and other smoke-related diseases.