VISIONS Custom Teen Volunteering Program In Nicaragua

In February 2010 the youth group of B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue in New York City embarked on a custom program of service and Spanish language immersion to Nicaragua. The high school volunteers, members of their synagogue youth group, chose to volunteer overseas for their winter break and construct a long-anticipated water system in the northern Nicaragua village of Chaguite Grande.

The goal of the February service project in Nicaragua was to bring water—potable, fresh spring water—to the entire community in a way that maintains and sustains the precious resource for future generations.  In the weeks and months prior to the high school volunteers’ arrival, VISIONS set plans in motion with its local partner AVODEC, whose engineers and field representatives designed the water system for the village.

Along with the teen volunteers, community members participated in this custom program project to the fullest extent. In family groups, the local people and U.S. high school students formed work teams that dug trenches using shovels and pick axes and then laid pipe.  Sharing tools, joining muscle and mental strength, the students and people of Chaguite Grande created a functioning potable water system for this tiny village in northern Nicaragua.

During the week, the high school volunteers, along with Rabbi Marcello Bronstein, visited some of the households to meet local families, share stories, ask questions and gain a window into lives so welcoming, eyes so curious and smiles wide as can be.

Among volunteer service programs for teenagers, VISIONS enjoys a reputation for consistent excellent, dependable, successful summer programs for teenagers, a reputation spanning over two decades living and working in communities overseas and in the U.S. VISIONS forges strong partnerships with local governments, NGO’s, and other nonprofits. Like all of VISIONS custom programs, the trip to Nicaragua was carefully planned with our Nicaragua partners and with B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue who specifically requested ambitious community service, Spanish language immersion and culture immersion as the focus for this custom program.

VISIONS welcomes high schools and youth groups to contact us to learn more about our custom programs for teen volunteers.