One of our goals is to provide training and cross cultural opportunities for university students from both outside and within Nicaragua. To these ends, we offer internship programs and service learning tours. Both of these programs help further our goal of community based sustainable rural development by connecting rural Nicaraguans with the world abroad and visa-versa and helping complete small projects and performing research through hands-on involvement.
Service Learning Tours
We work with different university groups to provide a snapshot of life in small rural Nicaraguan village. During their time in the “campo”, the groups get a chance to learn first hand about the renewable energy projects AsoFénix has completed, participate in ongoing community organization, and get their hands dirty in some of our complementary projects. As relationships between AsoFénix and universities develop, together we work toward long term projects that are co-developed by the communities and the university.
Sample schedule:
- Day 1-stay in Managua at the AsoFenix office/house to learn more about the organization
- Day 2-head to the countryside to visit a completed potable water project, spend the night in the community
- Day 3-meet with committee, start a complementary project
- Day 4-work on continuation project, provide educational training
- Day 5-finish continuation project, have farewell party with the community
- Day 6-visit micro-hydro turbine project, tour organic coffee cooperative, swim in waterfall pool, stay in nearby town
- Day 7-visit solar panel project, meet with committee, work on small complementary project, sleep in the community
- Day 8-return to Managua, debriefing
- Day 9-visit popular touristic sites
- Day 10-tour ends
See more learning group tour pictures
Service projects during the trips have included:
- Planting trees and fruit trees
- Starting a tree nursery
- Construction of improved wood burning cook stoves
- Biodigester construction
- Environmental education
- Installing a wind powered charging center
- Irrigation system installation
- Solar energy installations
- Community organization
- Education for school children
For more information on our service learning trips, please contact us.
Internship Program
AsoFénix seeks people with interest and experience in sustainable community development, with a focus on renewable energy. Above all, AsoFénix needs people that want to live, work, and learn in rural communities, and expand their global vision. The duration of the program is flexible depending upon the needs of the student. During their stay, interns are able to develop and execute their own projects, work with AsoFénix on current projects, and help with the development of community projects. Basic Spanish is recommended, but higher levels of language skills are more mutually beneficial. See more intern photos
Past intern projects have included:
- Solar panel installation
- Biodigestor construction
- Biofertilizer plant trials
- Solar cooker construction
- Installation of drip irrigation systems
- Design and installation of wind and micro-hydro systems
- Design of solar powered water pump systems
- Micro-finance projects
- Organizing community workshops
- Reforestation
For more information on our internship program, please contact us.
