Top reasons why to travel to NICARAGUA and volunteer with INLEXCA

So you know you want to volunteer and you would like to do it in Central America- but are still thinking where…. Let me introduce you to Nicaragua! It is a beautiful country with wonderful people, and a dynamic culture.

If you decide to volunteer with INLEXCA you can work in an educational project, spread smiles among children in childcare projects or work alongside local doctors and nurses to treat different conditions and prevent others in areas with scarce resources.

Nicaragua is known for its beautiful volcanoes, the amazing nature and the great food. Let me tell you 5 reasons which will convince you to book your flight today!

You can do volcano boarding! Cerro Negro is an active black volcano located just outside the town of Leon. It offers brave visitors the possibility to hike up and then slide down its steep and slippery slope. You definitely won´t forget this experience!
Admire the beautiful colonial town Granada. Besides wandering around looking at the architecture and the colorful streets, you can take a kayaking trip to the nearby islets, enjoy hiking trips to Mombacho volcano, or visit the nearby markets in Masaya.
Enjoy the amazing food! Typical Nicaraguan dishes include Gallo Pinto: most people in Nicaragua eat this almost daily and it is considered a national symbol. It’s composed of a mixture of fried rice with onion and sweet pepper, red beans boiled with garlic, which is combined and fried.
Spot monkeys on a hike though the jungle on the Isla Ometepe. This beautiful island is located on Lago de Nicaragua and is formed by two joined volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. Hiking, kayaking, cycling, and healthy food are the island’s main draws.
Have an unforgettable adventure in a country far from the beaten touristic paths with highly affordable prizes.
Visit the Somoto Canyon, one of the oldest rock formations in Central America. This canyon is 200 m deep and has beautiful epic rock formations. It can be explored with a guide or alone, but in either case, make sure to bring sandals with you, as the stones on the bottom of the river can be painful when hiking, swimming and scrambling.
Visit the Corn Islands and snorkel, scuba dive, fish, soak up the sun, and relax with a good book.

June 14, 2017

Earthquake in Guatemala

Today´s earthquake in Guatemala

Living in Guatemala you get used that the earth is trembling, it happens all the time. The earth quake last night was different! Everybody woke up at 1:28 am on June 14th because of the -it felt as ever lasting- earthquake of 6.9 magnitude. The epicenter was 20 kilometers (13 miles) west of San Marcos, Guatemala where some buildings have been damaged and landslides provoked. Luckily there have not been any damages in the Antigua surroundings and the INLEXCA office is intact.

For more information on the earthquake in Guatemala please: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/guatemala-earthquake-landslides-me xico/

Nevertheless we all need a little refresher on what to do in case of an earthquake:

Stay calm! If you’re indoors, stay inside. If you’re outside, stay outside.
If you’re indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.
If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall.
Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire don’t mix.
If you’re in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops.
Don’t use elevators (they’ll probably get stuck anyway).

June 13, 2017

Short term vs long term volunteering

When you decide to volunteer, time is an important factor.

Do you have only a few weeks time or are you thinking about doing a whole gap year?

At Inlexca some volunteer jobs only require a helping hand for a few weeks, while others need your commitment for few months or even a whole year. Volunteering with Inlexca is flexible and can be adapted to any needs.

Short term volunteering is accessible for busy full-time employed people or students that have only a few weeks time. It also allows a more flexible schedule in which you can fit several trips to different places. Short time volunteers usually work in a specific Project designed to have an immediate impact on the community they are working with. For volunteers with little time we recommend to choose a type of activity that doesn´t require a lot of initial training, it might also be helpful to learn as much as possible about the country prior arrival.

If you decide to do short term volunteering at Inlexca you can work for a minimum of 2 weeks in childcare, you can teach in local schools or can help in wildlife projects.

As a long term volunteer you will have a lot of time to get to know the project you are working with and will be able to see the changes it makes over time. To make your volunteer experience successful we recommend to choose carefully your position and to try to keep an open and proactive attitude the entire time.

As a long term volunteer you have plenty of possibilities to get involved. You can work in Women Empowerment or have an impact in Micro Finance. If you are a health professional you can work in Health and Medical programs or share your knowledge in Physiotherapy. Environmental preservation is also a popular choice which requires a minimum of 4 weeks commitment.

Deciding on a volunteer position is a very personal thing and it depends of a wide array of factors. Either way you decide, if short term or long term volunteering , we are convinced that it will be a rewarding and unforgettable experience.

June 5, 2017

Ox carriage Parade in Costa Rica

OX parade in Costa Rica

Every year many farmers from around San Ramon de Alajuela in Costa Rica come to downtown San Ramon to participate in the traditional parade of “Carretas” or carriages. These are not typical carriages. These meticulously decorated ox drawn carriages take a long time to complete due to their complex designs and methods. Farmers not only show off their carriages but also their best oxes.

Some of our volunteers in Costa Rica participated in this colorful parade and were able to take even ride the carriages!