Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!

International Citizen Service

In October 2013 I will be taking part in a volunteering project in Nicaragua as part of the International Citizen Service scheme (ICS). ICS is a programme run jointly by six respected international volunteering organisations in the UK alongside The Department for International Development. The programme involves helping some of the poorest people in the world on projects that have specifically requested the help of ICS. At the same time it allows young people to gain new skills, become aware of global issues and work with a variety of people from various backgrounds, both from the UK and the project country. The project aims to create global citizens who will continue to support development and positive social change long after completion of the programme.

The programme involves a lengthy period of training and preparation in the UK, followed by 10 weeks spent on sustainable community projects abroad and then continuing to raise awareness and get involved with community projects back home. As part of the preparation stage I need to raise a minimum of £800 which will enable future volunteers to be involved in ICS. Over the next year I hope to organise some fundraising events (I’m thinking bungee jumping...), so please do donate what you can now, but also keep an eye on my progress in the future J

A note on Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a country in Central America, above Costa Rica and below Honduras. It is ‘one of the hemisphere’s poorest countries, faces massive unemployment, and huge external debt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. According to the United Nations Development Progamme, 48% of Nicaraguans live below the poverty line, 79.9% live with less than $2 a day. While the country has made progress towards economic stability over the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meet the country’s needs.’ In recent years the country has suffered from great political upheaval including a repressive dictatorship and a Civil War.

What will I be doing whilst I’m there?

I will be working as part of a group of around 12 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25, half of whom will be from the UK, the other half from Nicaragua. The projects attempt to deal with issues such as: Climate Change, Education, Human Rights, Sanitation, Sustainable livelihoods and Health. All the projects work closely with the local community, finding out what the need and ensuring that the results will be sustainable. We will be living and working with the local people.

Examples of projects: Building a gravity water feed system, rebuilding a primary school, constructing a community centre, building more eco-friendly ovens, educating about climate change, supporting the development of local cooperatives....

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.