ViviendasLeónHighSchoolSummerInternshipGuide
2017
ViviendasLeon(VL)isaninternationaldevelopmentandeducationtravelnon-profitorganization
basedinSanFrancisco,CAandLeon,Nicaragua.VL’smissionistosupporthumanandeconomic
developmentintheruralcommunitiesofLeón,NicaraguaandengageU.S.studentsinglobal
citizenship.Ourcommunityprojectsandprogramsrangefromagroforestry,tosmallbusiness
creation,toyouthdevelopment.
Theinternshipprogramisdesignedtogiveacademicandprofessionalpracticaltrainingto
studentsintheUnitedStatesthatareinterestedingainingfieldexperienceinCentralAmerica.
Eachinternwillhaveadetaileddescriptionoftheirdutiesandobjectivesandwillreportweekly
totheprogramleadstaff.Internswillbeaccommodatedinhomestaysinpairsandhave
orientationincludedinthefirstweekoftheirinternshipintheLeonoffice.InternsmustbeHigh
Schoolstudentsatleast15yearsoldtoapplytothisinternship.U.S.internswillbepairedup
withNicaraguaninternsinLeontoworktogetheronspecificprojects.Internswillprovidefinal
presentationstostaffabouttheoutcomesoftheirinternship.
Eachdaystudentswillspendtimeworkingontheiryouthfocusedprojectintheruralindigenous
communitiesofSutiaba.Pre-tripobjectivesincludeprovidinginternswithfundraisingtoolsand
VLprojectbackgroundinformation.PosttripobjectivesincludehavingselectedinternsjoinVL’s
BoardofDirectorsforoneyearasStudentAmbassadorsandalsomakingpresentationstotheir
classmatesabouttheirexperiencewithVL.StudentsapplyingfortheinternshipforVLwillneed
tohavesomeSpanishlanguageexperiencepriortostartingtheirinternship.Spanishlanguage
classesinNicaraguacanbescheduledaswell.
Cost:$900perweekincludeshomestaylodging,in-countrytransportation/airport
transportation,breakfastanddinner,localcellphones,on-sitecoordinatoravailable24/7,
Spanishlanguageclasses,culturaltours,danceandcraftinglessons,seedgrantsforcommunity
projects,stipendformaterials/supplies,andtraininglectures/activities.Thiscostexcludes
internationalairfare,whichtypicallycomesoutto$700roundtrip,passportand/orvisafees,
weekendtravelexpenses,andanyaccruedmedicalexpenses.
Duration:2weeksJune18,2017-July1,2017.
Howtoapply:Pleasesendyourresumeandcoverletterexplainingwhyyouwanttointernfor
Viviendasleon.
Pleasesendapplicationmaterialstomartin@viviendasleon.orgorcontactusifyouhaveany
questions.Uponacceptancetotheprogram,applicantsmustsubmita$200non-refundable
depositwithahealthformfilledoutandphoto.Depositsareappliedtothetotalinternshipcost,
theremainingbalanceisduetwoweekspriortodeparture.
Afterreceivingyourapplicationwewillreviewandnotifyyouifyouhavebeenaccepted.Ifyou
areaccepted,wewillsendyouaplacementconfirmationletterandadditionalinformation
regardingyourinternshipposition,pre-tripinformation,andfundraisingguide.
Internswillnotberemuneratedandareexpectedtoprovidefundingtosupportthemselves.
However,theywillreceivefundraisingguidance,mentorship,aletterofrecommendationupon
completionoftheirservice,andjobplacementsupport.VLalsoofferslimitedpartial
scholarshipstoexceptionalcandidates.
ViviendasleonHighSchoolInternshipYouthProject
TheHighSchooltwoweeklongsummerinternshipinLeon,Nicaraguaencompassesavarietyof
skillsandapplicationsrelatedtoyouthdevelopmentintheruralcommunityofGoyena.High
Schoolstudentswilllearnhowtoplan,organize,andimplementdifferentyouthprogramsdaily
including:sportscamps,technologyworkshops,art/music/danceclasses,andtutoringclasses.
Additionally,studentswilllearnhowtocreatemarketingmaterialsandutilizesocialmedia
platformswhileimplementingtheseprograms.
SportsCamp:WorkdirectlywithVL’syouthandsportscoordinatorinGoyena.Createasurvey
andreportonthesuccesses,challenges,andparticipantfeedbackonVL’syouthsoccerleague.
IdentifysportsequipmentanduniformneedsforschoolsinGoyena.Conductafterschoolsports
trainingsessionsdailywithvariousK-12schoolsinGoyena.
TechnologyTraining:Createacurriculumandrunacondensedcomputerliteracycoursefor
youthintheGoyenacomputerlabdailyincludingtrainingonhowtouseeducational
applicationsonipads.
Art,Music,andDance:Createacurriculumandruneitheramusic,art,ordanceworkshop
seriesforyouthofallagesintheGoyenaMadreTierraArtsCenter.Topicsshouldcoverbasic
skillsandhaveafinalperformanceorexhibitforparticipantstoworktowardsanddisplaytothe
communityattheendoftheworkshopseries.
Marketing:IdentifyorganizationsinLeon/Nicaraguathathavepartnershippotentialand
complimentVL’syouthprograms.CreatemarketingmaterialstargetedforLeontouriststo
participateinVL’syouthprogramsasvolunteers.
SocialMediaandPhotography:CreatehighqualityphotosandvideosofVL’syouthprograms.
CreateadailyblogaboutVL’syouthprojects,programs,andcommunitypartners.
Education:TutorindividualstudentsdailyinvariousK-12schoolsubjectsinthevariousGoyena
schools.
NecessarySkills/Experience:
Demonstrateinterestinphotography,socialmedia,videoediting,andblogwritingforhuman
rights,and/orcommunitydevelopment.
Excellentoralandwrittencommunicationskills.Photography,filmediting,andsocialmedia
experiencepreferred.InterestinthemissionandgoalsofViviendasleon.
Demonstrateinterestineducation,teaching,youthdevelopment,languages,humanrights,and/
orcommunitydevelopment.
Demonstrateinterestinsports,teaching,youthdevelopment,physicaleducation,humanrights,
and/orcommunitydevelopment.
ExperienceincoachingorbeingasportscounselorwithchildreningradesK-12isdesired.
Spanishlanguageskillsdesired.
Experienceinipadapplicationuseandinstallationaswellasbasiccomputerliteracy.