Business Development With an unemployment rate of nearly 50 percent, Nicaragua relies heavily on the informal sector for income generation. Volunteers are training local credit unions to improve basic accounting and marketing skills, as well as strategic and financial management for their clients. As a result, micro and small enterprise support organizations are better equipped to provide working capital and expertise. During the past six years, more than 70 Volunteers have been involved in income-generating projects. Volunteers facilitate technical training and small business causes for residents seeking additional income.
Participants learn trades and create products for sale in local markets as additional income.
Environment Environmental degradation in Nicaragua is primarily a result of poor land management policies and traditional subsistence farming practices. Volunteers are working with community members to create environmental education campaigns to help the population learn about sustainable farming techniques. Volunteers are working with representatives from various government agencies to improve the communication of environmental policies to the public. To prevent further environmental degradation, a Volunteer has organized 30 firefighters in the southwestern community of El Pellizco to control and prevent agricultural fires in an area heavily eroded by Hurricane Mitch. Training activities have focused on youth groups and school-age children.