Location: Masaya / Ciudad Sandino      Setting: Urban/Rural      Established: 1990      Staff: 39

Subject Areas

Microfinance: Business Development

Health: Cancer, Public Health, Reproductive Health, Environmental Medicine, Prevention

Community Development: Community Empowerment, Infrastructure Development, Construction

Youth and Education: Communication, Child and Adolescent Development, Complimentary Learning, Teaching

Environment: Environmental Education, Organic/Sustainable Agriculture, Management & Sanitation, Green Architecture & Building

Human Rights: Poverty, Community Action

Organization Objectives

MASINFA strives to promote sustainable development through education, health care, sound agriculture, and civic participation. Its goals are to:

• Provide technological and practical education to low-income residents of Masaya
• Offer health care and education on prevention programs
• Facilitate sustainable practices in agriculture
• Promote housing development and community involvement

Program Information

1.   Nambue School

The Nambue School offers English courses and computer classes for students of all ages and technical skill courses for young adults and teenagers. The school also offers Spanish classes for foreigners during high tourist seasons. The computer lab has over 20 computers equipped with internet connection. Through charging fees for classes, the school remains self-sustainable and is able to offer scholarships to high school students obtaining their diploma.

Opportunities

• Teach English and/or computer classes
• Implement extracurricular classes for the technical high school. Topics could include, but are not limited to; microfinance, money management, music, art, theater, dance, and world history
• Form a peer health education system within the school to conduct outreach on health topics, including but not limited to:
• Teen pregnancy
• Safe sex
• Healthy relationships
• Family violence
• Nutrition
• STDs and HIV/AIDS
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Meet with students individually to provide counseling in career and education plans

Requirements

• Beginner to Intermediate Spanish
• Background or interest in teaching
• Willing to take the initiative and be independent
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work with MASINFA staff

2.   Cancer Research and Prevention (CIPO)

Cervical cancer rates in Nicaragua are among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, and breast cancer is close behind. the government health system has inadequate funding to implement an expansive prevention program; the major technological resources (chemotherapy, radiology, etc.) are situated in Managua, which is out of geographical and financial reach for most Nicaraguans. The public hospitals and health centers are overwhelmed with patients, causing delays in notification, prevention, and primary care. More than 60% of patients live in rural and marginal areas and are not exposed to public awareness campaigns on cancer and prevention. MASINFA’s Centro de Investigación y Prevención Oncológica (CIPO) conducts cancer research and offers health care and prevention techniques.

Opportunities

• Facilitate workshops on cancer facts, prevention, and self care
• Work with CIPO staff to visit urban and rural areas for public awareness campaigns as well as to contact current patients
• Assist in regular and drop-in patients at the CIPO center
• Organize a Survivors Club to support fighting and recovering cancer victims
• Research cancer statistics to maintain effective treatment and prevention methods, have an accurate demographic patient count,
• Assist in grant writing in order to help extend CIPO services

Requirements

• Beginner to Intermediate Spanish
• Background or knowledge of cancer facts, research, and prevention
• Proactive, takes initiative, and independent
• Ability to work with MASINFA staff

3.   Housing Development and Basic Infrastructure

According to the National Development Plan research conducted in September 2003, Nicaragua has a high deficit in both the quality and quantity of housing for more than half a million people. MASINFA prioritizes housing construction for low-income residents in and around Masaya with a focus on community organizing and civic participation. Since 1991, it has built hundreds of houses in particular communities and formed partnerships with other NGOs with support from the National Housing Network and Masaya Housing Foundation.

Opportunities

• Work with the housing team in Tisma (small rural community outside of Masaya) to organize campaigns and construct houses with local residents
• Map and survey various neighborhoods to discover community needs, assets, and resources for housing and infrastructure development (e.g. latrines, waste management, water, electricity, and public roads)
• Communicate project details and obtain direct feedback from residents before, during, and after construction projects
• Write grants and assist with maintaining a fundraising system for regular and sustainable financial support

Requirements

• Beginner to Intermediate Spanish
• Background or interest in architectural planning, housing development, and/or related topics
• Proactive, takes initiative, and independent
• Ability to work with MASINFA staff

4.   Compost Center and Sustainable Agriculture

MASINFA has a compost plant for local farmers and provides outreach workshops about environmental protection and waste management techniques. To conserve the natural habitat and to act as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, MASINFA makes and sells organic compost to farmers. The staff conducts outreach and markets campaigns for local farm workers and owners, maintains the compost plant, and uses educational workshops to spread knowledge about environmental protection and pollution.

Opportunities

• Assist staff in conducting outreach and marketing campaigns
• Facilitate environment workshops on protection and pollution
• Research new waste management techniques

Requirements

• Beginner to Intermediate Spanish
• Background or interest in agriculture and/or the environment
• Proactive, takes initiative, and independent
• Ability to work with MASINFA staff

5.   Community Organizing and Civic Participation

MASINFA has long been working to assess local opinions, needs, and resources, in order to include community members in its projects. It facilitates workshops for community leaders to promote public awareness campaigns and encourage civic participation.

Opportunities

• Write and disseminate resource manuals for health, housing, education, and other needs
• Research social implications of community organizing and work directly with local residents
• Help organize community leader meetings on topics relevant to Masaya
• Research various neighborhood needs and resources
• Create awareness of the recently passed law that promotes civic participation through outreach to schools, religious organizations, microfinance initiatives, and NGOs

Requirements

• Beginner to Intermediate Spanish
• Background or interest in activism, outreach, and/or civic participation
• Proactive, takes initiative, and independent
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work with MASINFA staff

Program Supervisors (All Programs)

Irene Ortiz is the supervising director and head of Nambue School.

Maria Pavon is Director of CIPO.

Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objective because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

Working Conditions

MASINFA is located off of the Managua-Masaya highway, up a slight hill. It is about a 25 minute walk from downtown Masaya. The MASINFA office is open-aired and comfortable, with large classroom areas, trees, an ornamental garden, a pulpería stand (to buy drinks and snacks), a computer lab, a small library, and administration offices. The CIPO center is located a few blocks away in a separate building. The housing team moves around; although they are often based in Tisma, a small town 40 minutes away from Masaya by bus.

FSD participants can use the computers and internet onsite. The amount of time spent indoors or outdoors depends on programs and projects.

Organizational Background

MASINFA is composed of four main areas: (1) a technical continuation school, (2) a cancer prevention and healthcare center, (3) a housing development arm that tracks house construction and infrastructure projects, and (4) a compost center that prides itself as the only organic compost plant in Nicaragua.

About MASINFA’s Clients

MASINFA’s broad range of clients vary from high school students who attend the technical school to adults who (1) attend the English or computer classes, (2) participate in MASINFA’s community leadership programs, and/or (3) benefit from the housing and compost projects. Many of the clients live in rural areas; although some come from urban Masaya.