The
UCA Miraflor project: The first part of the dream
The first English for
community tourism classes began on the Miraflor Nature Reserve in
January 2002, for a
group of young guides to support their tourism
programme. Gradually
the project grew and there were more than 60 students attending year
round classes in three
areas. In
addition, we ran five-day residential courses in July and August.
These were very motivating and helped students break the
speaking barrier. By
2006, there were 5-7 guides with some command of English. In 2007 when
the volunteer programme moved to new communities, a couple of the
students
started classes in their communities (see community teachers). .
You can read more about the living
and volunteering experience as it was in Miraflor in the newsletters.
Who
are UCA Miraflor?
UCA Miraflor is a union of small
agricultural co-operatives (Union
de
Cooperativas Agropecuarias)
whose members farm on the Miraflor Nature Reserve, near Esteli. Their
aim: sustainable livelihoods,
compatible with the
maintenance and improvement of the environment. Their main crops are
coffee – organic
and shade grown – vegetables, milk production and cattle. They have had
reforestation and live fencing
projects, and gender and youth activities. There is an orchid rescue
scheme and
a programme cultivating a local fungus that is a natural pesticide for
coffee. They have been running a community tourism
programme since the late 90s. UCA Miraflor
members offer wonderful
experiences to those who come as visitors. There is an office in Esteli
with a reception area
for visitors. Their website is www.miraflor.org
Come to Nicaragua for a
holiday with a difference and be a responsible traveler.
