El Porvenir

Since 1990, El Porvenir has worked side-by-side with rural families in Nicaragua to construct wells, latrines, village washing facilities as well as support reforestation projects. As El Porvenir developed, it grew into an integrated program that included water, sanitation, hygiene and maintenance education, and reforestation. When El Porvenir started its village work trips, Nicaragua was recovering from the aftermath of a civil war and didn't have a tourism industry; it was difficult to find English-speaking guides, public transportation, or hotels outside of Managua. For North Americans to travel to Nicaragua and see El Porvenir's rural development work first-hand, it was necessary for El Porvenir to serve as a tour organizer. Work trips were created, and small groups of North Americans were brought into rural villages to experience village life, working alongside local families on projects. What was once an organization with one employee, who carried out four projects a year, has become a leading international nonprofit with 26 staff members, 23 of whom are Nicaraguan.