Ministry Opportunity Filled!!!!

This position for 2015 has been committed to by a couple from Boise, Id. who attend the Vineyard Church. They have been involved in the I-61 program since its inception and will be a great couple to help us out this year. 

Thank you to those who have shown an interest. More opportunities will come in the future. One such opportunity is a long term partner couple or individual who could commit to an annual minimum 6 month role at Nica Impact. Preferrably during the summer months (+/- April - Sept). A perfect opportunity for a retired couple or full time mission couple.

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If you are a person who has wanted to try missions for more than just a week or two, Nica Impact may have a volunteer ministry opportunity available for you. This opportunity is open for a person or couple and is located in Jinotepe, Nicaragua. The purpose is to provide support while the Effingers are visiting family in the US.

The job description is relatively simple. The volunteer would:
1) Assist setting up a weekly Skype call on Monday afternoons.
2) Manage the distribution of petty cash and track funds disbursement.
3) Facilitate some monthly administrative responsibilities.
4) Possibly host a few small day visits from I-61 ministries.
5) Assist in basic maintenance of the ministry greenhouse.
6) Communicate with the Effingers as needed via Skype or Vonage.

The approved candidate would be able to stay at the Effingers home and would not have to pay rent. The opportunity would provide plenty of time to travel around Nicaragua, either via the Effingers vehicle, a local private taxi, or the local transportation system.

Preferred candidates are people who have been to Nica Impact or know the Effingers from a previous trip to Nicaragua, people who have been through the I-61 program or stayed at the Isaiah House in Managua, or people who have visited Arms of Love Childrens home during the years the Effingers volunteered there. If you are not sure you would qualify, please do not hesitate to ask.

Spanish language skills are not a requirement, yet a basic level of Spanish would be helpful for getting around and such.

The range of time needed is from +/- September 26th until November 21st. A longer stay is acceptable.

If you are interested in investigating this opportunity, please contact Doug Effinger at dugeffinger@yahoo.com

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Nica Impact featured on i 61 newsletter

Heres a link to i-61s newsletter featuring Nica Impact.

http://i-61.org/building-bridges/

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Auxiliadora Obando

Auxiliadora, also known as Chilo, is one of our newer students in the Casa Esther girls home. She is from near where Sergio is from about 3 hours from our town of Jinotepe. She is in the adaptation process of our program and hopes to study a technical career related to business.

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Access English Classes Begin

At the Biblioteca William Minor (William Minor Library), we are blessed to collaborate with the US Embassys remote English Program entitled Access English. This program runs for two years and is one of the best English programs in the country of Nicaragua. These 26 students all come from families with limited resources from all around the department of Carazo, Nicaragua. Great to see this batch of kids setting goals and working towards a brighter future.

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Updated Contact Info

As a result of our High School Reunion interest (see Columbian article here), I am posting information how to donate to our cause. We are an all volunteer group at Nica Impact and you can be assured that nearly all of your donation makes it to causes in Nicaragua (a small amount is used for general overhead. Less than 5%).  We generate our personal income through other sources.

Thanks to all who contribute in any way possible.

Doug Effinger
Columbia River High School
Class of 1978

Send checks to:

Nica Impact

8410 NW 15^th Court

Vancouver, WA 98665

You will receive a tax donation receipt shortly after.

A recent photo of our students and staff at Nica Impact.  (May 2013)

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Nehemias Pavon

Nehemias was with us until last July 2012. He completed his studies as a technician in auto mechanics at the local vocational school. He has since acquired a job working for one of the premier hardware stores in Managua, SINSA, as a diagnostic technician for vehicle electrical systems. Nehemias is 22 years old. Prior to leaving our program he, much like Uriel, had class in the mornings and volunteered in a shop during the afternoon. As a result, he was one of two classmates who were recommended by his school administrator for the job. He also is a quiet young man ready and willing to serve at a moments notice.

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Were now on Crowdrise!

Its not that we always have our hands out for money. Its just that helping people costs money. Hoping we can reach more partners through this medium.

But it is true that our hands are out to give a hand up.

https://www.crowdrise.com/nicaimpact

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Welcome to FeelGood Aquaponics! Intro Post

Welcome to FeelGood Aquaponics

     My name is Felix Vogele. I am 23 years old and living in Helsingør, Denmark. I have long been interested in sustainability and alternative ways of thinking. The last few years I have been wanting to work more and more with plants, farming, and nature as a whole. The last few months I have been introduced to aquaponics.

     Aquaponics is a blend of two better known farming methods, aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soil-less growing). The way aquaponics works is simple. The fish are raised in fish tanks, the fish poop, and then the waste is pumped to the grow area where it is used to fertilize crops and plants, the plants and grow medium filter the bacteria and then the then filter water returns back to the aquarium. Here is a picture to help explain 

     I very much wanted to try aquaponics for myself! I am starting in August at Roskilde Teknisk Skole here in Denmark as a Greenhouse Gardener. I am very much looking forward to it and am planning on using my education towards aquaponics. 

    I decided to build my own system. This is easier said than done. I live in a 70.5 m2 apartment. I already had a 250 liter aquarium and had to keep the place looking nice. 

     The design is simple but turned out to be kinda complicated with a few things. I used my existing 250 liter aquarium as my fish tank / sump tank. I built a low stand for my tank so I could build a "table" over it to hold the grow beds. I made it low enough so it can fit under the window and receive natural light pretty much all day.

     I choose two different styles of grow beds to try them out. The first is a flood and drain system with expanded clay as the grow substrate. I made a bell siphon as the draining mechanism. In this grow bed I have an heirloom tomato donated by my girlfriendss mother, rosemary, dill, and jut a bit of parley too. I have also thrown a few head lettuce and spring onion seeds in there just to see what will happen. 

     The second grow bed is a Deep Water Culture (DWC) grow bed. This means that the plants are floating on top on the water in little net pots. The water is filtered so no solids get intertwined with the roots. It drains through a standing drain pipe back into the aquarium. I am currently growing rucola in it but plan on growing many leafy greens when I get more net pots.

Finished!

First set of plants. 

 

Mixed African Cichlids

Another view of the cichlids.

  

     I should also add that these are my African Cichlids and I do not plan on eating them! They are my pets. :) I do plan on getting some Tilapia and somehow add another tank, but that is another post and project all together! I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will continue to update you on my aquaponic adventures!

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Manuel Pavon

Manuel is 20 years old and is studying Electro-mechanical Engineering. His courses are on the weekends in Managua, an hour away, so he spends his weekday mornings volunteering at a local mechanics shop, then in the afternoon he has study time, and in the evening he is learning English at a local school. He will complete the English course at the end of the year. He still has over three years left with his university degree.

Manuel is very motivated to learn anything he can. He is a hard worker and has a plan for his future.

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Uriel Pavon

Uriel is form a neighboring community about 30 minutes away. He has been studying Industrial Mechanics at the local vocational school. He is 19 years old. Uriel is a quiet young man who is very respectful and helpful. After studying his career in the morning, he spends the second half of each day volunteering at a local mechanics shop. He has also volunteered at a brake shop for many months prior.

He will be with us until March of 2013.

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