Start a Chapter
We are constantly seeking the brightest and most motivated individuals to serve as chapter leaders. We hope you will join us! Steps to becoming an active chapter are as follows:
- Establish a board of officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary)
- Become recognized by your school or institution
- Sign and submit the Chaptership Terms Form
- Submit an Officer Information Form for each member of your board
- Establish a plan for your chapter’s activities
- Start making a difference in the lives of children worldwide!
Once you submit the Chaptership Terms Form and Officer Information Forms, you will achieve Active Status and be granted the following:
- A featured page on FIMRC’s website
- An official FIMRC email address
- Permission and access to use FIMRC’s logo and all documents provided in the Chaptership section of our website
- The chance to form close working relationships with FIMRC’s Headquarters team and other chapters
To begin, please fill out the form below or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Once your inquiry is submitted, a member of our team will be in touch to start the process of welcoming you to FIMRC Chaptership.
- Mission and Introduction
- Project Accomplishments
- Project Staff
- Accommodations
- Trip Costs
- Trip Logistics
The principal goals of our work in Nicaragua include:
- Establish an effective system for the delivery of acute and preventive health care to members of this underserved Nicaraguan community;
- Transition from a system of triage healthcare to one of continuous care by implementing biannual well-child visits for the entire community while monitoring key indicators of overall health;
- Achieve a marked decrease in pediatric malnutrition and in the number of underweight children in the community;
- Curb the devastating spread of common endemic disease caused by preventable microbial infections;
- Promote and sustain programs in health education, with particular focus on pediatric and maternal health initiatives.
FIMRC strives to develop sustainable programs within the community. Project Limón started its work in January of 2009 and has since strived to provide educational opportunities for community members on preventative health issues pertinent to the population. In collaboration with GHVP volunteers, medical students and health professionals, FIMRC realized many noteworthy achievements in 2009, including:
- Comprehensive community mapping of 4 communities which will allow FIMRC to identify children who will benefit from a future free pediatric health program.
- Personal hygiene trainings delivered to 2491 kids.
- Family planning trainings delivered to 169 adolescents.
- Dental hygiene trainings delivered to 353 kids.
- Delivered 16 hours of first aid training to 17 individuals from different communities.
- Helped administer anti parasite medication to 2356 children.
- Funded and participated in the construction of a medical waste incinerator at the Las Salinas clinic.
- Provided ongoing treatment for 83 kids and families infected with lice and provided education regarding prevention.
- Implemented a tooth brushing program in 4 schools.
- Worked with the Ministry of Health to administer abate to water sources in 1506 households.
- Organized and executed a recreation day for 150 children.
- Developed educational literature about malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, H1N1, personal hygiene, dental hygiene, and lice.
- Conducted a comprehensive analysis of community health.
- Distributed 60 pediatric health kits to community members and patients at RC clinic.
- Promoted the Roberto Clemente Clinic’s services in the community via flyers and house visits.
- Tested 51 children for anemia and provided a 4-week nutrition course to parents of affected kids in Limon I.
- Purchased and installed piping at Las Salinas government clinic.
- Organized 5 trash campaigns.
- Assisted the Ministry of Health with a government census.
- Assisted the Ministry of Health in identifying possible H1N1 cases.
- Conducted house visits with MINSA to monitor newborn babies.
- Collected demographic data from all members of 4 communities.
- Assisted in the development of an operational plan for the Roberto Clemente’s emergency transport program.
- Solicited and received donation of baseball equipment to facilitate a little league baseball team in Limón.
Greg Macdonald, Program Manager
Tucson, Arizona
As Project Manager, Greg assists with the overall management of Project Limon. He brings to the position several years of international experience, most recently as Field Operations Manager for Project Limon. In his time on-site, Greg launched and managed Project Limon's Global Health Volunteer Program, and also developed health innovations to improve the lives of thousands of children and adults in Nicaragua. Prior to joining FIMRC's team, Greg served as a Youth Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps in El Salvador, taught English at a leading university in Mexico, and worked as a Case Manager for child welfare agencies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Greg holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Administration at the University of Arizona. He is passionate about making a difference, loves to travel, and will eat just about anything you put in front of him.
Caroline McGee, Field Operations Specialist
Limón, Nicaragua
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Caroline’s passion for Latin America began to develop after she lived and studied in Montevideo, Uruguay during her junior year of college. She graduated from The George Washington University in 2005 with a BA in Spanish, and went on to obtain her Master’s in Latin American Studies from American University. Most recently, she spent four years in Guatemala working for an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Guatemalan children and families through education, healthcare, and housing. Caroline is responsible for managing Project Limón’s on-site operations, including coordinating Global Health Volunteers, establishing and monitoring preventive health education initiatives, and managing the Pediatric Health Program.
Carlos Morales, M.D., Clinic Doctor
Limón, Nicaragua
As FIMRC's pediatrician, Dr. Morales sees patients that are referred to him through the public health post in Las Salinas. Originally from Rivas, Dr. Morales has a medical degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma in León. He went on to do his residency in pediatric surgery at the Manuel de Jesus Rivera hospital for children in Managua. Currently, Dr. Morales works in a private clinic in Rivas, performs surgeries at the Gaspar Garcia Laviana hospital in Rivas, and supports FIMRC's pediatric health program twice a week.
Yanira Obando, Health Outreach Coordinator
Limón, Nicaragua
As Health Outreach Coordinator , Yanira supports FIMRC’s programs in Limón by developing and presenting health education talks in local public schools. By communicating regularly with these schools, Yanira serves as important link between FIMRC and school directors and teachers. Yanira also helps to support the volunteer program by accompanying volunteers during community outreach activities. Yanira is originally from Limón 1, and has been working for FIMRC since 2010. She is currently taking English classes and enjoys getting the opportunity to practice with visitors.
Housing
Volunteers stay in cottage-style hotel accommodations at the Surf Sanctuary, located a short walk from the beach and a short drive from the clinic site. Its close proximity to local homes allows volunteers to become truly integrated into the community. All rooms have electricity, air conditioning, toilets, and hot showers. Volunteers also have access to a common area with a kitchen and television.
Meals
Breakfast is provided for every day of your stay at the Surf Sanctuary and includes options of fruit, eggs, pancakes, rice, beans, and other common Nicaraguan breakfast plates. Lunch is provided at the clinic during every volunteering day. These lunches are typical Nicaragua dishes and tend to include beans, plantains, a salad of cabbage and tomato, and either fish, chicken, beef, or pork (selection changes daily). Accommodations can be made for volunteers with specific dietary preferences. Volunteers are responsible for purchasing additional meals from a list of recommended meal vendors in the community.
Transportation
All transportation is provided by reputable hired drivers with outstanding safety records.
Upon arrival at the Managua airport, volunteers are met by a driver, as well as a staff member or representative of FIMRC, and are transported to the Surf Sanctuary. Private transportation is provided for each volunteering day between the Surf Sanctuary, the clinic site, and all other volunteering locations in and around the community of Limon.
The following cost structure reflects individual participation in the Global Health Volunteer Program at Project Limón:
- Peak (January, March, May, June, July): $1149 per week
- Semi-peak (December, February, August, September): $1049 per week
- Non-peak (April, October, November): $949 per week
This cost includes the program donation that supports our project sites as well as housing, food, & transportation. Housing, food and transportation include airport pick up/drop off and transportation to/from project site during volunteer days, lodging at the Surf Sanctuary that includes breakfast each morning for the duration of the volunteer’s stay. Lunch is provided in the community during the volunteering days (M-F). Excursions and trips for non-volunteer related activity as well as the associated costs are the responsibility of the volunteer.
Additional approximate costs include:
- Roundtrip airfare generally ranging between $500-$700
- Recommended spending money of $150 per week, at the discretion of the volunteer
Passport
US citizens can enter Nicaragua with a valid passport. Volunteers who do not hold a US passport must check with their respective embassies for information on travel eligibility. Volunteers are responsible for obtaining or renewing their passports.
Visa
US passport holders are not required to obtain a visa prior to travel. A tourist visa can be purchased at the Managua airport upon arrival in-country. Non-US passport holders should check with their respective embassies for current visa requirements and regulations. Volunteers are responsible for ensuring that they are legally eligible to travel abroad.
Vaccinations
We refer all volunteers to the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel for the most up to date vaccination recommendations. Please note the different recommendations not only for the country you are visiting, but also for the region in which you will be staying.
Flights
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own flights and must fly in and out of Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua (code MGA). Please click here for further information on flights.
Insurance
Volunteers are responsible for possessing health insurance which covers emergency medical evacuation. Please click here for further information.
FIMRC Payments and Enrollment Forms
Once you work with our team to confirm your volunteering site and trip dates, you will be sent a welcome message via email which will contain instructions for enrollment, as well as deadlines for the submission of materials. If you have questions about this process, do not hesitate to contact missions@fimrc.org or 1-888-211-8575.
