Location
  • Nicaragua

Program Details

Compensation
N/A
Housing
Host Family Hostel
Language
English
Weekly Hours
0

Pricing

Starting Price
2000
Price Details
The internship program fee covers all in-country cost plus a $300 seed fund for the intern's project of interest.

3 Months: $2,470
4 Months: $3,150
5 Months: $3,830
6 Months: $4,510

If interested in staying 6+ months, please contact the Program Coordinator directly.

The program fee covers:
• 4-day orientation
• Room & board with all meals included
• Weekly Spanish language lessons
• Skill-building workshops and weekly activities
• Ongoing in-country support from PBF team
• $300 Project Fund for individual’s internship project

Our program fees also contribute directly to the operational costs of the farm and our local staff. For a more detailed breakdown of program costs, please email our Program Coordinator at probonafide@gmail.com.

The following are not included by the program fee, but can be arranged at additional cost:
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Medical/travel insurance
Dec 02, 2016
Jul 10, 2016
6 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Project Bona Fide (PBF) is a demonstrative permaculture farm and educational center that utilizes permaculture design, agroforestry, research & education, and community collaboration to promote food security and sustainable living systems on Isla de Ometepe in southwest Nicaragua.

As interns with Project Bona Fide, participants gain invaluable experience working directly with a grassroots organization in the intern’s area of interest. Working with Project Bona Fide’s staff, interns will receive on-site training and skill-building in a number of key areas of the farm. We offer this dynamic position to self-motivated individuals who are eager to expand their knowledge of permaculture design, food security and sustainable living systems. Project Bona Fide depends on the contributions of interns to help maintain our 26-acre permaculture farm, develop new practices, and enrich our shared experience of conscious living.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 2 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
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  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Lynda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amor y Volcanes

Three months as the herbal medicine intern and I have nothing but love and fond memories of Bonafide! From the moment I climbed up the hill on my first day I was greeted with a warm hug from Sabrina, the manager of the farm, aka "farm mom". Instantly I felt like a part of the group as everyone was so welcoming and nice. It can be an adjustment to living rurally (especially if you came straight from NYC like me) but with all the support it was a really fun experience that taught me a lot about myself and the way I want to live. Bonafide has such a strong community both within but also has close ties with all the locals in town which is what makes it special. I left with some really close friends that I still keep in touch with and a million memories. I've noticed this farm in particular attracts a certain quality of volunteer that sets it apart from other places. I've met so many smart, engaging, people who are really passionate about learning and have brought some different interests to the table to share with the group.

As herbal medicine intern, my experience at Bonafide was a little more unique. I got the pleasure of working with the naturopathic doctor on the island, Dawson, once a week to help with clinic duties and brainstorm how to get more herbs to the clinic to treat patients. It was a really valuable experience to get 1:1 time to ask him a million questions about health and herbs. I also got to travel up to the north of Nicaragua to Estelli to document useful info from another farm that has a really great system for processing herbs into medicine.

Along with my herbal medicine duties, our regular farm work taught me things I didn't expect. We learned about soil, composting, mulching, swales, etc. Bonafide has such a talented and smart staff that explain everything to you. They know about all the exotic species around and are more than happy to explain things to you. Also great way to improve your Spanish!

I think my biggest takeaway, and please note this may just be my own perspective as someone going into the health field, is that Bonafide provides you with a lot of the key things missing from the western lifestyle. There you wake up with the sun, moving your body all day, outside in sunlight, eating unprocessed fresh foods, having a supportive community, going to bed early, limited electronics time, etc. All things that are strongly lacking in western culture and hard to break away from. It took me experiencing it to realize how simple optimal health is, and it doesn't come from a new app, or gadget or gym class but just an understanding and the environment to support what our bodies are built for.

Anyways could ramble all day, but I really cherish my time at Bonafide and I think about it all the time! Love the people, the food, the experiences, and mostly the farm pups !

104 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jack
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Mangos y Monos

I was at Bona Fide for a little over three months, took their permaculture design course when I first got there, and interned for the rest of my time. The experience was nothing short of enlightening for me. I learned more about the relationship between soil, plants, animals, human involvement, and food systems that I imagined ever, let alone STILL, existed. Albeit, I had about average knowledge of the natural world upon arrival, so I knew next to nothing. And I'm a super outdoorsy, and apparently over confident guy, because I was weary for a bit when I arrived. As I got more comfortable the environment and I got more involved (especially after becoming friends with volunteers and with the local workers), things just kept getting better. And finally, when my time was up, I had a really hard time leaving. I left the island but stayed in the country for a couple weeks because I wasn't sure if I could leave and needed to test if I could handle it. But I had important things I had to get back to (finishing school), and I know ill go back to Bona Fide when I can. Looking back on it all, it seems like the farm exists in a little tropical snow globe (minus the snow) where people flow in and out, and things are always changing but somehow time altogether has just stopped there. Super lame and cheesy analogy, and I'm sorry, its a snow globe to me so take it or leave it. Definitely a place worth spending a slice of eternity at.

103 people found this review helpful.

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