Comunidad Connect

Comunidad Connect was founded in 2007 by Jon Thompson and Roman Yavich in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Jon was directing a local education foundation and Roman was conducting research on the impact of tourism development on a Fulbright grant. Their shared interest in responsible community and economic development in Nicaragua led to the formation of Comunidad Connect, a social enterprise that combines sustainable tourism with grass roots development work. Comunidad Connect began by listening to local residents and leaders, public institutions and the private sector to identify development priorities. Working on a shoestring budget, with small grants, volunteers, and a few key donors, Comunidad Connect restored a neglected community space into a bustling multi-use recreational facility coined the San Juan del Sur Sports Park and launched the town’s first municipal recycling program. Sociedad Civil Comunidad Connect was registered in 2012 as Comunidad Connect’s sister organization in Nicaragua. This alliance formalized the Cultural Connections program which facilitates service learning trips in Latin America. Revenue from this sustainable tourism program funds ongoing programs and organizations in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic dedicated to improving community health, empowering youth through education and sports, and supporting sustainable community development. The story of Comunidad Connect is not singular. It is collection of people, places and experiences; a shared narrative grounded in the belief that everyone wants to make a difference in the world. Together we work to make that happen.