Two Paths to Becoming an AMIGOS Volunteer

Your first step to becoming an AMIGOS Volunteer is to determine whether you live near a local chapter by looking at our chapter list. If there is a chapter nearby, you should contact it for application information. If you do not live near a chapter, then you can be trained remotely during the year and attend a 3-day training in a gateway city (usually Miami) before heading out to Latin America.

What's the difference?

Become a Volunteer Through Your Local Chapter

High school or college students students who live in a chapter city should participate through their local chapter. Each year, about 80% of AMIGOS Volunteers participate through chapters.

• Chapters are separately incorporated nonprofit organizations that are managed by a local board of directors and connected to the AMIGOS International Office through a license agreement.
• Chapter boards are dedicated local adult volunteers who oversee recruiting, training, fundraising and parent support. Most board members have served as an AMIGOS Volunteer or Volunteer parent.
• Due to this local support network, chapter Volunteers and their families generally receive more extensive training, fundraising support and personal attention, while building relationships with others in their community. 
• Chapter Volunteers train as a group. Each chapter has its own application deadline in the fall.

For more info on volunteering through a chapter, visit the chapter list page and contact your local chapter for more information.

Become an International Office Volunteer (Formerly known as Correspondent Volunteer )

If you live outside of a chapter city, that's OK! Regional Operations Managers at our headquarters in Houston will provide your training and support.

• This option is operated out of the AMIGOS International Office in Houston with long distance support provided by full-time staff.
• IO Volunteers come together to participate in a three-day training in the gateway city (usually Houston or Miami) immediately prior to their departure for Latin America. 
• This option requires more personal discipline, as local training, fundraising and parent support networks are not available.

To apply for this option, click here.

What about costs?

• A Participation Fee is paid or fund-raised for each Volunteer.
• Chapters conduct group and local community fundraising activities to lower the direct cost to the Volunteer.  In addition to International Office Participation Fee expenses, chapters cover the costs of: Volunteers’ domestic airfare, extensive advance training, and local support.
• Each chapter has a budget that sets the chapter’s Family Participation Fee based on group fundraising capabilities and local economic conditions. Chapters provide scholarship support to reduce that cost for low-income families.
• International Office Volunteers either pay or individually fund-raise $5,150 that is paid directly to the International Office. Learn more.

Click here to request more information.