An article posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay about the successful 2006 AMIGOS project.
Community groups, officials, host families and friends gathered on July 30, 2006 in Pajas Blancas, a village west of Montevideo, to summarize the activities of the Amigos de las Americas pilot project in Uruguay, and to bid farewell to 30 young project volunteers from North America (29 from the United States and one from Canada.)
The youths, ranging in ages from 16 to 29 years old, spent nearly 5 weeks in Uruguay living with host families and working in 12 community projects in rural areas west of Montevideo.
This was the first AMIGOS program in Uruguay, and it was based on building life skills and leadership of young people through educational workshops and group-led community improvement projects.
Under the program, AMIGOS volunteers co-facilitated workshops for children and young people that focused on team-building, creative expression (arts & crafts, drama, etc.), environmental health (environmental awareness, gardens, tree planting) and healthy habits (physical activity, health education, nutrition). Utilizing a program activity guide, AMIGOS volunteers planed and coordinated experiential learning activities with children in local schools, community centers, or other community venues. In addition to the workshops, a key component of the Liderazgo y Comunidad program was the implementation of community improvement projects with youth and adult community members that range from the construction of recreation areas and sports fields to the formation of service clubs and arts groups.
The community groups the AMIGOS volunteers were involved in are: Pajas Blancas, Las Flores, La Colorada, Monte Rosa/Los Cilindros, Nuevo Amanecer, Liceo 43, Santiago Vazquez, Las Torres, Playa Pascual, Liceo 1, UTU (Penino), and Liceo Libertad.
Amigos de las Américas is U.S.-based international, nonprofit organization with 40 years of experience in facilitating community development programs in Latin America. AMIGOS is dedicated to building partnerships to empower young leaders, advance community development, and strengthen multicultural understanding in the Americas.
