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AMIGOS Programs Overview

AMIGOS seeks to develop leadership skills in young people,
enabling them to be global catalysts for positive change.

 

VOLUNTEERISM BASED ON PARTNERSHIP

AMIGOS programs are founded on partnerships with local agencies that are carrying out ongoing work in communities in our host countries. Our partner agencies have two things in common. First, they are carrying out ongoing work to  promote community development in their countries. Second, they support our efforts to foster youth leadership, engage youth in community service and promote cross-cultural exchange in the Americas.
 
Our partners include local and international non-profit agencies and government ministries. Click here for a full list of our partner agencies and their missions.
 

WHAT AMIGOS VOLUNTEERS DO

Volunteers may collaborate with stakeholders such as local youth, community members and partner agency representatives to achieve the following objectives:
 
Youth engagement
  • Partner with local youth to motivate participation and leadership within AMIGOS programs and their own communities. 

Community Service

  • Gain project management experience and practice collaborating with stakeholders on a Community Based Initiative Process (CBIP).
  • Alongside local youth and community leaders, co-plan and co-facilitate extra-curricular activities, such as interactive games, events or excursions designed to build life skills and promote awareness of program themes.

Cross-cultural understanding

  • Enhance the ability to collaborate with individuals and groups of diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Amplify Volunteers' and host communities vision of the world. 

THE AMIGOS VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Summer Program. Participants live with host families and work in groups of 2-3 AMIGOS Volunteers per community, providing a unique opportunity to experience Latin America in a very personal way.  Prior to Volunteer arrival, AMIGOS Project Staff will train two local volunteers per community.  Local Volunteers will vary in age and engagement with the program between communities.  Click here to read more.
 
Culture and Development. An 8 to 10 week program in Barranquilla/Cartagena, Colombia which includes academic coursework paired with a volunteer experience with a nonprofit organization in one of the host cities. Volunteers will live with host families.  This program is only open to college students. 
 
Gap Year. Volunteers spend either one semester or one year doing an internship with a host agency in Nicaragua. Gap Year Volunteers will also live with host families, and will participate in ongoing trainings and exursions throughout their stay. Stay tuned for Gap Year Programs in other countries! 
 
Youth Ambassadors.  As a US Department of State-funded program, youth from Uruguay, Paraguay and the San Francisco Bay Area are competetively selected to participate in a three week international training and exchange.  After their training, participants return to their home communtiies where they carry out a Community-based Initiative Process.

WHERE AMIGOS WORKS

The blue markers on this map represent our project areas:

FURTHER ACTIONS

See the Current Projects List

Amigos de las Américas

5618 Star Lane | Houston, Texas 77057
(713) 782-5290 | (800) 231-7796
F: (713) 782-9267 | info@amigoslink.org

Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) hosts programs for young adults to volunteer abroad. AMIGOS' volunteer opportunities focus on youth leadership training and community development in Latin America.

AMIGOS is a proud partner with United Airlines. Booking your travel through the logo above directly supports AMIGOS!