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 improve lives of the most disadvantaged populations 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 local youth, community members and partner agency representatives to achieve the following objectives:

Youth engagement
- Partner with local counterparts to be leaders within AMIGOS programs and their communities.

Community Service
- Learn to participate in community service at home and in host communities.
- 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.

THE AMIGOS VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

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. Click here to read more.

WHERE AMIGOS WORKS

The blue markers on this map represent our project areas:

FURTHER ACTIONS

See the Current Projects List

Program Results

Program Evaluation Process

Apply to Volunteer

AMIGOS Testimonials

"Thirty-five years ago when I went on AMIGOS the world seemed like a huge place and Central America may as well have been on another planet. When I went on AMIGOS it took weeks for us to get letters from home and our only real contact with the U.S. was the ham radio (YN9KMZ). I suspect that for young people heading off on AMIGOS in these days of cell phones and the internet it doesn't feel quite so exotic. I think that as a teenager what I would have told you is that the main thing I took away from my AMIGOS experience was that people everywhere were basically the same, with similar hopes, dreams and desires."

-Lynn Nussle Krog

Alumna

About the Amigos Program

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.

Years in Operation

24,383

Volunteers Fielded

7,917,580

Vaccinations Given

5,118

Lorena Stoves Built

Check out our Photos!

Current Projects

Mexico: Oaxaca

Length: 8 weeks Starts: 06/21/2012
Costa Rica: Perez Zeledon

Length: 7 weeks Starts: 06/20/2012
Dominican Republic: San Juan

Length: 8 weeks Starts: 06/13/2012
Dominican Republic: TBD

Length: 6 weeks Starts: 06/27/2012
Ecuador: TBA

Length: 8 weeks Starts: 06/19/2012
Nicaragua: Boaco

Length: 7 weeks Starts: 06/13/2012
Nicaragua: Matagalpa

Length: 6 weeks Starts: 06/12/2012
Panama: TBA

Length: 6 weeks Starts: 06/21/2012
Panama: Coclé

Length: 6 weeks Starts: 06/26/2012
Ecuador: Cotopaxi

Length: 7 weeks Starts: 06/26/2012
Paraguay: Paraguarí

Length: 8 weeks Starts: 06/19/2012
Paraguay: San Pedro

Length: 6 weeks Starts: 06/27/2012
Peru: Cusco

Length: 8 weeks Starts: 06/12/2012
Colombia: Barranquilla/Cartagena

Length: 7 weeks (longer placements may be available upon request) Starts: 06/12/2012
Nicaragua - GAP YEAR

Length: 8 months Starts: 09/01/2012

Amigos de las Americas

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