Document ActionsWhy Choose AMIGOS?Increase Spanish Fluency
By living with a host family and immersing yourself in a community, you will dramatically enhance your language abilities. In 2008, 95 percent of Volunteers reported an increase in their Spanish-language abilities. Earn College CreditThrough your service with AMIGOS, you may be able to earn college credit at your university in areas of study such as Spanish, Latin American Studies, Political Science, Anthropology, Public Health, Education and others. Please contact your school advisor and the AMIGOS International Office if you are interested in pursuing academic credit as an independent study, internship or in research. Comprehensive Pre-Departure TrainingAMIGOS distinguishes itself from its competition by offering an unparalleled training program to its Volunteers before they leave for Latin America. Volunteers will learn and practice the human relations, cross-cultural, language, leadership, health and safety and technical skills they will need for their projects. Training covers all of the skills and knowledge necessary for you to have a successful, safe and enjoyable international adventure. Gain International Field Experience
AMIGOS provides great field experience for individuals considering a career in business, international development, public health, non-profit management, medicine, journalism, foreign service, or Spanish education and translation. Through the AMIGOS training program, you will learn valuable skills in facilitation, project management, and collaboration. Once you arrive in your community, you will then get real-life experience that will build these leadership skills that you will then have for the rest of your life. View the 2008 Volunteer Experience Survey Results to see what veteran Volunteers said about their experience. Create Personalized Secondary ProjectsIn collaboration with community members, you will have the freedom to select and implement projects that build on your collective skills, talents, and knowledge called Community-based initiatives. Instead of just following pre-determined programming, AMIGOS gives Volunteers the opportunity to select secondary projects with the community. 24/7 Support NetworkAMIGOS runs a sophisticated On-Call Communications System during all times when we have Volunteers in Latin America. We have an excellent track record for safety of our Volunteers, and it will give you peace of mind to know we are there if you need help. Recognition for Community ServiceAs an organization that highly values service learning and youth leadership development, AMIGOS is pleased to acknowledge 40 hours of community service hours for each week a Volunteer is in Latin America. University and graduate school admissions officers look favorably upon students who are highly invested in community service, and this experience may be of special consideration in scholarship and job applications. Those interested in obtaining written acknowledgment for their service work may contact Director of Volunteer Administration, Glenn Bayron, at gbayron@amigoslink.org or (800) 231-7796. Do you have any questions, concerns, or comments? |
“AMIGOS has been instrumental in all departments of my life- professionally, personally and emotionally. It has provoked me to be committed to volunteer for the rest of my life.” –Cole Portocarrero, Veteran Volunteer |
