Description:
As an AMIGOS Volunteer, you will experience a new way of life, improve your Spanish and help implement sustainable development projects. This summer AMIGOS will send more than 700 Volunteers to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay. During their 5 to 8 week long projects, Volunteers will work with a locally-based organization on projects promoting youth development, home and community improvement and public health. In their countries of service, Volunteers typically live with a host family and one or two other AMIGOS Volunteers in a rural or semi-rural community. Living with host families allows Volunteers to integrate into the community and truly understand what life is like for the people they are living with. The AMIGOS experience offers youth leaders the chance to broaden their world view, build self confidence, and learn more about the world of international development. If you're interested, click on the above link for more information.
Highlights:
* Language Immersion
* Host Family
* Work with Youth
* Cultural Understanding
* Diverse Organization
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
To serve as an AMIGOS Volunteer in Latin America, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old by September 1st of the year of volunteer service
- Have completed two years of high school level Spanish, or the equivalent
- Adhere to the AMIGOS' Standards of Conduct and Community Behavior
- Fulfill fundraising and training requirements
- Receive required immunizations
Language:
Spanish
Cost in US$: $4,400
Cost Includes:
Emergency evacuation services,
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training,
In-country staff support,
International travel,
Medical insurance,
Medical services,
Pre-departure orientation/Training,
Travel while in host country
and Written materials pre-departure
The Participation Fee includes: Round-trip international airfare from your gateway city, food, lodging, and transportation in Latin America, All project related supplies, Training materials and workshops, Veteran supervisory staff, 24-Hour emergency On-Call Communications System during the summer, Supplementary short-term international medical insurance.
Credit Available: yes
Experience Required: yes
Volunteer must have completed their sophomore year in high school by the time of departure and have taken the equivalent of two years of high school Spanish instruction.
Typical Volunteer Projects:
agriculture,
anthropology,
archaeology,
building maintenance,
building schools,
community centers,
community development,
community health,
community organizing,
consciousness-raising,
conservation,
cooking,
culture,
cutting wood,
digging,
education,
English teaching,
fixing fences,
food,
gardening,
grassroots organization,
health,
health care,
health education,
historic preservation,
housing,
micro-enterprise,
natural resources,
nutrition,
organic farming,
organizational development,
parks,
pastoral work,
planting,
playgrounds,
primary education,
public education,
recreation,
reforestation,
renovation,
repairs,
restoration,
sanitation,
secondary education,
trail building,
tree planting,
volunteer management,
youth
and youth development
Typical Volunteer: Volunteers are usually high school or college students interested in working on community development projects in Latin America, improving their Spanish, and learning about a new culture. They are highly motivated individuals who are ready for new experiences.
Age Range: 16 - 25
This Program is open to
American,
Canadian
and European
Participants.
.
Typical Living Arrangement:
Home-stays
Participants Travel to - Multi-Country
in Groups
Typically Participants Work
in Groups of 2-4
Scholarships Are Available.
Application Process Involves:
- Letters of Reference
- Phone Interview
- Physical Exam/Health Records
- Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time Is 3 days
Post Services Include:
- Alumni Network
- Exit DebriefingAbroad
- Job and Internship Network
Amigos de las Americas's Mission Statement: Amigos de la Americas (AMIGOS) builds partnerships to empower young leaders, advance community development and strengthen multicultural understanding in the Americas.
Year Founded: 1965