Amigos de las Américas
Amigos de las Américas
Why choose Amigos de las Américas?
AMIGOS offer programs to volunteers between the ages of 13 and 22 where they will feel safe, and experience the most earnest service as well as opportunities for immersion both in Latin America and the United States. You will be given the chance to continually improve your leadership skills, make a difference, and learn Spanish while living and engaging in a new community. You'll experience a whol...
AMIGOS offer programs to volunteers between the ages of 13 and 22 where they will feel safe, and experience the most earnest service as well as opportunities for immersion both in Latin America and the United States. You will be given the chance to continually improve your leadership skills, make a difference, and learn Spanish while living and engaging in a new community. You'll experience a whole new way of seeing the world! Programs are available in Panama, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Focus on subjects that matter to you, such as environmental protection, indigenous rights, renewable energy, and climate change! Over 30,000 volunteers have participated in our programs since 1965. We are intimately invested with host communities and is committed to providing service with integrity. We ...
Amigos de las Américas Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
Wonderful, life-changing experience
by: Susan Matthews - United StatesProgram: Explore Sustainable Development in Costa RicaMy 15 year old daughter went to Costa Rica with the Amigos program and came back an improved version of herself! Her eyes were open to more of the world, the kindness of strangers, and learned what she can do emotionally and physically that she didn't know she could. In addition, her Spanish is improved, she learned to cook some new dishes, she offers to clean up things around the house (she NEVER did that before), and she (shockingly) loved not having her phone pinging at her for 3 weeks. Sh...
My Panamá Experience
by: Jaelyn Tramel - United StatesProgram: Conservation & Environmental Volunteer in PanamaI had an amazing time in Panamá. I lived with a great host family that welcomed me and two other Americans into their home. I learned what the day-to-day life is like for people in a small, agricultural community, and improved my Spanish through conversations.
Great cultural and community service experience in Ecuador
by: Julie G - United StatesProgram: Support Young Entrepreneurs in EcuadorMy daughter spent 6 weeks in Chimborazo, Ecuador with AMIGOS the summer after her junior year in high school. She had a great experience living with a host family, practicing her Spanish, helping to build a greenhouse, learning how to harvest potatoes, helping her host family cook local recipes, and learning about the indigenous Kichwa culture and language. AMIGOS has been putting programs together for students for many, many decades, so they know how to put together a program that is safe and ...
Amigos de las Américas Programs
Browse programs you might like
Explore community efforts to adapt to climate change in Costa Rica! From the mangroves of the Caribbean coast to the cloud forests, we will exami...
How does the popularity of superfoods impact resources, water, and food sovereignty in Andean communities? Travel to the highlands of Ecuador to ...
From farming and coffee growing to conservation and wildlife corridors, explore how local communities in southern Costa Rica practice sustainable...
How can we mitigate the effects of climate change? Volunteer with local organizations restoring ecosystems and promoting sustainable agriculture ...
Are you ready to jump into an adventure in Costa Rica? Travel to a volcanic valley to explore how climate change is affecting agriculture. Spend ...
Become a part of this volunteer program, which revolves around the theme “Food Justice: Coffee & Communities”. Based in agricultural Los Santos, ...
Interviews
Read interviews from alumni or staff
Meghan Ford
Participated in 2011
An avid traveler and language enthusiast, Meghan has a B.A. in Communication. Her professional background is in non-profit management and focuses on a...
Meghan Ford
Participated in 2011
I have always been interested in spending time abroad and it continues to be important to me. I began studying Spanish in middle school and wanted to improve my language skills by putting them to the test.
Lily Young
Interviewed in 2021
Lily is passionate about social change and the power of youth to impact their world. Her enthusiasm for meaningful travel began in high school, when s...
Lily Young
Interviewed in 2021
What inspired you to travel abroad?
I traveled extensively throughout Latin America, lived with host families, and fell in love with the region. I decided to study international development to focus my career on development in the Americas, but through my studies realized the biggest impact I could have was facilitating travel and exchanges for young people rather than offering advice as someone not born and raised in the region. AMIGOS is an organization that is incredibly conscientious of North-South power dynamics, the legacy of colonialism, and the importance of working alongside community members.
Recognitions
Check out awards and recognitions Amigos de las Américas has received
