Author: lyoung

Audrey is among the first cohort of AMIGOS gap participants in Ecuador. Permanent staff and AMIGOS participants throughout the year increase project sustainability and build stronger relationships in local communities. “You need to speak slowly to Audrey please, she is not stupid, only learning Spanish. We are very proud of her.” This note, scribbled in … Read More

Start to a Gap Year in Nicaragua Thank you to Nicaragua gap participants Breanna and Nadia for writing about the beginning of their gap year in Leon!     The first and most noticeable difference between my home and León are the sounds. The city wakes up early in the morning and makes itself known … Read More

Photo & Video COntest winners 2017 Every year after participants have returned home from their summers in Latin America, we hold a contest for the best images and content. We received so many submissions for photos and videos that it was difficult to narrow down a winner! Staff at AMIGOS Headquarters voted on their favorites, … Read More

Byram Hills School District Takes First AMIGOS Educator-Focused Trip In July 2017,  fifteen educators from the Byram Hills School District from Armonk, New York spanning numerous disciplines, came together with AMIGOS staff in Nicaragua to deepen their understanding of AMIGOS programs, learn about the AMIGOS approach to cultural competency, youth leadership, and community development. The … Read More

7 Things only panama participants will know   This post was sent to us by our project leadership team in Cocle, Panama this summer.    7. It will rain today, be prepared because otherwise you will get drenched.   6. Plantains can be cooked into anything.   5. Penonomé is one of the greatest cities … Read More

FIELD REPORT – YUCATAN, MEXICO   Throughout the summer, AMIGOS participants complete CBIPs, or Community-Based Initiative Processes. They worked closely with local youth and community members on a collaborative project. The project leadership team from the Yucatan sent this field report on their progress at the end of the summer.   To learn more about … Read More

Discover AMIGOS is a two-week facilitator-led group trip to Nicaragua for students ages 13-15. Participants get an introduction to global leadership by learning about Nicaraguan culture, getting hands-on conservation experience at a sea turtle estuary, spending a weekend with a host family, and collaborating on a community project. This summer’s participants sent updates from the … Read More

Laying the foundation for an AMIGOS summer Nicol (Project Director) and I (Jordan, Assistant Project Director) have been busy, busy, busy setting up the Matagalpa project. The to-do lists sprawl across the wall of project house and all the way on to “the cloud.” I believe every AMIGOS summer is at first punctuated by these … Read More