How to Apply
Volunteer abroad and AMIGOS with this amazing opportunity to take your first dive into Latin America! This two-week project has key AMIGOS program components such as volunteering, training, excursions, reflections, and workshops, and is guided by AMIGOS staff. Every day is an authentic, engaging adventure with hands-on service projects, educational talks, and games with local children.
With AMIGOS, you will learn about yourself and the world by living in it.
READY TO START YOUR APPLICATION?
1. Click here to start your application.
2. Complete your application.
3. An AMIGOS representative will contact you with next steps
About
Discover AMIGOS is a two-week program created as an Introduction to Global Citizenship. With 6 project dates in Costa Rica and Panama, it is a terrific way to explore a new country and challenge yourself by being an active participant in protecting biodiversity and learning about new communities in Latin America. This program is very accessible as Spanish is not required (though some ability can be helpful) and friends are encouraged to go together.
You will work on supporting local wildlife conservation efforts during the first week and supporting local schools and community service projects while living with a host family during the second week. These experiences help to create strong friendships and connections with other volunteers, our staff and host communities, give you the opportunity to develop Spanish skills, and build your confidence.
“I saw such a change in my son after he came home from Panama. He seemed taller and more confident and ready to go into the world less of a child and more of an adult. AMIGOS made him more responsible and independent and those changes have stayed with him.” —John, Parent, Discover AMIGOS 2018
“It was amazing. I really liked how independent it was. We would have supervision during our project but at the end of the day we could go have fun with our peers and socialize and play games and card games with the locals and our host family. It was really fun to get to know all kinds of people.” —Annabelle, Volunteer, Discover AMIGOS 2018
“My daughter had never done anything like this before but I was surprised by how much she had changed. It was palpable. It was such a leap for her to pull on her own internal resources and now she keeps saying spontaneously, ‘I feel so confident’.” —Jennifer, Parent, Discover AMIGOS 2018
Fees and Funding
AMIGOS program fees include dedicated travel support, comprehensive training, all food and housing, in-country travel and excursions, and access to our 24-hour On-Call Safety Team. As a nonprofit organization, your fees also support community development projects and leadership training for local youth in communities across Latin America.
Program Fees
Discover AMIGOS Panama — $3,395
Discover AMIGOS Costa Rica — $3,695
Flight costs are not included and will be billed separately. For more information about flights and travel, click here.
Payment plans and financial assistance are available. Learn more here.
What’s Included?
Before you leave
Your fee includes the costs of all pre-departure training, onboarding, and travel support.
Once you land
All on-site training and orientation, food, lodging and transportation costs, full-time program staff, 24-hour On-Call Safety Team, global travel medical insurance, and program excursions are included.
Post-program
You’ll receive credit for service hours, as well as access to the AMIGOS alumni network, leadership opportunities, and beyond!
Financial Assistance & Fundraising
Financial Assistance
We provide need-based financial assistance on a rolling basis for our programs. To apply, complete your application and indicate that you would like to be considered for financial assistance. Be sure to include your family financial information in the section that asks for it as well as complete the financial assistance application. Program applicants must pay the $50 application fee and $425 deposit to complete your application. This is refundable if requested within 30 days of payment. If you have questions, please contact our Admissions Team at [email protected].
Fundraising
Many volunteers choose to fundraise to offset their program fee. Once you’re accepted into an AMIGOS program, we’ll set you up with an online fundraising platform, give you tips and advice, and apply any donations you receive to your program fee. Volunteers typically raise an average of $2,000.
Staff & Events
No events are currently scheduled. Check back later!
Staff
In the Bay Area, we have 2 full time AMIGOS staff members dedicated to family and school outreach for Discover AMIGOS.
Krista Boscoe – Bay Area Director
(supports East Bay, Marin, and San Francisco families)
[email protected]
Click here to schedule a call with Krista
Cynthia Diaz – South Bay Outreach Manager
(supports Silicon Valley, San Jose, and Peninsula families)
[email protected]
Click here to schedule a call with Cynthia
Can't make it to an info session?
Watch the video below and reach out if you have any questions!
MEDIA
Read blog posts from:
Check out photos on our project Instagrams:
Meet Nicol, our Costa Rica Gap Country Coordinator!⠀
⠀
Originally from Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica, Nicol considers herself a change-maker, passionate about contributing to the development of rural communities while also helping to preserve their essence of traditional living.⠀
⠀
Nicol began with AMIGOS as a Project Supervisor in Chimborazo, Ecuador and in 2017 Nicol was the Project Director for the Matagalpa, Nicaragua Project. For the last two years Nicol has worked with indigenous and farming community-based organizations in Central America providing capacity building training.⠀
⠀
Nicol is also committed to social entrepreneurship and during her free time enjoys working with women entrepreneurs guiding them towards their own paths of leadership.⠀
⠀
Learn more about gap program in Costa Rica here: https://buff.ly/3okUasi
Colorado's natural resource management approach is unique in the United States. Spend three weeks in western Colorado finding out why in our new summer program - U.S.: Western Colorado!⠀
⠀
Get hands-on conservation experience in some of the country's most majestic scenery. Meet local leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs and hear their vision for the future of Colorado's natural environment.⠀
⠀
The financial assistance deadline for summer is March 1st, so apply now at the link in our bio!⠀
⠀
#naturalresources #nature #environment #sustainability #conservation #environmentalsecurity #environmentalstudies #resourcemanagement #visitcolorado #coloradolife #colorfulcolorado #choosemountains #roamwild #hikecolorado #mindthewild #coloradogrammers #optoutside #coloradoshared #coloradoexplored
From cultivation to consumption, dive deep into food systems by learning from communities in Costa Rica with our brand new AMIGOS Summer Program - Costa Rica: Los Santos!⠀
⠀
Spend 3 weeks this summer exploring different farming practices from the mountains to the coast. Learn hands-on how international demand for Costa Rican coffee impacts local producers and communities with friends around the world!⠀
⠀
Learn more at the link in our bio!⠀
⠀
#foodjustice #socialjustice #community #foodsecurity #foodaccess #foodempowermentproject #foodequity #humanrights #farmworkers #justice #localfood #nonprofit #socialimpact #costarica #puravida #costaricacool #visitcostarica # #costaricapuravida #thisiscostarica
Get a taste of an AMIGOS program in just 90 minutes this Thursday, January 21!⠀
⠀
Register today to join an AMIGOS Design Sprint, a time-constrained collaborative activity focused on Design Thinking to come up with solutions and narrow them down to an achievable project.⠀
⠀
We'll spend 90 minutes in a fast paced, collaborative, all hands-on deck experience where bad ideas don't exist. Experience a piece of an AMIGOS program by signing up at the link in our bio.
New info sessions just dropped! Come meet our team and find out how we're running our programs in Latin America and the U.S. this summer.⠀
⠀
RSVP at the link in our bio!
Apply today! The deadline to apply for the Gap Semester in Costa Rica and the Civic Action Gap Semester is tonight at midnight PST.⠀
⠀
Submit your application at the link in bio.
Tomorrow, January 15th, is the deadline to apply for the spring Gap Semester in Costa Rica and the Civic Action Gap Semester! Start your application now at the link in our bio.
Did you know that Nicaragua is home to 19 volcanoes? On our brand new summer project- Nicaragua: Nueva Segovia & Leon- you'll learn first-hand about how geothermal energy from the country's active volcanoes helps power the country.⠀
⠀
See the world from the distinct perspective of someone who has spent time in that country and learned about the culture firsthand by joining us this summer.⠀
⠀
Learn more at the link in our bio!
Meet Nicol, our Costa Rica Gap Country Coordinator!⠀
⠀
Originally from Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica, Nicol considers herself a change-maker, passionate about contributing to the development of rural communities while also helping to preserve their essence of traditional living.⠀
⠀
Nicol began with AMIGOS as a Project Supervisor in Chimborazo, Ecuador and in 2017 Nicol was the Project Director for the Matagalpa, Nicaragua Project. For the last two years Nicol has worked with indigenous and farming community-based organizations in Central America providing capacity building training.⠀
⠀
Nicol is also committed to social entrepreneurship and during her free time enjoys working with women entrepreneurs guiding them towards their own paths of leadership.⠀
⠀
Learn more about gap program in Costa Rica here: https://buff.ly/3okUasi
Colorado's natural resource management approach is unique in the United States. Spend three weeks in western Colorado finding out why in our new summer program - U.S.: Western Colorado!⠀
⠀
Get hands-on conservation experience in some of the country's most majestic scenery. Meet local leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs and hear their vision for the future of Colorado's natural environment.⠀
⠀
The financial assistance deadline for summer is March 1st, so apply now at the link in our bio!⠀
⠀
#naturalresources #nature #environment #sustainability #conservation #environmentalsecurity #environmentalstudies #resourcemanagement #visitcolorado #coloradolife #colorfulcolorado #choosemountains #roamwild #hikecolorado #mindthewild #coloradogrammers #optoutside #coloradoshared #coloradoexplored
From cultivation to consumption, dive deep into food systems by learning from communities in Costa Rica with our brand new AMIGOS Summer Program - Costa Rica: Los Santos!⠀
⠀
Spend 3 weeks this summer exploring different farming practices from the mountains to the coast. Learn hands-on how international demand for Costa Rican coffee impacts local producers and communities with friends around the world!⠀
⠀
Learn more at the link in our bio!⠀
⠀
#foodjustice #socialjustice #community #foodsecurity #foodaccess #foodempowermentproject #foodequity #humanrights #farmworkers #justice #localfood #nonprofit #socialimpact #costarica #puravida #costaricacool #visitcostarica # #costaricapuravida #thisiscostarica
Get a taste of an AMIGOS program in just 90 minutes this Thursday, January 21!⠀
⠀
Register today to join an AMIGOS Design Sprint, a time-constrained collaborative activity focused on Design Thinking to come up with solutions and narrow them down to an achievable project.⠀
⠀
We'll spend 90 minutes in a fast paced, collaborative, all hands-on deck experience where bad ideas don't exist. Experience a piece of an AMIGOS program by signing up at the link in our bio.
New info sessions just dropped! Come meet our team and find out how we're running our programs in Latin America and the U.S. this summer.⠀
⠀
RSVP at the link in our bio!
Apply today! The deadline to apply for the Gap Semester in Costa Rica and the Civic Action Gap Semester is tonight at midnight PST.⠀
⠀
Submit your application at the link in bio.
Tomorrow, January 15th, is the deadline to apply for the spring Gap Semester in Costa Rica and the Civic Action Gap Semester! Start your application now at the link in our bio.
Did you know that Nicaragua is home to 19 volcanoes? On our brand new summer project- Nicaragua: Nueva Segovia & Leon- you'll learn first-hand about how geothermal energy from the country's active volcanoes helps power the country.⠀
⠀
See the world from the distinct perspective of someone who has spent time in that country and learned about the culture firsthand by joining us this summer.⠀
⠀
Learn more at the link in our bio!
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