Houston Chapter
Serving H-Town families and volunteers since 1965.
About this Chapter
The AMIGOS Houston Chapter is one of nine Local Chapters that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from around Houston train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America or Colorado. Our board supports volunteers and families with group fundraising, service learning, community building, and overall preparation.
Since the Houston Chapter’s incorporation in 1965, over 1,800 youth from Houston and its suburbs have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer.
Houston Chapter Volunteers Have Attended
Awty International
Bellaire
Carnegie Vanguard
Annunciation Orthodox School
Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory High School
Debakey High School for Health Professions
Duchesne Academy
Episcopal High School
Incarnate Word Academy
International Leadership of Texas
James E. Taylor High School
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
KIPP Sunnyside High School
Memorial High School
River Oaks Baptist
Robert Turner College and Career High School
Senior Memorial High School
St. Agnes Academy
St. Catherine's Montessori
St. Francis Episcopal School
St. John's School
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
The Kinkaid School
The Regis School of the Sacred Heart
Yes Prep North Forest Secondary
Support the Houston Chapter’s volunteers and families.
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How to Join
AMIGOS gives you an exciting chance to have an adventure and explore the world outside of a classroom.
Get to Know the Houston Chapter
Check out our programs, review our admissions requirements, and learn more about the Houston Chapter activities by exploring this website.
Attend an Information Session
The Houston Chapter will be hosting a virtual information session. This meeting reviews basic program information and chapter specifics such as financial assistance, funding, training, and service learning. More information will be shared here about the date/time.
We recommend that applicants attend a virtual HQ information session. Please register to attend here.
Apply Online
Applying is easy and takes 30 minutes or less. Start your application now!
Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at admissions@amigosinternational.org.
Interviews
The Houston Chapter will reach out to schedule a family interview online via Zoom. At least one parent or guardian is required to attend, and the interview lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Interviews will start in October.
Application Deadlines
January 20, 2027 is the Application Deadline to join the Houston Chapter. Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis until training starts. Please contact outreach@amigosinternational.org for more information.
Missed the local chapter deadline?
You can still join us for summer 2027 through the National Chapter and complete training virtually!
Local Chapter Requirements
Pre-Departure Training
With over 60 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips volunteers with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. Houston Chapter training activities utilize the AMIGOS Core Curriculum and are youth-led, experiential learning opportunities that prepare volunteers for their in-country experience, build a community of youth and families with shared values, and develop life skills to help students succeed beyond AMIGOS.
Training Program Highlights
Unparalleled leadership development
Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
Health and safety training
Opportunities to practice Spanish
Creating a community of young people with shared values
Training Schedule
There will be five training meetings in the spring, dates and times to be confirmed. Trainings are held throughout the greater Houston area. Specific location details will be provided to families during the program registration process.
Service Learning
The Houston Chapter incorporates service learning to add depth and first-hand experience to the curriculum. Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.
Group Fundraising
The Houston Chapter provides chapter discounts, offers financial assistance, and covers local program costs through fundraising activities. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances.
Fundraising skills are an important component of AMIGOS training program and raise awareness of AMIGOS programs in the community. Volunteers receive considerable help with regard to fundraising strategies, and the experience gained in this effort will build important skills!
Letter Writing
Each volunteer is required to send out a combination of letters and emails to friends and family to request individual tax-deductible donations. The revenue from this effort is pooled. Letters are written by the student with considerable help provided by the chapter throughout the process.
See Our Fundraising Efforts
To see some of our fundraising efforts from last year, check out our Summer 2026 letter writing campaign at: https://houston.amigosfundraising.org/
Financial Assistance
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS Houston provides need-based financial assistance for program fees and/or airfare with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents, and special financial circumstances.
Financial assistance (FA) applications should be completed on the student’s dashboard. On the application, students should select “Yes” that they intend to apply for financial assistance. Students must select “Yes” on this question for the Financial Assistance Form to appear on their dashboard. Students who choose to apply for FA will not be able to submit their application or pay their application fee until the FA form and supporting documentation (i.e., most recent copy of family’s 1040) have been uploaded.
Additional Funding Opportunities
All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS are encouraged to apply for the Alumni Award.
The AMIGOS Referral Program awards AMIGOS alumni and current AMIGOS volunteers with program discounts and cash payments for spreading the word to the next generation of volunteers. Learn more about our Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.
Contact
Please reach out to the Houston Chapter Treasurer with any questions regarding financial assistance via email at treasurer@amigos-houston.org
Board of Directors
Vacant
President
Tom Brombacher
Hospitality Coordinator
AMIGOS Parent 2003Kendall Bousquet Ahern
Recruitment Coordinator
AMIGOS Nicaragua 2011Kenneth Held
At-Large
AMIGOS Dominican Republic 1985Mary Condron
At-Large
AMIGOS Nicaragua 2016Sarah Dalton
At-Large
AMIGOS Parent 2025Caroline Bybee Patel
At-Large
Bianca Orozco
At-Large
Perla Quintero
At-Large
Suzy Soto
At-Large
Recruitment & Training Team
Get Started with AMIGOS Houston
Explore new cultures, serve communities, and form lasting friendships along the way.
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How To Join