Washington DC Community
Serving Washington DC families and volunteers since 1993.
About this Community
The Washington, DC AMIGOS Community recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local area. Volunteers from the Washington DC metropolitan area, including DC, Virginia, and Maryland, train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Group leadership supports volunteers and families with training, service learning, community building, and overall preparation.
The Washington DC Chapter was incorporated in 1993, and over 900 youth from the Washington, DC metropolitan area and its suburbs have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer. During Fall 2025, the Washington, DC Chapter transitioned to a Community model. Local DMV area volunteers continue to build community before their summer experience in Latin America.
Past Washington DC Community Volunteers Have Attended
Archbishop Carroll
Edmund Burke School
Fusion Academy
George C. Marshall
Georgetown Day School
Gonzaga
Jackson-Reed
Maret School
McLean High School
Montgomery Blair
Rochambeau, The French International School
Saint John’s College
School Without Walls
Sidwell Friends
The Madeira School
The McLean School
The New School of Northern Virginia
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Wakefield High School
Walt Whitman
Washington International School
Washington-Liberty
Westfield
Winston Churchill
Yorktown
Support the Washington DC Community’s volunteers and families.
Donate NowCommunity Contact Information
P.O. Box 1132
Washington, DC 20013
Washington, DC 20013
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 DC Community
Check out our programs, review our admissions requirements, and learn more about DC Community activities by exploring this webpage.
Join Through the National Chapter
Volunteers from the Washington DC metropolitan area, including DC, Virginia, and Maryland, should select “National Chapter” on the application. While there is no longer a formal DC Chapter, a strong alumni and supporter network sustains AMIGOS as the DC Community, and you can join DC AMIGOS Community activities throughout the spring.
Attend an Information Session
Attend an HQ-led online information session. Zoe Paglee and Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons also recorded a short informational video that reviews basic program information and highlights the DC AMIGOS Community. We encourage all applicants and families to watch it.
Applicants are required to attend one virtual HQ information session.
Apply Online
Submit your application (it should take around 30 minutes or less) and pay the deposit to hold your spot.
Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at admissions@amigosinternational.org.
Application Deadlines
AMIGOS DC Community activities start in February, so we highly encourage you to complete your application before February 15, 2026. Final application deadlines depend on the project, and some close as early as May. Questions? Contact Zoe Paglee, DC Community Coordinator, at recruitment@amigos-dc.org.
Save the dates!
The DC Community Kick-Off meeting is February 22, 2026, with retreats on the weekends of February 28-March 1 and April 11-12.
DC Community Requirements
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
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. The Washington DC training is youth-led, experiential learning that prepares volunteers for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help volunteers succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by the Training Team and include guests from the community and group leadership.
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
Service Learning
The Washington DC Community incorporates service-learning into AMIGOS training 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. As part of training activities, participants are expected to attend at least one volunteering activity with the student cohort.
Training Calendar
Retreat 1: Weekend of February 28-March 1
Service Learning: Saturday, March 7 or 14 (tentative)
Retreat 2: Weekend of April 11-12
Optional Fundraising
Fundraising is a key part of making an AMIGOS experience possible and an opportunity to begin building key skills you will need for success during your time abroad. We offer guided support to help you succeed.
Fundraise with the National Chapter
Members of the DC Community can opt in to fundraise with the National Chapter to help cover the cost of their program fees. AMIGOS will support in creating an individual online fundraising page and provide a webinar, a fundraising guide, and mentoring! National Chapter students should email admissions@amigosinternational.org for more information.
Need Assistance?
AMIGOS is committed to making our programs accessible to anyone who wants to join. We offer need-based financial assistance and fundraising opportunities for the DC Community through the National Chapter. We work closely with every family to understand need before determining financial assistance packages. Financial assistance applications are considered on a rolling basis and funds are available until exhausted.
Additional Funding Opportunities
All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. We highly encourage you to apply for financial assistance.
2026 applicants, alumni, and parents of alumni can earn discounts or cash payments for referring the next cohort of AMIGOS volunteers! Learn more about our Alumni Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.
Contact
Please reach out to our Admissions team by email at admissions@amigosinternational.org with any questions about financial assistance.
Board of Directors
Alyson Woolley
Secretary
Sara Vargas Osorio
At-Large
Jessica Daly
Parent Liaison
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