Testimonials

“AMIGOS really changed my life. It provided me the opportunity to grow as a person. I appreciate the work that we’re doing here, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me and other youth get involved in communities outside the U.S.”

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Jared Francisco

“In the ’80s, I was the Director of Finance and Administration for AMIGOS. During my time there, 5 years, I had the chance to go to Mexico and Costa Rica and see the impact that AMIGOS makes on a community. I also saw a transformation in the volunteers. They went in young and inexperienced and came out mature and ready to make an impact on the world. In the interim, I have stayed in touch with AMIGOS, and I feel it is on us whose lives were impacted by AMIGOS to help the organization endure. Programs like this need to continue to be an option for young people.”

Richard Nevins

4/2/2020

“I donated because I got so much out of my participant experience and want others to be able to experience AMIGOS in the same capacity that I did.”

Emma Link, '15, '16, '17

“AMIGOS has just been an opportunity for me to grow as a person and become the best version of me possible. That’s pretty much why I came here—just to grow and have a great experience and learn more about myself and other cultures. It’s just been fantastic.”

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Lex Minniear

“I donated to AMIGOS because it was a way to help more teenagers go on this amazing experience. I received financial assistance to be able to attend my AMIGOS trip, and I just want to be able to help more students like me experience this journey.” 

Alexa Lara, '19

“It really puts you in an environment where you learn about different cultures, different ways of life, but it does it in the best way possible. No matter what, you always feel taken care of and safe.”

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Jonah Zwolinski

“AMIGOS taught me many very important lessons at a young age, but one that has most stuck with me is that given the tools to think critically about the world and themselves, youth are capable of things far beyond what their age suggests. I am proud to infuse that spirit into my work by encouraging my students to ask critical questions, develop self-awareness, and become strong self-advocates. I support AMIGOS so they can continue to empower and inspire as many youth leaders as possible.” 

Libby Udelson, '08, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’17

“My AMIGOS experience began in 1974 when I was a high school student in Denver, Colorado, and it lasted seven or eight years. I ended up, you know, of course being a Route Leader and a Project Director. I actually worked a year at the International Office here in Houston right after I graduated from college doing chapter development, so that was a lot of fun. And AMIGOS was so key in helping me figure out what I wanted to do. Initially, I thought, you know, it has to be medicine or public health, etc., but I actually met some really interesting diplomats, foreign service officers, and USAID officials in my AMIGOS work and, again, decided that was what I wanted to do. So that is what I ended up doing, and I have done that 37, 38, years now. I give back to AMIGOS because it was the most consequential experience of my youth and put me on the road to a wonderful career in public service. AMIGOS nurtured my passion and potential as an effective leader and manager and set the stage for my success. Please pay it forward with support for AMIGOS so that the next generation of young leaders can do good and do well in service to others.”

Arnold Chacón, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79

“I think the most important aspect [of AMIGOS] is the cultural exchange. As a volunteer, you discover the culture better than you would as a tourist.”

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Gustavo Mora

“My AMIGOS experience in Costa Rica ’87, Michoacán, Mexico ’88, Costa Rica ’89, and Manabí, Ecuador ’91 quite literally changed the trajectory of my personal and professional interests, and my life in a profound and positive way. My work in international development for over 20 years, and interest in community development and impact initiatives, was sparked while working along local community leaders and organizations to enhance and improve the well-being of children and families on diverse initiatives in Latin America. My experience with AMIGOS helped me understand that I had a part to play in the vision of change we want to see in the world. This photo was taken during Ecuadorian President Sixto Durán Ballén’s visit to Portoviejo, Manabí where our summer country office headquarters was based when I served as Project Director in 1991. When I learned that President Sixto was in town for the day, I resolved to find a way meet him. One of my AMIGOS Project Staff at the time said that it would be “impossible” to meet the President at the last minute, and due to the President’s security. And in that very moment, I realized that it was important to demonstrate the importance of not being confined or deterred by our doubts to my Project Staff who had incredible leadership potential to return with AMIGOS as Sr. Staff themselves – we had to give it a try. In addition to meeting President Sixto, we met the Minister of Health and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. And AMIGOS volunteers vaccinated 30,000 cats and dogs against rabies that summer, in a mere 6 weeks. AMIGOS no longer undertakes rabies vaccination programs. AMIGOS has transitioned to new models of impactful programming which I support wholeheartedly, in addition to its sustained cultural and language immersion experience with host families – which makes the AMIGOS experience unparalleled to any other I have seen.”

Raquel Wexler, 87, ’88, ’89, ’93

“I believe in stretching youth to develop leadership skills early and in forging close personal relationships between youth throughout the Americas. AMIGOS does this well.”

Scott Roberts