AMIGOS by the Numbers

 

This summer, AMIGOS participants spent their summer in 192 different communities throughout Latin America.

In addition to starting or expanding 25 microenterprises, planting 569 trees, constructing 5 bus stops, renovating 7 community kitchens, building 6 sports fields, and refurbishing or laying 5.9 km of trails, AMIGOS participants lived like locals, improved their Spanish, and gained leadership skills and confidence.

 

Here are some highlights from specific summer 2017 projects:

In Matagalpa, Nicaragua, local youth were very involved. Throughout the summer, the Project Leadership team hosted three workshops for local youth:

• Before US participants arrived, they hosted a youth encuentro attended by 43 local youth. The event focused on an introduction to the AMIGOS program and communication skills.
• While US participants were in the field, they took part in a workshop alongside 61 local youth that was focused on reproductive health and cultural exchange.
• After US participants left, Project Leadership hosted a youth encuentro for 31 local youth, focused on Community-based initiative sustainability and the development of new community projects.

Participants in Azuero, Panama worked alongside the community honorables, or local elected officials. This provided them a unique collaborative professional opportunity.

 

 

Community-based initiatives in Colombia were quite diverse! Participants presented at health fairs, revitalized a community youth group, held activities to promote reading and art – including puppet shows and planting trees – and formed a youth group focused on preserving and celebrating cultural traditions.

In Ecuador, participants presented their microenterprise plans for a chance to win seed funding. The winning projects were an apiary (bee keeping), a guinea pig farm, and an artisinal shop and restaurant.

Several projects did fundraising matching programs, which allowed communities to received matched funds from AMIGOS. Partners and communities alike were very happy with this model, which enabled them to amplify their fundraising efforts.

We’re expecting more innovative and sustainable community projects in 2018! New themes for this year include sports leadership, gender equality, and media.