What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about Nicaragua?  Throughout the years, the media has put a spotlight on this country’s challenges. But underneath this coverage, there is a lively nation bursting in color with stunning views, friendly locals, and rich culture and folklore running through every corner of … Read More

What We Learned in the Last Two Years Two years ago today, on March 16, 2020, AMIGOS announced the full suspension of all volunteer programs for the first time in our history. Our Gap Program volunteers in Uruguay and Ecuador were in-country. In a matter of hours, we arranged for their safe return home, just … Read More

There are lots of summer vacations during our teenage years that we never forget about. The sun is shining, you are reading by the pool, hanging out with friends, maybe even going off to summer camp! But…what if we told you that there is an opportunity out there unlike any summer you have ever experienced … Read More

Returning to Homestays in 2022 After careful consideration in consult with our local partner agency, Medical Director, host community contacts, and Health, Safety, and Risk team, AMIGOS has decided to run a six-week homestay immersion program in Ecuador this summer. We are thrilled to again offer students the opportunity for a deep immersion experience living … Read More

On Investment in Communities with Eric Donnelly In 2021, Capital Plus Financial committed $169,500 over a four-year span to Amigos de las Américas’ (AMIGOS) Social Impact Accelerator Program: Powered by Capital Plus Financial, a 16-week virtual, bilingual program for high school-aged alumni to take community-based projects from the idea phase through implementation in their home communities. … Read More

As we head into the third calendar year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s understandable to feel stuck, frustrated, or hopeless. But in the spirit of a new year, we wanted to share some tips for how to make the most out of 2022 by starting with yourself. Here are five ways you can make 2022 … Read More

Ethical Volunteering and Living Out Our Values What is ethical volunteering? From our President & CEO Sara Nathan: “There’s a lot of skepticism about community service when people leave their country to do it. And for good reason — individual saviorism often takes precedence over beneficial volunteering in the “voluntourism” industry, where people (often youth) … Read More

AMIGOS Volunteering Impact in 2021 Now that 2021 is coming to an end, we wanted to take some time to reflect on all the incredible community service work that AMIGOS volunteers participated in this summer. From repairing electrical circuits for solar energy in Nicaragua, to restoring a community center on Ecuador’s Pacific coast that was … Read More

October 2021 AMIGOS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Update Community update regarding progress toward our goals to further diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at AMIGOS    At a recent meeting, we asked AMIGOS staff to share why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives were important to them.   Elizabeth said she wants to work in “an environment … Read More

A Letter from Sara Nathan, AMIGOS President & CEO, on our 57th Summer     August 26, 2021 Our 57th summer has now come to a close and I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished. 415 volunteers stepped up to make a difference in their communities. Online and in-person, they collaborated with peers from across … Read More