Length | Requirements | Dates | Ages | Application Deadline |
Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spring Gap Semester: Asunción, Paraguay | 14 Weeks |
Pre-departure training online and group training upon arrival in Paraguay |
Program Start Date: 1/30/2025 Program End Date: 5/8/2025 |
17–22 |
Financial Aid Deadline: Oct. 29, 2024 Final Application Deadline: Nov. 28, 2024 Apply now! |
Program fee $11,975 Need-based financial assistance is available! All in-country expenses are included in the program fee. Flight costs are not included. |
Fall Gap Semester: Asunción, Paraguay | 14 Weeks |
Pre-departure training online and group training upon arrival in Paraguay |
Program Start Date: 9/3/2025 Program End Date: 12/18/2025 |
17–22 |
Early Bird Deadline: June 3, 2025 Final Application Deadline: July 8, 2025 Apply now! |
Program fee $11,975 Need-based financial assistance is available! All in-country expenses are included in the program fee. Flight costs are not included. |
Gap Year Program: Asunción, Paraguay | 34 Weeks |
Pre-departure training online and group training upon arrival in Paraguay |
Program Start Date: 9/3/2025 Program End Date: 5/7/2026 |
17–22 |
Early Bird Deadline: June 3, 2025 Final Application Deadline: July 8, 2025 Apply now! |
Program fee $23,950 Need-based financial assistance is available! All in-country expenses are included in the program fee. Flight costs are not included. |
Pre-departure training online and group training upon arrival in Paraguay
Program Start Date: 1/30/2025
Program End Date: 5/8/2025
Program fee $11,975
Need-based financial assistance is available!
All in-country expenses are included in the program fee. Flight costs are not included.
Pre-departure training online and group training upon arrival in Paraguay
Program Start Date: 9/3/2025
Program End Date: 12/18/2025
Program fee $11,975
Need-based financial assistance is available!
All in-country expenses are included in the program fee. Flight costs are not included.
Pre-departure training online and group training upon arrival in Paraguay
Program Start Date: 9/3/2025
Program End Date: 5/7/2026
Program fee $23,950
Need-based financial assistance is available!
All in-country expenses are included in the program fee. Flight costs are not included.
The AMIGOS Gap Program in South America focuses on three key components: Spanish language acquisition, authentic cultural immersion, and real-world skill building.
All expenses in Paraguay are covered, including:
Week 1: The first week of the project is focused on training and orientation. You and the rest of the cohort will be staying together in a hostel in Asuncion and will be meeting each day with our project staff to cover everything from the history and cultural context of Paraguay, to navigating the public transportation, to our health and safety best practices. At the end of the week, each member of the cohort will get to meet their host family.
Week 2-4: Starting week 2, each member of the cohort will move in with their host family and start their intensive Spanish language course. A typical day will include breakfast with your host family, a bus ride to the Spanish school where you’ll see the rest of the group and then break up into level appropriate groups. You may go back home for lunch or meet a friend at a local cafe for mate. In the afternoon you may return to the school putting your skills into practice with activities like salsa lessons, cooking classes, scavenger hunts, and outings around the city. In the evening, you may help you host mother cook and share stories about your day over a traditional meal.
Week 5-14: After your first month, you’ll begin a full-time internship based on your skills and interests and the partner agency’s needs. Your day might look like this: Start your day with breakfast and mate with your host family before heading to your internship. You might lead English classes for kids, harvest vegetables in a community garden, or take photos of handmade products for sale. Share a typical lunch at home with your host family and take an afternoon break before meeting up with some friends for a yoga class. Return home and play card games with your host siblings after dinner or go out and catch a concert or show with friends.
What is it like to live with a host family?
AMIGOS places great value on the impact of our homestays. You’ll get the totally unforgettable experience of immersing yourself in the Paraguayan way of life! Take part in your host family’s customs and celebrations, like birthdays and holidays. Share meals, play games, and gain a second family.
How is the program staffed and what is the ratio of staff to students?
The program will be led by a Project Director assisted by Project Coordinators. The staff to student ratio is typically 1:7. Staff members meet with gap students regularly to make sure they are adjusting well, provide support, and help with any issues that arise. Staff also organize workshops and lead excursions.
What are some of the activities I might take part in?
Visit the remarkable Iguazu Falls
Learn to cook traditional Paraguayan dishes
Stroll through Asuncion’s historic center
Play soccer in the park with your friends
Visit an indigenous community and take part in a traditional celebratory meal
Explore early colonial ruins
View the unique wildlife in the Paraguayan Chaco
Do I have to be enrolled in college to participate?
No, you do not need to be enrolled in college or planning on enrolling in college to join. This program is open to all students ages 17–22, regardless of college plans. You should have an interest in the Spanish language or Latin American culture and a commitment to your community.
Am I able to travel while on the project?
Yes, as long as your travel does not conflict with your obligations to your internship, we encourage you to explore. We have a process for participants to communicate their travel plans to staff and their host family to ensure know where you are and how to contact you while you are traveling. Travel is not permitted during the first month or last 2 weeks of the program.
“The things you will learn and experience and the relationships you will build will remain with you through the rest of your life.”
—Emma, AMIGOS Gap Volunteer