AMIGOS Project Staff

Looking for a summer role abroad? Find out more about joining AMIGOS project staff!

What is AMIGOS Project Staff?

AMIGOS Project Staff are the young professionals who lead our programming in the countries where we operate. In 2024, we are operating open-enrollment projects in Panama, Costa Rica, and a new country TBD!  

 Project Staff members are: 

  • Mentors, coaches, and supervisors for youth in our programs helping to shape the next generation of leaders across the Americas. 
  • People who believe in positive youth development, intercultural exchange, and fostering responsible global citizenship. 
  • The face of AMIGOS programming on the ground, interacting daily with our partner agencies and service providers.  
  • Believers in the AMIGOS mission of inspiring leaders through authentic service and immersion experiences. 
  • Committed to being and fostering the change they want to see in the world.  
  • Open-minded individuals interested in learning about and from new cultures and people. 
  • Dedicated to creating inclusive, non-judgmental, and accepting spaces, where young people can learn and grow.  
  • Flexible and adaptable to change.  
  • Patient and calm in the face of challenge and uncertainty. 
  • Passionate about social justice issues and the power of youth to drive social change.

This is more than a job; it is a leadership experience that tests you both personally and professionally. It will make you grow in ways you did not even think possible. AMIGOS project staff roles prepare you for a future in any career field, equipped with soft and hard skills.  

We hope that you accept the challenge to step out of your comfort zone and join the AMIGOS family.

Information Sessions

Differences Between Roles

All of the roles on our project staff teams are critical to the success of the projects. Each role serves a specific purpose. See the Job Descriptions for more information.

Project Director (PD) 

The Project Director (PD) leads the show. They work closely with their Direct Supervisor (DS) to plan, implement, and evaluate a meaningful project for our youth participants and local partners. The Project Director manages the team, mentors fellow staff members, and provides general oversight of the project. They ensure day-to-day tasks are complete and that students and staff are safe and healthy. They also manage the funds and ensure ethical spending and proper tracking. They form part of Senior Staff.  

The Project Director will be onsite prior to other staff members, and will plan out the project in collaboration with local partner organizations with support from the Direct Supervisor when needed. The Associate Project Director (APD) will also assist with initial planning and paperwork. They will come to the project area 2-3 weeks before the volunteers arrive. 

Logistics: The Project Director role starts on April 1st. On this day, the Project Directors will have an introductory meeting with their Direct Supervisor and group meeting with the other PDs. The expectation is that all asynchronous training is completed this week. The Project Directors will be working from home from April 1-7. All Project Directors will arrive to their assigned country on April 7th.  From April 7-13, they will attend an in-person training with all of the other Project Directors working in that country. The training will be led by AMIGOS HQ Staff and their in-country Direct Supervisor, and will be complemented by mandatory online training. All in-person training costs are covered by AMIGOS including lodging, food, and first aid certification.  Starting on April 13th until the Associate Project Director arrives on site in late May or early June, the Project Director will be responsible for securing and paying for their own lodging and food (living expenses). During this independent time, the Project Director will have a Monday-Friday role with some weekend and evening responsibilities. All travel, lodging, and food costs related directly to AMIGOS work will be covered by AMIGOS (time on survey, travel for work, etc.). The Project Director work plan will be determined along with their Direct Supervisor. Once the Associate Project Director arrives, AMIGOS will provide and pay for housing and food for the Project Director, Associate Project Director, and other staff members through the end of the project.  

Associate Project Director (APD) 

The Associate Project Director (APD) is part of Senior Staff along with the Project Director. They share the responsibility of leading the team alongside the Project Director. On some projects, the Associate Project Director will also directly mentor volunteers. This is a great entry role to serving on AMIGOS Senior Staff.  The Associate Project Director will be responsible for ethically spending money and tracking funds, coordinating with partners and service providers, and facilitating activities.  

Logistics: The Associate Project Director will complete online training. Depending on the project modality, they will support with initial planning. They arrive to the project site 14-21 days before volunteer arrival. Their lodging and food are covered for the entirety of their contract period with AMIGOS.  

Project Supervisors (Psup) 

The Project Supervisor (Psup) position is focused on two main things: mentoring/supporting volunteers and facilitating program activities. They will assist with health and safety monitoring and will directly support volunteers. Their full focus is the volunteers and ensuring they have a safe and enjoyable learning experience. They also collaborate on project evaluation and ongoing paperwork. Depending on the project structure, they may support with some logistics, planning, and facilitating training activities.  

Logistics: The Project Supervisors will complete online training. They arrive to the project 5-14 days before volunteer arrival. Their lodging and food are covered for the entirety of their contract period with AMIGOS. 

Supported Immersion with Extended Homestay Programs: On 4- and 6-week model program (Los Santos & a Mystery Project), the Project Supervisor will be spending 4 nights a week in rural communities with a host family and 3 nights a week in the staff house in the staff city. It is a role that requires a love of nature, hiking, and adventure since you will be traveling from one community to another every week day. There may be more limited access to running water, electricity, and other amenities. 

Group Travel Programs: On group travel programs, staff will be with the group at all times. They will be sleeping in the same lodging site as volunteers or staying with a host family. It is a role that requires a love of group activities, nature, and socializing. 

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All Staff Roles (PD, APD, Psup)

You are part of a team as a member of project staff. You have your individual project team, the country team, and the broader AMIGOS team. Everyone should be working towards the success of all projects. This means that you may need to take on new or different responsibilities at different points in the summer.  

Some things all project staff should be prepared for: 

  • Living with a host family 
  • Staying in rural or more isolated places which may mean limited water supply and irregular electricity or access to internet 
  • Covering for your colleagues when they are sick 
  • Being moved to a different project/team, region or country on short notice 
  • Walking a lot 
  • Directly mentoring and supporting volunteers 
  • Being flexible with and understanding of a 24/7 work schedule, particularly while volunteers are in-country, which can include inconsistent periods of free time 
  • Living and working in environments with extreme temperatures (hot or cold) 
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Training

AMIGOS training is rooted in your leadership development. Through training you will learn the functions of your role, including leadership skills you will carry throughout your career.   

Four key training areas:  Leadership, Cultural Humility, Ethical Service, Health and Safety.  

Training is tailored to your role, to insure you have the information and training necessary to do your job well. It looks slightly different for each role.  

This year, training will be online, asynchronous, and largely at your own pace with fixed deadlines for work products and quizzes.  

ALL STAFF—MANDATORY LIVE VIRTUAL TRAININGS 

If you are looking to be on Project Staff, clear your calendars! We have four mandatory and LIVE online sessions.  

  • PDs only– Monday, April 1: 10am-12pm (Central Time)– Intro to AMIGOS & PD role 
  • Wednesday, May 8: 5:00-7:00pm (US Central Time) — Intro to AMIGOS & Your Team! 
  • Wednesday, May 15: 10:00am-4:00pm (US Central Time) — Emotional First Aid Training 
  • Wednesday, May 22: 5:00-7:00pm (US Central Time) — Facilitating Activities & AMIGOS core curriculum 
  • Thursday, May 30: 5:00-7:00pm (US Central Time) — Working with Youth & Child Protection

See below for the specifics for each role: 

  • Project Director 
    • Training starts on April 1 with a live online session, after which PDs will be granted access to the online, asynchronous training content which they will need to complete before arriving on-site for a 5-day in person training with the other Project Directors in their assigned country. 
    • The online training modules will take around 40 hours to complete.  The PDs are paid for the week of training, in the final payment, if the PD completes the full length of the contract period. 
  • Associate Project Director 
    • APDs will be responsible to complete around 40 hours of online training modules.  
    • They will be paid $250 USD for completing the training hours, if they complete the full length of their contract period. It will be paid in the payment at the end of the summer.  
  • Project Supervisors 
    • Psups will be responsible for completing a shorter version of online training of about 25 hours.  
    • They will be paid $175 USD for completing the training hours, if they complete the full length of their contract period. It will be paid in the payment at the end of the summer. 

Exact training hours will be confirmed in the process of the acceptance of the role. 

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Standards of Conduct

The AMIGOS Standards of Conduct are an integral part of building and growing leadership skills. There primary purpose is to help keep volunteers and project staff safe. The project staff’s adherence to the Standards of Conduct is the primary way that AMIGOS works towards ensuring their health and well-being during the program and positive interactions with partners. The Standards of Conduct come from many years of experience and recommendations.   

Standards of Conduct 

The AMIGOS Project Staff will:   

  • Be thoughtful and self-reflective when interacting with others. Be self-accountable for their decisions, behaviors, and actions and communicate their needs in a healthy manner. Take ownership for their health and safety and will avoid activities and/or behaviors that may be detrimental to themselves, others, or to the program. This includes but is not limited to abiding by the laws of the country in which the staff member is located, avoiding touching all animals, and adhering to infectious disease mitigation protocols such as wearing face masks, complying with mandatory isolation, or quarantine, if applicable, or adhering to social distancing when directed and/or appropriate.    
  • Follow the laws of the host country, county, and state and/or country, county, and state of residence of the volunteer and in line with these laws will not use or possess any drugs that are illegal in the host country, country, or state, your country, county, or state of residence, or the United States.    
  • Be conscientious of their surroundings and assigned work area. They will only leave their assigned work area and/or group once they have been granted prior permission from AMIGOS Direct Supervisor.     
  • Only be a passenger in a motorized vehicle (excluding motorcycles, ATVs, electric scooters, electric bikes, and the like) and will not operate any motorized vehicle, including but not limited to cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, electric scooters, and electric bikes.   
  • Recognize the dangers of firearms, fireworks, or explosives and avoid any contact with such thing.     
  • Be respectful, courteous, and kind. Avoid any acts of harassment, aggression, or bullying, as defined by AMIGOS.  
  • Not consume alcohol during the duration of the contract period.* 
  • Avoid the use or possession of all tobacco or cannabis products including, vaping, E-cigarettes, cigarettes, edibles, or anything containing nicotine, cannabis, CBD, or hemp derived oil or distillate during the contract period. 
  • Maintain platonic friendships and avoid any intimate or amorous relationships. This includes, but is not limited to, a relationship with any of the following: community members, program staff, partner agency representatives or service providers, or volunteers is not permitted at any time during the contract period.** 

*Project Directors are permitted to consume alcohol until their APD arrives on site. At that point no alcohol consumption is allowed until the end of the contract period. 

**Project Directors are permitted to pursue amorous relationships until their APD arrives on site. At that point they will need to maintain platonic relationships. Amorous conduct or relationships with community members, program staff, partner agency representatives or service providers, or volunteers is not permitted at any time during the contract period. 

Professional Code of Conduct

At AMIGOS, we do our best to be professional, culturally appropriate, and respectful. As such, we follow a professional code of conduct and dress code for volunteers and Project Staff.  

Professional Attire Guidelines 

During your time as a staff member or as a volunteer, you are representing yourself, the values and mission of AMIGOS, our partner organizations, and your country. It is necessary to present yourself appropriately and professionally throughout your participation with AMIGOS. The way you present yourself is a crucial part of collaborating cross-culturally in local communities and with partner agencies, as such please follow the guidelines below that apply to all genders. 

  • Wear shirts that cover your entire abdomen (no crop tops/short shirts). Avoid strapless shirts or tank tops for program activities; wear t-shirts/shirts with short, mid-length, or long sleeves. 
  • Skirts/Dresses/Shorts must be to your knees. Wear a shirt at all times, including when doing physical labor or playing a sport. 
  • Wear swim suits with ample coverage of your top (in the case of female identifying volunteers) and bottom.  
  • Leggings can only be worn for exercise, sleeping, travel days, or physical labor.  
  • Pajamas may only be worn for sleeping. 
  • Close-toed shoes must be worn for physical labor and outdoor activities. 
  • Ripped jeans/pants are only appropriate for travel days and only when you will not be interacting with partner agencies, community members, or host families. 
  • No military pattern clothing. 
  • Do not pack clothing printed, embroidered, or patterned with derogatory language or images. 
  • For meetings with community members or partner agency representatives, wear long pants or skirt/dress per the length requirement and your AMIGOS polo or t-shirt when possible.  

Consider the versatility of your clothing choices as packing space is limited. There is a specific packing list in the Project Information Packet (PIP). As a project staff member, you are a role model for the volunteers, you will not be allowed to wear clothing that does not meet the guidelines above. 

Professional Conduct 

  • Be respectful to everyone including Project Staff, your peers, host family members, partner agency representatives, and members of the community. 
  • Communicate respectfully and professionally in both written and verbal formats. 
  • Follow AMIGOS Standards of Conduct, health and safety policies and instructions, Professional Attire Guidelines, and host family/partner agency policies. 
  • Avoid speaking in English/Spanish when in the presence of local contacts. Only speak in the language the other person understands. 
  • Come prepared to the meetings with local community members or Partner Agency representatives. 
  • Be a team player—Support and collaborate with others. 
  • Actively participate in all AMIGOS activities to the best of your ability, and fulfill program requirements including documentation, service project development and execution, and evaluations.  
  • Be thoughtful when bringing up controversial topics such as politics, religion, money, etc. 
  • Represent AMIGOS and our partner agencies well through appropriate posts and comments on all social media channels. 
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Things You Should Know

Being a member of Project Staff is immensely rewarding and it is a challenging experience. It is important for you to take the following into consideration: 

  • This is a 24/7 job. You need to be committed and able to put in the time necessary to plan and execute a great program.  
    • It will not be possible to hold another job while serving on Project Staff. 
    • You will work with your team to plan for rotating breaks away from the group or other work responsibilities.  
  • You are receiving a stipend, not a salary, for your contributions to the organization as a member of project staff. All costs related to the role and programming for lodging, food, transport, activities will be covered by AMIGOS starting when the APDs arrive to the project site.  
    • PD: $350/week 
    • APD: $275/week 
    • Psup: $250/week 

*Please note that non-U.S. citizen or non-U.S residents project staff may not be paid to a U.S. bank account. 

  • AMIGOS spends an additional $50-70 USD/day on staff to cover lodging, food, and travel costs. That means that AMIGOS invests an additional $3,000-$4,200/person during the contract period. AMIGOS also covers round trip, single destination flights up to $1,100 USD or ground transport to the project area. You can consider this as an in-kind part of your payment. 
  • There is a $500 bonus that will be paid upon completion of the program for anyone that has served on Project Staff in the last two years (2022/2023).  
  • You will need to bring your own working laptop and cell-phone. We recommend that you get travel insurance.  
  • AMIGOS will provide one laptop per project for project-related usage, along with one cell phone to be used as the in-country emergency phone.   
  • We highly recommend you to get a travel insurance plan because AMIGOS will not cover any damage to your belongings.  
  • If applicable, you are responsible to unlock your phone before leaving your home country. If you arrive with an unlocked phone, you will be responsible for purchasing a working phone with a local SIM card. 
  • Project Directors will receive a reimbursable health stipend for the period they are in country before the APD arrives. Once the APD arrives, all acute medical issues, for all staff members, are covered by AMIGOS. AMIGOS does not cover routine dental exams or medical costs related to any pre-existing health conditions. 
  • Online training is mandatory and you must pass all training exams with a score of 85% or above, by the assigned deadline, in order to work on project staff. If you do not complete training, you will not be working for us.  
  • Live Online training sessions require mandatory attendance. They will not be recorded. 
  • We encourage people to apply to any project area, however, your placement is subject to visa requirements. You may also be moved to a different project based on organizational needs. If projects are closed for reasons outside of our control (political unrest), you will lose your employment for the summer. 

Projects

All of our projects are unique, fun, and educational. Learn more about the specifics through our project pages.  

Which Project is right for you?

All of our projects are unique, fun, educational, and interesting. We also want you to choose a project that feels right for you. First, check your date availability. We will not be approving exceptions, so check that you are available for the time frame of the position you are selecting. Next, take a look below to see some of the things project staff will be doing. 

We have three overarching project structures. Reference the chart below for *. 

  • Projects with NO asterisk: All of these projects are a Group Travel model. The staff will be with students—living and collaborating—in the same lodging site and community. The projects follow a model of 5-10-5, with some small variations. Five nights as a group—ten nights with host families—five nights as a group. There are two sessions of 3 weeks each. Project staff may live together in 1-2 host families or may have a project staff house depending on each project circumstances. 
  • Projects with 2 asterisks (**): These projects follow the Community Immersion AMIGOS model of programming with some variations. Volunteers arrive and spend 4 nights together as a group with staff. From then until 2 nights before they leave, they live with host families in rural communities in groups of 2-3 volunteers. The Project Staff has a staff house in a base city and the Project Supervisors visit 3-4 communities of volunteers each week. The last 2 nights of the project the full group is together. This is a highly independent model for volunteers.  
  • Projects with 3 asterisks (***): These projects are a group travel model. The difference is that there are no host family placements. The volunteers and staff stay in group lodging sites. For the entirety of the project. Project staff share a room with other project staff members. Staff may need to stay with a host family in the community during project exploration. 

A couple additional things to keep in mind: 

  • La Pezeta, La Brunca, El Pacifico, and Mystery Project: All projects where you will spend a lot of time in nature, spending time outside, manual labor, and rural areas.  
  • El Valle/El Pacifico/Montañas & Mar: No language requirement for volunteers. Be prepared to translate at all times.  
  • El Pacifico/Montañas & Mar: Younger age group of 13–14-year-olds. Important to have experience with or enjoy working with this age group.  
  • El Pacifico: 1 session with host families and 2 sessions without host families. 
  • All Projects: Staff may also live with a host family. 

We want people that are interested in going to any project. While we understand you may have preferences, it is important to accept a role on project staff knowing that your role, country, and position are subject to change. You need to be interested in the being part of the Project Leadership Team more than where the role is in Latin America. 

Learn more by joining a Project Staff Info Session: 

  • Wednesday, November 29: 6:00-7:00pm (US Central Time)   
  • Wednesday, January 10: 6:00-7:00pm (US Central Time)   
  • Wednesday, February 7: 6:00-7:00pm (US Central Time)  

Project Staff Calendar by Project

Check to make sure you are available for the dates that you need to be on site for each project. Only apply to projects for which you have full availability.  

*Dates are subject to slight change. Please bear in mind that your travel date may change. For example, there may be circumstances in which you may arrive to country one day earlier or later than is stated on your offer letter. Make sure you are available one day before and one day after the dates listed in the chart for the projects you select. 

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*The staff city is where the PD will be living before the APD arrives and where the staff house will be located for Community Immersion projects. This is not necessarily where the staff will be staying in-between student sessions or at the end of the project.  

**Project that follow our Community Immersion model of programming. Volunteers will be in rural communities for the majority of the trip. 

***Projects with no host family component. 

Benefits and Why to Join Project Staff

If you want to make a lot of money this summer, this is not the job for you. However, serving on AMIGOS project staff provides skill-building and professional development opportunities that are unparalleled in addition to some perks! 

General Perks: 

  • Round Trip, single destination flight or travel expenses covered by AMIGOS. * 
  • With the exception of PDs, we will book your flights allowing you to have up to 90 days in-country. This means you can stay in the country for independent travel after the project concludes! 
  • Visit a new region or country! 
  • Leadership Ladder—Grow within the organization! 
  • Cell-phone minutes covered by AMIGOS for project purposes
  • Emotional First Aid Training and Certification 
  • Physical First Aid Training and Certification 
  • Get connected to thousands of AMIGOS alumni across the Americas! Good networking opportunities
  • Visa support—including visa extensions and travel outside of the country to renew your visa
  • Acute medical costs covered by AMIGOS.

Soft Skills Development: 

Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work. They include how you interact with colleagues, how you solve problems, and how you manage your work. (1) These are not only job skills but life skills that will help you succeed both personally and professionally.  

  • Negotiation & Communication  
  • Learn about a new culture 
  • Opportunity to mentor young leaders 
  • Work in a multicultural environment 
  • Networking 
  • Work independently 
  • Teamwork 
  • Problem-Solving 
  • Socio-emotional skills 

Hard Skills Development: 

Hard skills are objective, quantifiable skills gained through training, school, or work experiences. Hard skills are often usually something that can be taught or learned. 

  • Effective time management strategies & prioritization of tasks 
  • Resource Raising  
  • Project Management 
  • Facilitation skills & speaking in front of groups 
  • Manage a budget 
  • Practicing your second language 
  • Improve professional level language abilities (Spanish/English)  
  • Gain supervisory skills and people management techniques 
  • Learn to use a customer management relationship (CRM) system 

While being on Project Staff may not be your typical job, it will provide you with lifelong skills, an amazing community of people, and the chance to visit new places. 

*Exceptions apply. 

(1) https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-are-soft-skills-2060852 

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Hiring Timeline

All positions are posted on our website! Click here. 

We are hiring on a rolling basis this year. All dates are tentative and subject to slightly change.  

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible for first choice of spots. 

Project Directors 

  • Application Due: January 1 
  • Interviews: January 
  • Offer: February 

Associate Project Directors 

  • Application Due: February 1 
  • Interviews: February 
  • Offer: March 

Project Supervisors 

  • Application Due: March 15 
  • Interviews: February/March 
  • Offer: March/April 

The earlier you apply the better! Spots will fill up! We are hiring for all roles. The early you apply to be a Project Supervisor, the more likely you will get a role. 

FAQs

What Are Project Staff Doing Now?

Meet recent project staff members who had lifechanging experiences serving in these roles. 

Mateo RojasMateo Rojas, Peru ’14, Costa Rica ’19 

After graduating from UC Santa Barbara in 2019, I returned to Amigos de las Américas as a Project Supervisor for the project in Palmares, Costa Rica. I guided eight volunteers staying in four rural host communities through a program similar to the one I participated in in 2014, and I supported these volunteers by working with community leaders to identify and mobilize resources within the community. It was extremely fulfilling for me to mentor these volunteers through the program and demonstrate the importance of living within a culture and speaking with the people when organizing a project.  

During my time as a project supervisor, I practiced constructive problem-solving skills within the framework of asset-based community development while holding a leadership position in an organization that collaborates with locals to create lasting and tangible change. Anecdotes from San Rafael de Platanares, a town I worked with, confirmed my trust in this approach. A community member shared that a previous sewage tunnel project that AMIGOS volunteers had co-facilitated allowed their children to walk back home from school without having to submerge their feet in a flooded road on rainy days. The volunteers and host family I worked with in San Rafael that summer were also overjoyed to see their rain gutter project work seamlessly and prevent the house flooding that had previously occurred on their street.   

My experiences in Costa Rica and Peru built on my studies and influenced me more profoundly than my coursework ever could. Through this learning process, I have integrated a few philosophies that lay the foundation for my professional goals. 

  

amigos project staffMaren Walsh, Panama ‘15, Dominican Republic ‘16, Dominican Republic ‘18 

I was a volunteer in Azuero, Panamá in 2015, and San Juan, Dominican Republic in 2016. I returned to the Dominican Republic in 2018 as a supervisor. When I was a supervisor in the Dominican Republic, my communities were quite close to the community I had lived in as a volunteer two years before. It just so happened that many of the new people I was meeting were good friends with people from my old host community. Once, I was eating dinner with an old man who was “best friends” with another old man I knew but hadn’t seen in years. I didn’t know if he remembered me or not. We called him up on the phone to say hello. Not only did he remember me, but he had heard through the grapevine that I was in the Dominican Republic and wanted to know why I hadn’t come to visit him yet.  

AMIGOS fundamentally altered my academic and professional goals. Because of this program, I am an International Studies major focusing on Latin America. I took a semester off before starting college to travel in Colombia and Chile. This semester I am studying in Cuba, and next semester I will be studying in Argentina. I hope to work internationally after graduating. I would never have done these things if I hadn’t been an AMIGOS volunteer. 

  

amigos project staffKeylor Aguilar, Costa Rica ’22 

Mi rol es que soy Coordinador de Proyectos en montana y mar. Yo describiría mi rol como enconamiento, desegimiento, y adamas direcion de mucha actividades que estamos haciendo en general. Es muy interesente porque de tener contacto con jovenes para mi AMIGOS esta presionante que nos da este oportunidad de que personas jovenes es tener la capicidad de estar con otra persona jovenes. La conexion es totalmente distincto creo el espacio uno a uno con ellos es lo que mas me agusta porque es donde mas aprendemos de nosotros.   

Lo que mas podia aplicar es el salud mental. Creo que en el training fue super importante. Pero una de las partes me recuerdo mas, es como el tema de los mas primeros aucilios psicologia. Eso ha sido fundamental para la attencion a los chicos y para entender como se sienten. Para entender como piensan o que quieren o de pronto cuando es bueno darles un tiempo libre a uno. Creo que eso en el training fue impresionante para nosotros entender cuando era el momento correcto para ser el accion acuada (actual).   

Yo lo primero le digales es que aplicen. Mi consejo seria tener alpituda flesiblidad. Creo que la aplituda flesiblidad en AMIGOS seria importante porque hoy estas aca, pero manana de pronto puedes estar en el otro lado. O te toca que ordinar algo de pronto tener otro role. So yo le digieran a los personas que lo agan. Y si AMIGOS selecionan es proque ellos saben que personas estan preparados y es una esperienca inolvidable. Es una experiencia muy grata. Despues de esto voy hablar con mis companeros y companeras y es como queremos segir trabajando con AMIGOS. Queremos estar serca al programa, o de pronto veremos el programa en otra pais es un poco mas estremo, o otro mas cural. Y eso me gustaria mas al otro y con las herramientas que nos da en esta primer programa. Como ya me siento preparado de comitir a otro role. 

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Testimonials

Hear directly from our past project staff about their experience. 

How would you describe your experience with AMIGOS? 

“This summer was definitely challenging but also super rewarding. I think I grew a lot both professionally and personally, and while it was difficult at times, I am really happy that I got to have this experience.”

“This summer has been one of the biggest learning experiences I’ve had in my life. It was amazing to implement such a great program. The experience was both challenging and fulfilling and taught me about the life and professional skills I had and [those that] I gained.

“Fué una gran experiencia para mí, llena de aventuras y aprendizajes. En general lo describo como un proceso de crecimiento y desarrollo profesional, en el cual pude aprender muchísimo de varios campos, sentirme mas confiado y seguro personalmente.” 

“Fulfilling. The work was hard but wonderful.

“My experience working with AMIGOS was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for growth.” 

“It was an amazing but challenging experience. It definitely pushed me out of all my comfort zones, but I feel great of being able to achieved many goals. I learned a lot from others and from myself. Life changing!” 

“Fue una experiencia increíble que sumó mucho en mi vida personal, y espero poder ser parte de Amigos en algún otro proyecto o de alguna manera. Es super retadora y llena de dificultades, pero hay mucho soporte detrás y eso hace que todo sea más fácil.” 

 

How has your AMIGOS experience changed you? 

“AMIGOS taught me a lot about myself, my perception, and my leadership. It opened me to a new country, where I had to look inward for comfort and outward to my team for support. It exposed me to young leaders who had differences in perspective, opinions, and experience. It taught me what it really meant to be a mentor.” 

“AMIGOS has helped me to feel more confident in my ability to connect with others and work in various challenging settings. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone with the work that I needed to do, as I wasn’t used to being responsible for so much paperwork and logistics. But I learned valuable skills and how to stay organized, which involves journaling out my responsibilities. I have also realized how much I love living in another culture and experiencing another way of life, and I hope to continue to do so in the future.” 

“Aprendí muchísimo de mí mismo, y de las habilidades que tengo para resolver problemas. Me di cuenta de mi potencial y de lo que soy capaz de hacer.” 

“AMIGOS has made me a better communicator, decision-maker, and teammate. AMIGOS has taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to and that I am capable of taking on huge responsibilities. It has also taught me that if you believe in others, the capacity in the others is pretty huge too!” 

“Living this experience changed me in many aspects and ways, at personal and professional levels. At a personal level, it was challenging and touching for me seeing myself on this role, when a participant of AMIGOS YA Program, I dreamt a lot about being a staff member, and now that we are finished, I am proud of having had a successful experience on the role. Also on the professional level, it made me realize that I enjoy a lot doing this kind of job, so now I feel more focused on what I want to do in the near future.” 

“En gran área, siento que Amigos me hizo crecer muchísimo, mas de lo que pensaba. Me hizo tener otra perspectiva, otra mentalidad. Pude aumentar mi confianza y seguridad en el momento de realizar distintas cosas.” 

What is the biggest thing you gained from working with AMIGOS? 

“Through my experience with AMIGOS, the biggest thing I gained is the unwavering belief that I am ready for anything now. The immersive cultural exposure, the challenges I faced while living in a different community, and the opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills have all contributed to this newfound confidence. AMIGOS has instilled in me the ability to adapt, connect, and engage with diverse situations and people, empowering me to approach any future endeavor with a sense of readiness and capability.

“I think AMIGOS serves as my most professional title at this point in my post-college career. I will draw on my experience across a wide variety of skills (interpersonal skills, budgeting skills, Spanish skills, youth mentorship and education skills, time management skills) and responsibilities (making decisions about budget, being in charge of myself and others’ health and safety, holding ourselves accountable to standards of conduct and AMIGOS protocol). I think almost anywhere I apply for work I can reference this experience in some way that will add to my application.”