Voices of Amigos


La Carta features stories from AMIGOS alumni and updates from our organization. Browse through the posts to see what we're up to and to learn more about AMIGOS!



Lifelong Service in Guatemala – AMIGOS Alumni and Medical Missions

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Lifelong Service in Guatemala AMIGOS Alumni and Medical Missions   Like many other AMIGOS volunteers, Dr. Phil Johnson (’68 – ’76) began his journey in…

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Introducing our 2023 Bill Arnold Fellow – Wesley Nesbitt

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Wesley Nesbitt: 2023 Bill Arnold Fellow The Bill Arnold Leadership Award was created to remember a cherished member of our AMIGOS community. Bill Arnold passed…

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Facts About the Andes Mountains

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FACTS ABOUT THE ANDES MOUNTAINS   The Andes Mountains are a vast and beautiful mountain range that runs along the entire western coast of South…

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Community Service Hours for High School

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How Many Community Service Hours do High School Students Need? The number of community service hours required for high school can vary depending on the…

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Taking a Gap Year After High School

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Taking a Gap Year After High School As high school seniors approach graduation, many face a tough decision about what to do next. While some…

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Chimborazo, Ecuador

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Chimborazo, Ecuador  Chimborazo, Ecuador is a province located in the Andean region of Ecuador. The province is named after the Chimborazo volcano, which is the…

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Language in Panama

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Language in Panama Panama is a country located in Central America, with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse population. The official language in Panama…

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Panamanian Food

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Food in Panama Panama is a beautiful country with a diverse and vibrant culture. If you’re lucky enough to visit Panama on an AMIGOS program,…

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Costa Rica Language

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Costa Rica Language What language do they speak in Costa Rica? Costa Rica, located in Central America between Panama and Nicaragua, is home to a…

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Field Notes are updates from our programs across the Americas. Explore by project to get a taste of what AMIGOS is like and to see updates from current volunteers.



Gap Costa Rica: Community Development in Perez Zeledón

Field Notes


  Community Development in Perez Zeledón   Leaving your home country for another seems like a daunting challenge, from leaving behind friends, family, and even…

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Gap Costa Rica: Cloudbridge Nature Reserve

Field Notes


  Cloudbridge Nature Reserve   The Cloudbridge Nature Reserve is a huge tract of forest painstakingly regrown from grazing land into thick and lush rainforest.…

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Gap Costa Rica: Mezclando

Field Notes


  Mezclando   Nunca pensé que sería tan cómodo encajar. A veces, se siente tan mal estar tan en lo correcto. Un país a millas…

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Gap Ecuador: How to Live as a Local and Survive in the Attempt

Field Notes


  How to Live as an Ecuadorian Local and Survive in the Attempt   Yes, dramatic title. But don’t worry, really, the only notable threat…

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Gap Ecuador: My Adventure in Puyo

Field Notes


  My Adventure in Puyo   Bright and early in the morning I hugged goodbye my host mom, and a few other of the Amigos…

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Gap Ecuador: Highs, Lows, and In-Betweens

Field Notes


  Highs, Lows, and In-Betweens   Arriving in Cuenca, I knew I had to be ready for a regular feeling of overwhelm and unfamiliarity. A…

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Gap Ecuador: 5 Reasons Why you Should Come as an AMIGOS Volunteer to Cuenca

Field Notes


  5 Reasons Why you Should Come as an AMIGOS Volunteer to Cuenca Choosing to sign up as an Amigos volunteer in Cuenca has already…

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Gap Ecuador: My First Experiences in Ecuador

Field Notes


  My First Experiences in Ecuador Hi everyone!  My name is Nikki and I am starting the fifth week of my gap semester here in…

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Gap Ecuador: A Day in the Life of an Intern in Ecuador

Field Notes


  A Day in the Life of an Intern in Ecuador   I wake to the sounds of dogs howling and car alarms blaring. Here…

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AMIGOS in the news!



AMIGOS Selected for the Princeton Novogratz Bridge Year Program

News


AMIGOS is thrilled to partner with Princeton’s Novogratz Bridge Year Program to facilitate an academic year-long program hosted in San Isidro, Costa Rica. The Novogratz…

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Tajín awards a prize of $5,000 to AMIGOS

News


  Tajín awards a prize of $5,000 to the winner of its Fan Pack Design Contest and donates $5,000 to AMIGOS de las americas  …

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Capital Plus Financial to Underwrite Amigos de las Americas’ Social Impact Accelerator Program

News


Capital Plus Financial to Underwrite Amigos de las Americas’ Social Impact Accelerator Program The Mission-Driven Company to Fund Accelerator For Students Looking to Impact Their…

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Gap Year Alum Luke Interviewed on Gap Year Radio

News


Luke joined AMIGOS for a gap year in Cuenca, Ecuador in 2019. As a student at Tufts University, he chose to join their 1+4 Bridge…

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AMIGOS Alums Josie and Jesus Featured in the South Seattle Emerald

News


AMIGOS alumni Josie Jensen and Jesús Zamora wrote an article entitled Indigenous Voices Across the Americas, published in the South Seattle Emerald on September 27,…

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Houston Independent School District and Amigos de las Americas Launch Classroom Community Impact Project

News


HOUSTON, TX, May 24, 2021 – With a combined 154 years of experience serving the Houston community, Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) and the Houston…

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AMIGOS in the Wall Street Journal

News


AMIGOS was featured in the Wall Street Journal on January 30, 2021. The article focuses on opportunities for teens to study, live, and volunteer in…

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Female Disruptors: Sara Nathan of Amigos de las Américas On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry (Authority Magazine)

News


By Jason Hartman   In this article for Authority Magazine, writer Jason Hartman interviews AMIGOS President & CEO Sara Nathan. She discusses a turning point…

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Social Impact Heroes

News


“Each of us is raised in our social bubble and with varying degrees of exposure to societal challenges — issues related to social justice, inequality,…

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