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!



Reasons We Love the Ecuadorian Coast

La Carta


When people think of Ecuador, most people probably conjure images of the magnificent Andes mountains, fluffy alpacas grazing on green slopes, the equator, and maybe…

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Experiencing Colorful Colorado

La Carta


When you step out into a Colorado summer day in the mountains, there are a few things you will notice. You will look up and…

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Mateo’s Statement of Purpose

La Carta


Mateo (Peru ’14, Costa Rica ’19) was kind enough to share his statement of purpose for graduate school with AMIGOS. He cites his experiences with…

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Gap Year Lessons Learned

La Carta


February is Gap Year Exploration Month and AMIGOS is proud to support the movement to popularize gap years. Our Gap Program began in 2012 in…

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Returning to In-Person Programs in 2021

La Carta


After extensive consideration and months of planning, we have decided to offer in-person programs in Latin America and the U.S. for summer 2021. We made…

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Civic Action Gap Semester: So Much More Than a Class

La Carta


By: Georgia S. Describing the Civic Action Gap Semester as just a class, with lectures and homework, is an understatement. It is so much more…

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A Thanksgiving Message in an Uncertain Time

La Carta


A message from AMIGOS President & CEO, Sara Nathan   Dear AMIGOS Family, What can I say about this year that hasn’t already been said?…

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Romina’s Reflections on a Virtual Gap Semester

La Carta


Romina is a student in from Maryland who is currently enrolled in our fall Civic Action Gap Semester, an exciting partnership program in collaboration with…

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Alice’s Experience with the Civic Action Gap Semester

La Carta


Alice is a participant this fall in the Civic Action Gap Semester, an exciting partnership program in collaboration with the Tufts University Jonathan M. Tisch…

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See All La Carta

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 participants.

Jump straight to...
Costa Rica: Palmares
Costa Rica: Pérez Zeledón
Dominican Republic: San Juan
Ecuador: Chimborazo
Ecuador: Cuenca
Ecuador: Cuenca (Gap Program)
Ecuador: Santa Elena
Panama: Azuero
Panama: Coclé
Costa Rica: Discover AMIGOS
Panama: Discover AMIGOS
Uruguay: Montevideo (Gap Program)
Youth Ambassadors
Archive of Inactive Projects



Semana Santa

Field Notes


To celebrate Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a very important tradition in Costa Rican culture. In Costa Rica, in addition to the religious activities, Semana…

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La Mejenga

Field Notes


La Mejenga (Pick-Up Soccer) By Owen and Jimmy At FUDEBIOL, we have a tradition every Wednesday of playing a game of Mejenga at the soccer…

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Manzanitas de Coco Recipe

Field Notes


By Jade, Nolan, and Owen This past week, we got a taste of Costa Rican culture – literally! The cooks of ASOFEQUE invited us into…

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Community Service Work

Field Notes


By Pia, Owen, and October Here at FUDEBIOL, we just finished our first full week of community service work! We rotated groups on Sunday, and…

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Get to Know Our Volunteers

Field Notes


This week, we drove four hours from Turrialba to FUDEBIOL, which will be our home for the next six weeks. FUDEBIOL is a reserve committed…

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Limiting Our Ecological Footprint

Field Notes


With the theme of our gap program being conservation and climate change, it is only appropriate that we are taking every precaution to make sure…

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A Day in the Life

Field Notes


A Day in the Life By Ava M. First, we wake up at six in the morning. Then, some of us go for a walk.…

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Conservation and Climate Change

Field Notes


Conservation and Climate Change by Valerie D. Water, air, and soil are elements that we all need to live. Climate change is increasing, and it…

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Pura Vida, Puros Amigos

Field Notes


A SNEAK PEAK OF THE FIRST TWO WEEKS // UNA PINCELADA DE LAS PRIMERAS DOS SEMANAS A VIEW FROM PACUARE RIVER LODGE by October K.…

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AMIGOS in the news!



Wall Street Journal: “For Teens, a Wild Homeschooling Alternative: A Trip to Costa Rica”

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: Why & How Sara Nathan of Amigos de las Américas Is Helping To Change Our World (Authority Magazine)

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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Sara Nathan: “Day In and Day Out” (Thrive Global)

News


By Ben Ari   AMIGOS President & CEO Sara Nathan was featured in Thrive Global’s piece about her own career path and building tomorrow’s leaders.…

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Should You Consider A Virtual Gap Year? (Forbes)

News


The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of many high school seniors, who graduated into a summer of uncertainty. Gap years are garnering interest in…

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AMIGOS and Tufts University Launch Virtual Gap Semester

News


  HOUSTON, TX., July 2, 2020 — Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) and Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life are proud to announce a…

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Why Climate Change Caused Me To Rethink My Career Plans: Huffington Post

News


Ashley Thorshov was planning to head to Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica with AMIGOS this summer to explore her interest in environmental sustainability and conservation. While…

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AMIGOS Alumna is 2020 PA of the Year

News


Nicole Dettman (’90, ’91, ’93) is the American Academy of PAs Physician Assistant of the Year! Nicole credits her interest in health to her summers…

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AMIGOS Launches Community Impact Project

News


Mural by AMIGOS alumna Sierra Ratcliff, Annabelle Wombacher, Jared Mar, and Benjamin Cahoon   HOUSTON, TX. — May 7, 2020 — Houston nonprofit Amigos de…

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