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!



Alumni Spotlight: Community Impact Project Volunteer Valentina

La Carta


One of our Community Impact Project volunteers from Latin America, Valentina, shares about her experience exploring a new version of community and designing a service…

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Alumni Spotlight: Community Impact Project Volunteer Noura

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One of our Community Impact Project volunteers, Noura, shares about her experience exploring a new version of community and designing a service project to make…

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Gap Program Alum Creates Virtual Language Exchange

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Aidan joined the AMIGOS Gap Program in Cuenca, Ecuador. After returning to the U.S. a bit sooner than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he…

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CEO Memo: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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Dear AMIGOS Family, It has been an incredibly powerful time as communities across the world unite in protest against systemic racism and violence following the…

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Standing in Solidarity Against Racism and Injustice

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AMIGOS stands in solidarity with the movement against racism and injustice. And we recognize we have a long way to go. Every day, we work…

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Costa Rica Coordinator Nicol Chinchilla Receives Fellowship

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We are excited to announce that AMIGOS received a grant from the AllPeopleBeHappy Foundation to advance programming opportunities for Latin American students! Through the foundation’s…

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New AMIGOS Programming in the Era of COVID-19

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To the AMIGOS Community: In 1965, AMIGOS launched a movement of people committed to sharing responsibility for our global community. Today, as communities across the…

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AMIGOS Suspends Programs Due to Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

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AMIGOS Suspends 2020 Summer Programs and the Spring Gap Program Due to COVID-19 Pandemic An Open Letter to the AMIGOS Community from President and CEO…

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Amigos of the Week – March 9, 2020

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Just a few months left until summer is here! Our 2020 Amigos are getting excited for the adventure waiting for them in Latin America. Here…

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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 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



Last Week in Community

Field Notes


This week was the last week of route! I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by. I started off the week in Cedral,…

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End of Summer in Barahona

Field Notes


After four weeks immersed in the local culture, the Session B volunteers’ adventure-filled experience came to an end with a heartfelt candle lighting ceremony where…

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Report from Parque Nacional Marino Ballena

Field Notes


Written by volunteer Alice C. This week in campamentos has been amazing. We worked in the national park Marino Ballena. It had some of the…

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Updates from Emma’s Route

Field Notes


The third week was another incredible week on route! I spent Monday in Pejibaye with Kirston, Frances, and Kathya. When I showed up they were…

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Michael’s Reflection on the Rural Homestay

Field Notes


This week concludes the volunteers’ last week in their rural communities. Volunteer Michael wanted to take a moment to reflect on his time in Chobshi,…

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Video from Fiesta Ambiental

Field Notes


Check out this video of Azuero volunteers making promises to protect the environment:

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First Campamento

Field Notes


This past weekend, the Palmares Project had our first weekend of campamentos. The volunteers, staff, and coordinators from Casa de la Juventud (our partner agency…

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Updates from Hannah’s Route

Field Notes


Greetings from supervisor Hannah’s route! Volunteers are enjoying their last week in community, and are seeing their community based initiatives come together. Many are working…

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Getting to Know Barahona

Field Notes


Our staff team is very excited to see how our volunteers’ leadership skills and Spanish are playing out in their communities! Volunteers are in their…

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AMIGOS in the news!



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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What Teens Can Do This Summer

News


Graduation? Canceled. Prom? Canceled. Summer travel? Canceled. What can teens do this summer? AMIGOS President & CEO Sara Nathan spoke with News12 New Jersey about…

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AMIGOS Alumna Wins Fulbright Scholarship

News


AMIGOS Alumna Shannon Perrone will be heading to Brazil next year as a Fulbright Scholar. She volunteered with AMIGOS in Paraguay in 2015 and went…

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Tips to Make the Most of Your Time at Home

News


AMIGOS President & CEO Sara Nathan spoke with Military Families Magazine to share some tips for how to stay engaged with your community even if…

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Considering a Gap Year?

News


Due to uncertainty around the pandemic’s impact on colleges this year, many students are considering gap years instead. AMIGOS began offering Gap Programs in Latin…

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