The family fee to participate in an AMIGOS Summer Program in the Tucson Chapter varies by project.* Please see the Fees section to the right to review pricing.

The cost of supporting an AMIGOS volunteer in Latin America is significant. Tucson Chapter covers these costs through a combination of letter writing, small group fundraisers, and a family fee contribution. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances.

Full participation in all chapter fundraising activities is required. Amigos de las Américas advocates the concept that fundraising develops skills useful in the field and that group fundraising furthers the goals of, and commitment to, the program. Group fundraising also keeps the Family Fee as low as possible and makes participation in AMIGOS programs more widely accessible. While the group needs to raise an average of $4,200 per participant, what each volunteer will be measured by and held accountable to is 100% participation in planned activities. The success of this approach requires the good-faith effort and commitment of each volunteer and family.

In accordance with IRS tax regulations relating to charitable donations to Amigos as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization, no portion of the funds raised by a volunteer as a part of this group fundraising effort may be credited against any volunteer’s Family Fee or be directly attributed to any volunteer.

LETTER WRITING/DONOR CONTACTS

Each volunteer is required to send out a combination of 110 letters and emails to friends, family, and a limited number of previous donors, to request individual tax-deductible donations (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the student with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process. For more information, contact [email protected].

To see some of our fundraising efforts from last year, check out our Summer 2022 CauseVox Campaign here.

Additional funding opportunities

All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award.

FEES

Non-Refundable Application Fee: $50 (fee waived for financial assistance applicants)

Summer program family fees vary by project length:

• 3-week projects: $2,997*
• 4-week projects: $3,297*
• 6-week projects: $3,497*

*All family fees are contingent upon full fundraising participation. Lack of participation may cause removal from program.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Chapter Treasurer at [email protected].

FEES INCLUDE

• Round trip airfare
• Training materials and workshops
• Secondary short-term international medical insurance
• Program excursions
• Food, lodging, and transportation in Latin America
• Supplies for community project and extracurricular activities
• 24-hour On Call Emergency Management System
• Travel hotline and support

Click here for more information about our Fees & Funding.

AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS provides needs-based financial assistance with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents and special financial circumstances. We provide amounts of $100-$1,000 to qualified applicants as deductions on the family fee.

The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.

With over 55 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips volunteers with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. The Tucson Chapter training is youth-led, experiential learning that prepares volunteers for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help students succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by the Training Director, Senior Staff, and a team of volunteer trainers as well as local speakers from the community. 

What does Tucson Chapter training look like?

SERVICE LEARNING

The Tucson Chapter incorporates service learning into the AMIGOS training to add depth and first-hand experience to the curriculum. Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDE:

• Unparalleled leadership development
• Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
• Hands-on training for technical aspects of the program
• Extensive health and safety training
• Opportunities to practice Spanish
• Creating a community of young people with shared values

TRAINING CALENDAR

All trainings take place from 6:30-9pm at Highland Commons on the following dates:

• January 24
• January 31
• February 7
• February 14
• February 28
• March 7
• March 28
• April 4
• April 18 – Packing Meeting with Parents
• April 25
• May 2

Retreat Dates:

• February 18 from 8am-4pm at Highland Commons
• April 15 at 9am to April 16 12pm noon at Camp Cooper

Location of Training and First Retreat:

Highland Commons, University of Arizona

1224 E Lowell St

Room 307B

Tucson, AZ 85719

The Despedida will be held in May (Date/Time TBD).

The Welcome Home Party will be held in August or September (Date/Time TBD).