HOW TO APPLY
AMIGOS gives you an exciting chance to have an adventure and explore the world outside of a classroom. You will live in a new country and work on sustainable community service projects while living with a host family. These experiences prepare you for your future, improve your Spanish, and build your confidence. You develop leadership skills that will set you apart in college and throughout your career. With AMIGOS, you will learn about the world by living in it. Click here to explore our 2020 Summer Programs.
READY TO START YOUR APPLICATION?
- Click here to start your application.
- Complete your application.
- An AMIGOS representative will contact you to set up an interview.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
The Tucson Chapter has extended their application deadline!
December 26: Final deadline to join AMIGOS through the Tucson Chapter
April 7: Final deadline to join AMIGOS through the National Chapter
INTERVIEWS
After completing the online application a representative from the Chapter will contact you to schedule your interview.
ABOUT
The AMIGOS Tucson Chapter is part of a 25 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Tucson area train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Our board supports volunteers with packing, pre-departure immunizations, fundraising, and overall preparation. Our chapter accepts volunteers September through December of the fall prior to each summer experience. During the months of January through May, Tucson Chapter volunteers will take part in local training and fundraising events as they prepare for their AMIGOS experience.
Tucson Volunteers Attend:
Amphitheater • Basis Tucson North • Canyon del Oro • Catalina Foothills • Cienega • Sabino • Salpointe Catholic • Sonoran Science Academy • St. Gregory College Prep • Tucson High Magnet • University High
FEES & FUNDING
Family fee payments can be made online, with several payment options available. Please contact chapter leadership with any questions you have.
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. All volunteers are required to fully take part in each fundraising activity as fundraising skills are an important component of AMIGOS training program and raise awareness of AMIGOS programs in the community. Volunteers receive considerable help with regard to fundraising strategies, and the experience gained in this effort will definitely build important skills!
LETTER WRITING/DONOR CONTACTS
Each volunteer is required to send out a combination of 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 info@amigostucson.org.
Additional funding opportunities
All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. More info here.
FAMILY FEE $2,997
(payment plan options available)
- Group fundraising participation required.
FEES INCLUDE
- Round-trip international 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.
DUE DATES AND PAYMENT OPTIONS
- Participants pay their family fees beginning December 2019. The fee must be paid by May 4, 2020.
- Fees can be paid online or by mail.
- Payment plans are available.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
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 Financial Assistance Application deadline has passed. Please contact president@amigos-tucson.org for additional information.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FAQ
- The Financial Assistance Application deadline has passed.
TRAINING
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
With 50 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 AMIGOS 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. Volunteers are trained on nutrition education through our partners at Tucson Village Farm. They are expected to complete four hours of service in English or Spanish working on the farm, educating youth on the benefits of healthy eating.
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
THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR TRAINING ACTIVITIES INCLUDES:
- Three meetings per month (6:45pm-9:00pm) from January to mid-May
- Three overnight retreats
- Four hours of service learning
- Online assessments to determine readiness for the summer
TRAINING CALENDAR
Initial Training Dates:
Dec. 15th – Welcome Potluck
Jan. 6th – First Volunteer Training Meeting
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lucy Weeks President president@amigos-tucson.org |
Jennifer Minnear Secretary secretary@amigos-tucson.org |
Ben Anhoury Treasurer treasurer@amigos-tucson.org |
Harry McDermott Medical Director |
Laura Mosier Assistant Treasurer |
Hannah Ball Recruitment Coordinator recruitment@amigos-tucson.org |
Kim Hauff Assistant Treasurer |
Abby Mogollon, Julie Diaz Letter Writing Co-Coordinators |
Susy Rotkis Parent Coordinator parent-coordinator@amigos-tucson.org |
Cindy Broderick Paperwork Coordinator paperwork@amigos-tucson.org |
Ken Sanders Transportation Coordinator |
Ivonne Ramirez Financial Aid Mentor |
Sasha Velgos Board Liaison to Training Staff |
John D’Andrea Webmaster webmaster@amigos-tucson.org |
Training Team
Nicole Parks Training Director training@amigos-tucson.org |
Jasmine Carrillo, Marlena Ruprecht Senior Staff |