Specifics

Amigos de las Américas is an international, volunteer based, non-profit, organization that sends high school and college students on summer service learning projects to Latin America. Portland's chapter, one of many throughout the United States, has been in existence since 1983. Several hundred young people from the Portland area have participated in the program since its creation. Countries served include Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
	Teams made up of two or three AMIGOS partners work in close collaboration with community members on projects such as: Community health and education: child wellness, dental hygiene and disease prevention through educational day camps, construction of latrines and other home health improvements. Environment: community gardens, fuel-efficient stove construction and reforestation. Community-building: libraries, mural painting and other activities identified by local communities.
Volunteers live with host families in communities ranging from very rural to more urban. They are supervised and supported by Amigos staff members and by officials of the specific country partner agencies. More specific information can be found at www.amigoslink.org. Students apply to and are selected at the local community chapter level in the fall, participate in training provided by the local chapter from November through May, and participate in 4-8 week projects in Latin America during the summer.