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 2019 Summer Programs.
READY TO START YOUR APPLICATION?
- Click here to start your application. Make sure you are applying for the New York City Chapter
- Complete your application and pay your $50 application fee. If you are applying for financial aid, complete the financial aid section within the application.
- Attend an Info Session.
- Complete an interview!
Application Deadlines
November 5th: Financial Aid Application Deadline
December 3rd: Final Application Deadline
Info Sessions
Please attend one of our online info sessions. Be sure to watch the Info Session titled “Summer Program.” Once you watch this, please fill out this form and we will contact you with more information.
Interviews
Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. After attending and online info session and completing your application, a New York City Chapter representative will contact you to set up an interview.
Contact
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact recruiting@amigosnyc.org.
ABOUT
The AMIGOS New York City Chapter is part of a 25 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Tristate 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 recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS participants and their families from the Tri-State Area. Our chapter accepts participants September through December of the fall prior to each summer experience. During the months of January through June, New York City Chapter participants will take part in local training and fundraising events as they prepare for their AMIGOS experience.
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The New York City Chapter of Amigos de las Américas is currently looking to fill volunteer board member positions. If you’re looking to join a wonderful organization that is dedicated to provided leadership opportunities to youth in the New York City area please feel free to browse these descriptions and contact president@amigosnyc.org to share your interest or request additional information.
NYC Volunteers Attend:
Bard High School Early College • Bayside • Bergen County Academies • Bronx High School of Science • Brooklyn Technical • Convent of the Sacred Heart • Edgemont • Ethical Culture Fieldston • Fairfield Ludlowe • Hackley • Hopkins • Horace Greeley • Hunter College • Millburn • Newark Academy • Talent Unlimited •Tenafly • The Berkeley Carroll School • The Brearley School • The Chapin School • The Dalton School • The Dwight School • The Trinity School • United Nations International School • Valley Stream North • Warren Hills Regional
FUNDRAISING
The New York City Chapter of AMIGOS covers program costs through a combination of family payments and fundraising activities. These include a letter-writing annual fund appeal to friends and family, and a spring fundraiser. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all participants without regard to family financial circumstances. All participants 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.
LETTER WRITING/DONOR CONTACTS
Each participant is required to send out a combination of 100 letters and 100 emails to friends and family, to request individual tax-deductible donations (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the participant with considerable help provided by the chapter during the proicess.
Spring Fundraiser
Each family is expected to donate a silent auction item to the Spring Fundraiser and to purchase two (2) tickets.The event format consists of a silent auction featuring approximately 40 items, followed by a live auction of higher valued items masterfully conducted by Jan Nolte, formerly of Christieʼs and parent to an AMIGOS alumna. For more information about the auction contact auction@amigosnyc.org.
Fees
Application Fee: $50
Family Fee: $4,250 (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 15, 2018. The fee must be paid by April 15, 2019.
- Fees can be paid online or by mail.
- Payment plans are available.
FINANCIAL AID
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of participants 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 TBA to qualified applicants as deductions on the family fee. Financial assistance applications are due on November 5th. Please contact info@amigosnyc.org for additional information. In addition, volunteers who are returning for an additional summer receive a $500 discount.
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 participants with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. The New York City Chapter AMIGOS training is youth-led, experiential learning that prepares participants for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help participants succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by Ana Grammatica, the New York City Chapter Training Director.
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:
- Five Sunday trainings
- Two overnight retreats
- Four online assessments to determine readiness for the summer
TRAINING CALENDAR
Sunday, January 27th
10:00a – 3:00p
Volunteer Training 1
10:00 – 12:00p
Parent Training 1
Friday, February 8th – Sunday, February 10th
8:00p – 2:00p
Retreat
Sunday, March 3rd
10:00a – 3:00p
Volunteer Training 3
Saturday, March 16th
10:00 – 12:00p
Virtual Check-in
Sunday, April 7
10:00a – 3:00p
Volunteer Training 4
10:00 – 12:00p
Parent Training 2
Sunday, April 21st
10:00a – 3:00p
Volunteer Training 5
Sunday, May 12th
10:00a – 1:00p
Volunteer Despedida (Send Off Party)
10:00a – 12:00p
Parent Training 3
All trainings will be held at:
232 East 11th Street, NY, NY 10003
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steven Funk
President
Breanna Steggell
Recruitment Coordinator
Sophie Pauze
Recruitment Chair
Members at Large
Caroline Yoder
Alice Wong
Beth Pierson
Amrita Singh
Art Palmer
Sandra Markovic
MEDIA
