AMIGOS DE LAS AMERICAS
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I was a volunteer for Amigos in the summer of 2010. I was sent to Azuero, Panama where I had the most incredible, perfect summer of my life. For 8 weeks, I lived and served in a small community that changed my life. I came back a better person and stronger woman, with a zest for life that can never be tainted. Through Amigos, I've met the people I want standing next to me at my wedding- lifelong friends that I couldn't bear to lose. I continue my involvement with the organization by training new vols for their summers abroad.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My daily life. I see time as Pre-Amigos and Post-Amigos
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
There are no changes I would make. It's perfect
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
No changes.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Yes. I made lifelong friends and gained a new family.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
Fulfilled.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
I was so blessed to be a volunteer with AMIGOS. At 16 I became empowered to work with others and to this day the leadership and collaboration skills I learned from my six week immersion are still helping me in school and in the workplace. Not to mention, AMIGOS is like no other program in that you are living with a host family in a community that becomes your own, and you remain an honorary member of that community to the community members after you leave. I have never met such loving or joyful people in my life, the people you come to work alongside with are so hospitable and thankful despite the very little they have. This truly enabled me to put my life in perspective, and at 16 it matured me in ways that my friends who did not do AMIGOS didn't really understand. AMIGOS will always hold a special place in my heart and I will always continue to support such a unique, hands-on organization.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my school life, my personal life and my professional life. The skills I have attained from participating in AMIGOS has truly developed me as a person and a leader.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make the programs count for community service credit in universities and high schools. Amigos is losing a lot of potential volunteers who are doing other programs because students are very worried about fulfilling prerequisites to graduate.
I was a volunteer with AMIGOS the summer going into my senior year of high school. I had known a handful of other kids who had done it before me, so I thought I knew what I was getting myself into- but the experience I had was far and beyond what I expected. I thought I would spend a summer doing good community service work and getting to know a different country. In reality, I spent the shortest 6 weeks of my life making a new home and new family and new friends. The work we did was great, but more than that the experiences I had with other volunteers, my host family, my counterparts, everyone in community has impacted my life in more ways than I can explain. The experience of being welcomed into another community with such open arms, and learning how they lived has made me a much better person, and has helped me to manage the crazy life I lead in the US. On top of that, the chance to be such an independent leader and indepenent person has also changed me for the better. I hope to always be a part of the AMIGOS community so that I can keep giving back to a program that I can never give enough thanks too.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
every part of my life. I am a better leader, more independent and more outgoing because of being given such responsibility. I am more aware of the world around me because of being a part of a different culture. I am more excited about the world, and more curious to go explore it.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Work better with local agencies and local youth to get EVEN MORE involvement from local sources. In my experience the local children were very excited, but the local youth were a little less excited, and they are the ones who can immediately continue the work when the volunteers leave.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate as an Amigos volunteer when I was in high school. The lessons I learned were invaluable. I continue to this day, 20 years later, to contemplate and apply the process of learning about myself, leadership, and community development in my job as a public school teacher today. I highly recommend getting involved with Amigos de las Americas. It is an honor to be part of an organization with a legacy of helping to make the world a better place.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
increased courage, flexibility, and compassion, and open-mindedness toward other cultures.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
1) make the summer experience longer ( I was in the field for six weeks, and I would have liked to have spent twice as long to be able to spend more of the summer there) 2) create a service learning course to provide college credit for the experience (On my own, I received credit for Intercultural Communication by documenting my expereince for an Individualized Learning course at Regis University)
I have been involved with AMIGOS since 2002. I was a volunteer in 2003 in Nicaragua and had an amazing experience that has continued to impact my personal and professional goals as well as how I view my role as a global citizen. I returned to AMIGOS in 2005 as a supervisor and was so impressed with the training and support that AMIGOS provides to its project staff to allow us to successfully carry out our projects with 700-800 volunteers in Latin America each summer. I have also been working with one of the chapter's Board of Directors for two years and continue to be amazed at the time and energy everyone puts into selecting outstanding volunteers and ensuring they are prepared to be great leaders, learners, and volunteers in their host communities.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
AMIGOS helped me fully hone my leadership skills. No challenge is too great and AMIGOS encourages its volunteers to learn how to collaborate and bring people together to achieve successful project execution. I am now fluent in Spanish which has been great in my career. I also know that I have a huge community of friends and contacts who will always try to look out for each other.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Look for more long-term grants and funding sources. It is always difficult to have to worry about funding and the fear of not having enough resources to carry out all of our initiatives.
AMIGOS was a life changing experience for me and I was lucky to have been a Volunteer with AMIGOS in Honduras when I was 16 years old.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I grew so much from my AMIGOS experience.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I wouldn't change anything. AMIGOS has great programs.
AMIGOS is a first class non-profit. Their experiential learning programs are genuinely life changing.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
AMIGOS contributed significantly to my leadership development in High School and College.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
enable them to bring young volunteers from Latin America to the United States for leadership training, internships, and cultural exchange.
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