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 with a host family and work on sustainable community service projects. 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 Summer Programs.

 

READY TO APPLY?

The deadline to apply to the local Peninsula Chapter of AMIGOS has passed. We are still accepting applications through our National Chapter! You can learn more about the National Chapter here.

 

CONTACT

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Peninsula Chapter at [email protected].

ABOUT

The Peninsula Chapter is a part of a 12 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Peninsula and South Bay Areas train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Our board supports volunteers with fundraising and overall preparation. Learn more about our Summer Programs here!

 

HISTORY

During Summer 2021, the Peninsula Chapter and the Silicon Valley Chapter joined together under the Peninsula Chapter banner to create a singular chapter experience for Peninsula and South Bay families. Since Peninsula’s incorporation in 1974 and Silicon Valley’s incorporation in 1985, over 1,500 youth from the Peninsula and the South Bay have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer.

 

CURRENT VOLUNTEERS

Peninsula volunteers attend schools from San Mateo to San Jose and represent schools like Gunn High School, Eastside Prep, Hillsdale High School, Woodside Priory, Palo Alto High School, and many more!

 

Chapter identity

The Peninsula Chapter seeks to embody our communities. We’ve identified the following values as central to our chapter identity: 

Partnerships. We seek to partner with local organizations and businesses for service and fundraising opportunities.

Activism. We provide opportunities for service learning in the local communities during training to help foster deeper connections to the people and places where we live.

Diversity & Inclusion. We celebrate the diversity of the Bay Area and the Peninsula and seek to embrace and foster it in our recruiting, training, and events. 

FEES & FUNDING

FEES

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

 

FUNDRAISING

All volunteers are required to take part fully in fundraising, which is an important component of the presummer training program.

The Peninsula Chapter covers AMIGOS program costs through a combination of family fee payments and fundraising activities. We also offer financial assistance (details below). A significant portion of our fundraising campaign supports families by helping to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers regardless of financial circumstances.

We fundraise as a group with a letter writing campaign. Each volunteer is required to send out a combination of 100 letters and emails to friends, family, and the larger AMIGOS community in the area to request individual taxdeductible donations. The campaign will take place between February and April 2023.

The fundraising proceeds are pooled and support the chapter with training, financial assistance, and general fee reduction. The targeted fundraising amount will vary by year, depending on the number of volunteers and the needed amount of financial assistance. The chapter provides significant support to students and families throughout the fundraising process. Please note that stamps are not covered by the chapter.

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

 

Financial assistance

It is our chapter’s mission to support every student that wants to participate in AMIGOS, regardless of family income. General guidelines are below, but we offer a range of financial assistance packages on a case-by-case basis and encourage you to apply and work with us to find a price point that works best for your family.

Family Income (AGI) Expected Family Fee
$0-49,999 $450-1,099
$50,000-99,999 $1,100-2,199
$100,000-149,999 $2,200-3,299
$150,000-199,999 $3,300-Full Family Fee

 

While this income scale represents a potential range for family fee, each financial assistance application is reviewed for special circumstances that may not be represented in family income. Our goal is to make the Amigos program as accessible as possible.

 

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

FEES

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

Summer program family fees vary by project length:

  • 3-week projects: $4,375
  • 4-week projects: $4,675
  • 6-week projects: $4,875

*Flight costs are not included. Learn more about airfare and travel support here.

 

FEES INCLUDE

  • 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.

TRAINING

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 Peninsula Chapter AMIGOS training is 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 Team and include guest speakers from the community and the Peninsula Chapter Board of Directors.

 

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

PENINSULA TRAINING CALENDAR

20-25 hours of training + 5-10 group service hours

 

Sunday, Feb 12, 5:30-7:30

Location: Los Altos Community Center, Juniper Room

97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022

Topic: Kick-off meet and greet & family orientation. Intro to fundraising.

 

Sunday, March 5, 2:00 -5:00

Location: TBD

Topic: Fundraising: Bring 100-name list and sample letter.

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! Families welcome!

Sat, Mar 11, 9:00AM-11:00AM

Beach Cleanup

Venice Beach, Half Moon Bay

Sign up HERE!

 

March 18-19 (overnight training), 3 pm -noon

Location: TBD

 

Spring break hiatus

 

Sunday, April 16, 2pm – 5pm

Location: Los Altos Community Center, Juniper Room

97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022

Topic: TBD

 

Sunday, April 30, 11-1 pm

Location: Sports Basement Redwood City Grove Space

202 Walnut St, Redwood City, CA 94063

Topic: TBD

 

Sunday, May 7,  noon – 3 final training (volunteers only)

3-4:30 – Goodbye party (with families)

Location: Los Altos Community Center, Juniper Room

97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022

Topic: TBD

 

Required online trainings (to be completed individually)

Health & Safety webinar for parents and volunteers

PIP webinar for parents and volunteers

STAFF & BOARD

STAFF

Katy Art

Training Director

[email protected]

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Keeler
Treasurer
[email protected]
Daniel Ponti
Communications/Webmaster
[email protected]
Keith Bromberg
Recruiting
[email protected]
Chris Leverenz
Events
[email protected]
Vivian Liu
Secretary
[email protected]
Robert Lerner
Fundraising
[email protected]
 

Michael Pickens
Fundraising
[email protected]

 

TESTIMONIALS