Amigos de las Américas is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that was founded in 1965 and has over 40 years of experience in facilitating community development programs.

Each year, AMIGOS trains and sends about 700 high school and college students from across the country to participate in service projects in Latin America. Volunteers spend five to eight weeks in a host country in the summer to work on various youth-to-youth community development and healthy community development programs.

The mission of Amigos de las Américas is to create partnerships in order to:

• Empower young leaders;
• Promotes community development; and
• Strengthens multicultural understanding for the people of the Americas.

Vision: AMIGOS operates quality, youth-led programs throughout the Americas which improve the the health and well-being of millions. Supported by a vigorous network of Pan-American chapters and partner agencies and a sound financial base, youth from diverse backgrounds and from throughout the Americas challenge themselves and expand their world view by participating in self-directed, meaningful service with communities different from their own. By 2015, youth from throughout the Americas will see AMIGOS as the premier opportunity to make a difference in the world.

AMIGOS values:

• Leadership by youth.
• The health and safety of our volunteers and project staff.
• Respect in all of our relationships
• High quality programs developed with and relevant to the communities we serve.
• Programs that transform both youth and communities.

AMIGOS believes in the power and capability of young people to change our world!

Visit the international office for more information: amigoslink.org

--Margaret Mead