HOW TO JOIN

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?
  1. Explore our website. Check out our programs and review our admissions requirements.
  2. Learn more about the chapter path! Click around on the tabs above to learn more about our chapter’s history, funding and financial assistance, and local training.
  3. Submit your application (it should take around 30 minutes or less) and pay the $75 application fee to hold your spot. Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at [email protected].

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES
  • December 5, 2023 is the priority application and financial assistance deadline.
  • January 16, 2024 is the final chapter deadline.

 

INFORMATION SESSIONS

The Portland Chapter will host in-person information sessions:

  • Session 1 on Wednesday, October 25 from 7-8PM Pacific at Grover Cleveland High School, Library (Room #275)
  • Session 2 on Thursday, November 30 from 7-8PM Pacific at Ida B Wells High School Library  CANCELLED DUE TO PPS TEACHERS’ STRIKE
  • Virtual Session on Thursday, November 30 from 7-8PM Pacific

If you can’t make the scheduled info sessions, please watch the recording below.


To learn more about project specifics, please attend one of our HQ led online information sessions or schedule a 1:1 counseling call!

 

INTERVIEWS

The Portland Chapter will host virtual interviews. Applicants and parents/guardians will sign up for a time slot on a rolling basis. Interviews will take place between the following dates: November 1-17 and 27-30, December 1-17, and January 1-31.

 

CONTACT

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

ABOUT

The AMIGOS Portland Chapter is part of a 10 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Pacific Northwest/Portland, Oregon area train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America.  Our board supports volunteers and families with group fundraising, service learning, community building, and overall preparation. Learn more about our Summer Programs here!

 

HISTORY

Since the Portland Chapter’s incorporation in 1997, over 500 youth from Portland and its suburbs have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer.

 

CURRENT VOLUNTEERS

Portland Chapter volunteers attend Abiqua School, Churchill, Cleveland, De La Salle, Franklin, Grant, Lake Oswego, Lincoln, Milwaukie, North Clackamas, Oregon Episcopal, Riverdale, Roosevelt, Southridge, St. Mary’s, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilson, and many more!

 

TESTIMONIALS

CLICK HERE to see photos from 2019!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS Portland provides need-based financial assistance (FA) with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents, and special financial circumstances.

The Portland Chapter has $15,000 of FA for families who qualify. The chapter has assisted with up to 85% of the cost of the family fee plus airfare in prior years. Priority for FA will be given to families with adjusted gross incomes of $160,000 per year or less. Families that earn more than this amount will be considered for FA if there are extenuating circumstances. Applications for FA should be completed on the AMIGOS website.
  • Priority Deadline: December 5, 2023 (for 1st round of awards/best chance for getting FA)
  • Final Deadline: January 16, 2024
The chapter will waive the $75 application fee for financial assistance applicants. On the application, students should select “Yes” that they intend to apply for financial assistance. Students must select “Yes” to this question in order for the Financial Assistance Application to appear on their dashboard. Then, at the end of the application, they should select, “I request a waiver”.

 

ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. We highly encourage you to apply for financial assistance.

RESOURCES:
CONTACT:
  • Please reach out to Linda Ganzini, Portland FA Coordinator, via email at [email protected] with any questions about financial assistance.

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 Portland 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 Portland Chapter Board of Directors.

 

SERVICE LEARNING

The Portland Chapter incorporates service learning into the AMIGOS training to add depth and first-hand experience to the curriculum. Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDE:
  • Unparalleled leadership development
  • Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
  • Health and safety training
  • Opportunities to practice Spanish
  • Creating a community of young people with shared values
TRAINING CALENDAR

Feb 4, 2024, 12:30-5:30PM: Orientation

Feb 10, 2024, 9:00AM-4:00PM: Training

Mar 3, 2024, 2:00-5:00PM: Letters Party (fundraising activity)

April 13, 2024, time TBA: Community Service at NEFP

May 18-19, 2024 (Sat 10:00AM-Sun 4:00PM): Retreat at Chrysalis Farms

June 2, 2024, 4:00-6:00PM: Departure Party

FUNDRAISING

GROUP FUNDRAISING

The Portland Chapter offers significant reductions in program fees through letter writing to donor contacts (February-March). We chose this activity to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances. The individual fundraising goal is approximately $3,000 to cover fee reductions and chapter expenses.

All volunteers are required to fully take part in letter writing, as fundraising skills are an important component of the AMIGOS training program. Fundraising also raises awareness of AMIGOS programs in the Portland community. Detailed financial information, including fundraising and financial assistance are discussed at our Information Sessions and then again more completely at Candidate and Parent Interviews.

LETTER WRITING/DONOR CONTACTS

Each volunteer is required to send out 100 letters to friends, family and other contacts, requesting individual tax-deductible donations to the chapter (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the volunteer with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process.

To see some of our fundraising efforts from last year, check out our Summer 2023 CauseVox Campaign here.

Please note that airfare is not included in the Fee for Portland Chapter volunteers. Airfare estimates can be found here.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jennifer Schmidt
Co-President
[email protected]

Jeff Spalding
Co-President/Assistant Treasurer/Fundraising (Grapefruit)

Eric Hill
Treasurer

Peggy Bartelt
Secretary

Linda Ganzini
Fundraising (Letters)/Financial Aid

David Pribnow
Paperwork/Workspace

Alysha Catalano
Community Events/Financial Aid

Riley Stevenson
Recruitment/Newsletter

Jackie Wallace
Training Support

Recruitment and Training Team

Elena Volchok
Outreach Coordinator
[email protected]

Susan Douglass
Training Director
[email protected]