HOW TO APPLY
How to apply:
We are excited to announce that AMIGOS will be offering in-person projects in Latin America and the United States during Summer 2021! Check out our summer projects here!
If you were a volunteer in 2020, we invite you to complete your application here. Once you complete your application, we will connect you directly to your Local Chapter with next steps! All fees, fundraising, and financial assistance from 2020 will carry over to this year, and your price from 2020 is locked in!
If you are a new volunteer who was not signed up for an AMIGOS program in 2020, you will be applying through our National Chapter. Once you complete your application, you will receive an email from our Admissions team outlining next steps! Learn more about the National Chapter here.
ABOUT
The AMIGOS Kansas 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 Greater Kansas City Metro 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. Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, any new volunteers from the Kansas City area applying to 2021 programs should apply through the AMIGOS National Chapter.
Kansas City Volunteers Attend:
Bishop Miege • Blue Valley • Blue Valley North • Colorado College • Cornell College • Lincoln College Prep • Pembroke • Rockhurst • Shawnee Mission East • Shawnee Mission North • Shawnee Mission South • St. Theresa’s Academy • The Barstow School
FEES & FUNDING
The Kansas City Chapter covers AMIGOS program costs through a combination of family payments and fundraising activities. This approach allows us to keep costs to families low while teaching valuable fundraising and community outreach skills. All volunteers 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 volunteer is required to send out a combination of letters and emails to friends, family and supporters to request individual tax-deductible donations (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the volunteer with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process.
FEES
If you were signed up for our 2020 Summer Immersion programs, all fees, fundraising, and financial assistance from 2020 will carry over this year, and your price from 2020 is locked in!
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
For any family reapplying from Summer 2020, Family financial agreements will need to be to be resigned. Reach out to your Local Chapter for specifics about your financial agreement this year.
If you were not signed up for amigos in 2020, click here to see our 2021 programs!
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS provides need-based financial assistance with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents and special financial circumstances. We provide funds to qualified applicants as deductions on the family fee, with a maximum assistance of 75%. The Financial Assistance Application deadline has passed.
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 Kansas City Chapter AMIGOS training is youth-led, 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 Kansas City Chapter Board of Directors..
SERVICE LEARNING
The Kansas City 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. Volunteers will self identify and propose a “community based initiative” or CBI to serve the local area. Projects have ranged from tutoring, establishing a dance camp, setting up a blood drive, clean-up events or a special event held for a children’s home. Volunteers are able to learn the challenges of setting up a CBI while giving back to the local community.
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
TRAINING CALENDAR
Pre–departure training for 2021 programs will be done through a combination of mandatory online modules and optional webinars. Training will also take place in country upon arrival. Once you apply, we will reach out with more information on the pre-departure training timeline and expectations.
Your Local Chapter may offer additional local opportunities to connect virtually with AMIGOS in your area. If you have questions about this, please reach out to chapters@amigosinternational.org.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kent Erickson President President@amigos-kansascity.org 913-526-7396 |
Tricia Wilson Treasurer Treasurer@amigos-kansascity.org |
Lisa Erickson Vice President 913-269-5206 |
Kent Lage Secretary |
Carol Swezy Recruitment Coordinator Recruitment@amigos-kansascity.org 913-522-8891 |
Laura Mombello Paperwork Coordinator paperwork@amigos-kansascity.org 913-579-8676 |
Sheila Dougherty Co-Fundraising Coordinator fundraising@amigos-kansascity.org |
Nacona Ward Co-Fundraising Coordinator fundraising@amigos-kansascity.org |
Becca Wing-Moreno Training Coordinator training@amigos-kansascity.org |
Rachel Swezy Webmaster |
Molly Manske Service Learning |
Kathleen Coode Member-at-Large, Financial Assistance |
Eric Wilson Member-at-Large, Asst. Treasurer |