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INFORMATION SESSIONS
Learn more about participation in AMIGOS Summer Programs in Latin America through the Kansas City Chapter at one of our information sessions! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Amigos KC Info Session
When: Jan 6, 2026 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
READY TO APPLY?
- Explore our website. Check out our programs and review our admissions requirements.
- Learn more about the Kansas City Chapter activities by exploring the tabs of this webpage!
- 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
January 21, 2026 is the Final Application Deadline to join the Kansas City Chapter.
Missed the local chapter deadline? You can still join us for summer 2026 through the National Chapter! Learn more about how you can complete training virtually by contacting [email protected].
Interviews
The Kansas City Chapter will reach out to schedule a family interview online via Zoom. At least one parent or guardian is required to attend, and the interview lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
BENEFITS OF JOINING THE KC CHapter
- In-person training in the spring
- Cost lowered through group fundraising
- Need-based financial assistance available
- Join a community of Kansas City youth!
- Receive support from dedicated board members and past volunteers
CONTACT
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact [email protected].
ABOUT
The AMIGOS Kansas City Chapter is part of a 9 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 and families with group fundraising, service learning, community building, and overall preparation. Learn more about our Summer Programs here!
HISTORY
Since the Kansas City Chapter’s incorporation in 1972, over 500 youth from Kansas City and its suburbs have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer.
CURRENT VOLUNTEERS
Kansas City Chapter 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, and many more!
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS Kansas City provides need-based financial assistance with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents, and special financial circumstances.
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”.
Applicants applying for financial assistance may request a temporary waiver of the $75 non-refundable application fee. The waiver is temporary while the chapter reviews the financial assistance application and determines an award offer (if any). If the volunteer and family accept the offer to join AMIGOS, they will then be required to pay the $75 non-refundable application fee.
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.
- Alumni and parents of alumni can earn discounts or cash payments for referring the next cohort of AMIGOS volunteers! Learn more about our Alumni Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.
RESOURCES:
- All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award.
- To learn more about program fees, check out the Fees and Financial Assistance webpage.
CONTACT:
- Please reach out to the AMIGOS Kansas City Treasurer with any questions regarding financial assistance via email at [email protected].
TRAINING
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
With over 60 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
- Health and safety training
- Opportunities to practice Spanish
- Creating a community of young people with shared values
TRAINING CALENDAR
The Kansas City Chapter is finalizing the 2025-2026 winter and spring training calendar. Training sessions will likely include four 2.5 hour sessions, each occurring on a weekend over the course of four months.
FUNDRAISING
GROUP FUNDRAISING
The Kansas City Chapter provides chapter discounts, offers financial assistance, and covers local program costs through fundraising activities. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances.
Fundraising skills are an important component of AMIGOS training program and raise awareness of AMIGOS programs in the community. Volunteers receive considerable help with regard to fundraising strategies, and the experience gained in this effort will build important skills!
LETTER WRITING/DONOR CONTACTS
Each volunteer is required to send out a combination of letters and emails to friends and family, and contact a limited number of prior AMIGOS donors via telephone, to request individual tax-deductible donations (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the student with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process.
To see some of our fundraising efforts from last year, check out our Summer 2025 CauseVox Campaign here.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kathleen Coode
President
[email protected]
Kent Erickson
Treasurer and Past President
[email protected]
Jordan Holsinger
Vice President and Co-Training Director
Taylor Harris
Secretary and Co-Training Director
[email protected]
Olivia Riscovallez
Parent Outreach
Mary Wilkinson
Fundraising Coordinator
Kim van Maren
Recruitment / Outreach Coordinator
Molly Manske
At-Large
Bret Kirkman
At-Large