Program Reviews

I signed up to go to Costa Rica with AMIGOS after my brother had gone on an AMIGOS trip himself in 2019 to the Dominican Republic. I went alone, and while I didn't know anyone who was going on the trip with me, I was excited even though I knew that my experience would be different from my brother's due to COVID restrictions. Despite missing out on the host family part of AMIGOS that is normally a staple, I still had an amazing time on the trip. Everyone I came across, such as staff and fellow volunteers, were very friendly and approachable. I learned a lot about agriculture and how farmers adapt and work with their surroundings to make the best product possible. All in all, I felt like I grew significantly as a person thanks to my time in Costa Rica while making connections with great people and a great place.

Creating connections with international volunteers, living in eco-friendly hostels, cleaning beaches, improving leadership, visiting natural reserves, admiring Ecuador's biodiversity were any of the activities that as an AMIGOS volunteer I consider I've lived during this experience. I was one of the 15 volunteers that participated in the AMIGOS' program called La Costa here in Ecuador; what I could say about this program is that terms such as climate change and environmental conservancy were present during our trip of three weeks across the Ecuadorian coast. We lived amazing experiences visiting places surrounded by nature. We helped in the conservancy of beaches, water sources, and mangroves. I'm extremely sure that the rest of the volunteers improved their Spanish skills as I did with my English skills as a native Spanish speaker. Also, the experience was about created connections between local communities and people from this beautiful country filled with magic places and natural beauty that inspires love in everyone who visits it.

I absolutely loved this program. My Spanish improved dramatically and I had an experience unlike anything I've ever done. Living with Ecuadorians (some of whom were my age), I got to learn a ton about Ecuadorian politics, culture, and language. We lived/helped on two different farms over the course of the trip, so I got to live within really special communities. The second farm was run by 3 amazing indigenous women who participated in our discussions and taught us about their history/traditions/language (Kichwa classes were SO cool). I did this in 2021, so the program was very COVID-conscious, and all of the volunteers (American and Ecuadorian kids) lived together in a pod with a few staff members. Because we were all together, when we weren't working on the farm or climbing mountains, we got to have really deep and enlightening conversations about societal/political issues, in the US, in Ecuador, and globally - with people weighing in with perspectives from all over the US and Ecuador! Overall, this was an amazing way for me to expand my own perspective by experiencing a culture/language in a respectful, culturally-sensitive way.

I had a great time on my AMIGOS trip Nicaragua and learned so much! It was a great opportunity to learn more about other cultures, educate myself on sustainability within communities, meet new people, and practiced my Spanish. I learned so much about the history of every city we visited and the work we did around renewable energy was very engaging and educational. My only piece of feedback I would have would be around the curriculum we did as it was a bit repetitive and straight forward, and I felt I didn’t learn that much from it. However, other than that I had a great experience and made lots of friends!

This program changed my life. Spending a month in Colorado was exactly what I needed in this time of stress and uncertainty. It allowed me to disconnect from school and my life at home and bond with some incredible people in beautiful places. We learned so much in a short period of time, and we were given such an extraordinary opportunity to connect to and learn from nature. I believe my bonds with my peers and leaders will last a lifetime and I will carry my newfound knowledge with my in order to impact any community I am a part of in a positive way. I grew so much during my program in Colorado and am forever grateful for my experience.

I was in the Discover AMIGOS Costa Rica project for two weeks in 2019 when I was 14. It was really fun and Costa Rica has so much wildlife and bio diversity. We spent one week at the beach at a sea turtle sanctuary working at the nesting sites and another week in a host family and volunteering at a local school. The thing that was the most special for me was all the animals that I saw and how the people in Costa Rica really cared about the environment and protecting it. It also made me confident and curious about traveling to other countries. I recommend this program - it is a great way to meet new people and go to a different country without being a tourist. You feel like you really get to know a place even if it is just two weeks.

I really love Amigos de las Americas… I was on the trial Gap semester trip and we experienced some kinks but I’m sure that the program will be improved! The people are wonderful and I went to Costa Rica, which is a beautiful place to forget about life in the States for a little bit. I learned a lot about the CR government and quality of life, and I made memories that I will never forget! The pod (covid safe - VERY safe!) system is hard at first but it’s easy to get used to :) I highly recommend!

Spending a month living in Costa Rica through Amigos was the greatest experience of my life thus far. In 2017, I volunteered through Amigos and spent a month living in rural Costa Rica with a host family. The memories I created, conversations I shared, and connections I formed will forever impact my global perspective. No other abroad program is as immersive or powerful as Amigos. At 15, I was able to live in a foreign country, and work with community members on a community based project. I recommend Amigos to anyone that is interested in gaining a broader global perspective and challenging their outlook on life. Although at times it was difficult to be away from home and live in a new place without hot water, wifi, and other luxuries, my experience with Amigos is something that I will forever cherish and be grateful for.

I LOVED this program. The amount I learned and the relationships I made with other volunteers in unexplainable and absolutely amazing. I loved every moment that I got to spend with my new friends. I hope that you will join this program and have just an amazing time as I did.
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I went in the summer of 2019; I loved meeting new people from around the US and the world. It was hands down, one of the best experiences I've had in my life. Not only were we surrounded by amazing participants, but the staff was so supportive and encouraged us to get out of our comfort zones. My host family welcomed my Amigos partners and me with open arms and took us in as apart of their community. I loved learning more about Latinx culture, and I hope to participate in another Amigos program in the future.