We're looking for volunteers for summer 2009!

High school presentations will begin in September. We'll be at Christian Brothers, St. Francis, Davis, and Granite Bay. (Look for us!)

If you'd like us to come to your school, don't hesitate to send us an email!! :)

Orientations will begin in late September. Make sure you attend one if you're interested!

We'd love to hear from any potential volunteers and answer your questions!

The chapter was featured on the Capital Public Radio show, Insight (90.9 FM) with Jeffrey Callison on August 19th. Todd Simmons (Senior Project Supervisor and Chapter Training Director), Erin Riley (Veteran Volunteer and Chapter Trainer), and Jared Johnson (Volunteer) returned to the show to be interviewed about their experiences this past summer and about what's to come for the Sacramento-Davis Chapter of Amigos. Click here and then click "Listen to Archive" to hear the interview! Amigos' segment starts about halfway through.

The chapter was first interviewed on Insight in May prior to the departure of the volunteers to talk about the volunteer role during the school year and past summer experiences. To listen to that show please click here and go to "Listen to Archive". (The Amigos part starts about halfway in.)

For more than 40 years, Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) has conducted programs that send high school and college students on service/immersion projects in Latin America.

Every year a select group of volunteers spends six to eight weeks in a host country, working on projects that advance public health, build youth leadership and advance multicultural understanding. Countries where volunteers will live and work in the summer of 2008 include Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Paraguay.

In the eight months before departure, volunteers participate in training activities with their chapters. Training prepares volunteers in cross-cultural sensitivity, personal health & safety, and the culture of Latin America, as well as technical skills like planning and implementing projects with their host community. The chapter also works together to raise funds to cover the volunteers' summer expenses. In June and July, our chapter volunteers travel to their assigned countries. Once in country, they join with volunteers from other chapters throughout the United States. Volunteers are then placed with either one or two partners, in communities to live with families for the summer.

Life-long bonds have been built between volunteers and their adopted communities. Through AMIGOS, thousands of young people have learned invaluable lessons about cultural differences, community service, and their own ability to lead.