HOW TO APPLY
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 and work on sustainable community service projects while living with a host family. 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 2019 Summer Programs.
READY TO START YOUR APPLICATION?
- Click here to start your application. Make sure you are applying for the Chicago North Chapter
- Complete your application and pay your $50 application fee. If you are applying for financial aid, complete the financial aid section within the application.
- Attend an Info Session.
- Complete an interview!
APPLICATION DEADLINES
December 3rd: Final Application Deadline
INFO SESSIONS
We have concluded our in-person information sessions. Please submit your application online and we will follow up with next steps including scheduling your interview.
You can view one of our online info session videos here for more information about AMIGOS.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. After attending an info session and completing your application, a Chicago North Chapter representative will contact you to set up an interview.
CONTACT
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact recruitment@amigos-chicagonorth.org.
ABOUT
The AMIGOS Chicago North Chapter is part of a 25 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Northern Chicago and surrounding areas 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. Our chapter recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and their families. Our chapter accepts volunteers September through December of the fall prior to each summer experience. During the months of January through June, Chicago North Chapter participants will take part in local training and fundraising events as they prepare for their AMIGOS experience.
Chicago North VOLUNTEERS ATTEND:
Deerfield • Evanston Township • Glenbrook North • Glenbrook South • Hinsdale Central • Libertyville • Mother McAuley Liberal Arts • New Trier • North Shore Country • Prospect • Stevenson
FEES & FUNDING
The Chicago North Chapter of AMIGOS covers program costs through a combination of family payments and fundraising activities. These include a letter-writing annual fund appeal to friends and family, and a spring fundraiser. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all participants without regard to family financial circumstances. 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 participant is required to send out a combination of letters and emails to friends and family, with a minimum of 125 letters/emails being sent out, to request individual tax-deductible donations (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the participant with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process.
Silent Auction
The Chicago North Chapter will team up with the Chicago Urban Chapter for a joint silent auction on Saturday March 10th at the Mexican history museum.
Additional funding opportunities
All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS will receive a credit of $500 towards their family fee and qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. More info here. Apply by Nov. 5th!
Do you qualify for financial aid? If so then we highly encourage you to apply for the AMIGOS Young Leaders Award here by November 12th.
FEES
Application Fee: $50 (Waived if you apply by November 5th)
Family Fee: $4,250 (payment plan options available)
Group fundraising participation required
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
- Participants pay their family fees beginning in December. The fee must be paid by April 15, 2019.
- Fees can be paid online or by mail.
- Payment plans are available.
FINANCIAL AID
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of participants from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS provides need-based financial assistance with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents and special financial circumstances. We provide amounts of $500-$1,500 to qualified applicants as deductions on the family fee. Financial assistance applications are due on November 12th. Please contact the Chicago North Chapter Treasurer for additional information. In addition, participants who are returning for an additional summer receive a $500 discount.
FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE
November 12th
TRAINING
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
With 50 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips participants with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. The Chicago North Chapter AMIGOS training is youth-led, experiential learning that prepares participants for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help participants succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by the Training Team, Chicago North Chapter Board of Directors and guest speakers from the 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
Sunday, January 13th
12:00-4:00p
Sunday, February 10th
10:00a-4:00p
Sunday, March 3rd
10:00a-3:00p
Sunday, April 7th
10:00a-4:00p
Sunday, May 5th
10:00a-4:00p
Sunday, May 19th
1:00-4:00p
All trainings will be held at:
North Shore Country Day School
310 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
More information about the Board and Training Team can be found by clicking on each name.
| Jeff Singleton President President@amigos-chicagonorth.org | Doug Graham Treasurer treasurer@amigos-chicagonorth.org | Kay Wilson Letter-Writing Coordinator |
| Lauren Antosz Recruitment Coordinator Recruitment@amigos-chicagonorth.org | Metz Correa Recruitment Coordinator recruitment@amigos-chicagonorth.org | Tanja Chevalier Parent Coordinator Parent Coordinator@amigos-chicagonorth.org |
Training Team
| Hollyn Cetrone Training Director Training@amigos-chicagonorth.org | Amanda Holme Assistant Training Director AssistantTD@amigos-chicagonorth.org | Chapin Low Assistant Training Director AssistantTD@amigos-chicagonorth.org |