Common Questions

1. When will I know my country and project assignment?

Assignments will be made beginning the first of February provided the complete application has been submitted. Project changes, although rare, would be made in response to a change in current events or a change in an airline schedule. All programs will occur between mid-June and mid-August.

2. Will I be sure to live with a family?

It is AMIGOS policy to house every volunteer with a family. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the International Office. This past summer less than 1% of the volunteers were housed in either a local clinic, school, church or community center. The field staff will have visited your community to determine your eating and living arrangements. Any problems with lodging or food should be reported to the field staff.

3. How are volunteer partnerships made?

AMIGOS has established certain standards for the placement of volunteers in order to insure that everyone is placed in situations which are culturally appropriate and safe (i.e. no male/female housing partners). These guidelines have been established by the Board of Directors and have been explained to the field staff. AMIGOS expects these guidelines to be adhered to in every situation.

4. Why do you need both parents' signatures? My parents are divorced and I am not in contact with my non-custodial parent.

AMIGOS requires signatures of both parents because many Latin American countries require a parental release for minors. The parent with custody, however, can sign and attach a copy of the custody agreement in lieu of the second signature.

5. Exactly what documents do parents need to sign?

Parents of volunteers under 21 must sign the following forms: Agreement and Release for Participants, Parent Permission to Travel, Acknowledgment of Standards of Personal Conduct and Community Behavior, and the Insurance Coverage Form.

6. What kind of training does AMIGOS provide the volunteers?

The AMIGOS training program offers hands-on experience to learn and develop a variety of skills. Through chapter training groups, the correspondent training program and in-country briefing volunteers learn and practice the human relations, cross-cultural, leadership and technical skills they will need for their project.

7. Can AMIGOS volunteers receive school credit?

Many volunteers do arrange to receive school credit for their participation. In some high schools, credit is built into the curriculum. Ask your chapter leaders and guidance counselor. For college students, AMIGOS can be structured to be an independent studies course. Talk to professors in the Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Studies, political science, anthropology or geography departments. If you still need assistance, contact the International Office. Credit must be pre-arranged in all cases.

8. Is the food and water in Latin America safe? How can I be sure I will not get sick?

During training you will learn how to protect yourself from more harmful conditions by eating cooked foods and freshly peeled fruits and vegetables. Water is one of the culprits that can cause diarrhea and gastro-intestinal illness. Volunteers should boil their water or take water purification tablets with them. Volunteers can also drink bottled water or soft drinks. Most volunteers do get diarrhea sometime during the summer.

9. Aren't the health care facilities in Latin America rudimentary? What kind of health care would I receive if I get sick?

Health care facilities in Latin America range from clinics staffed by our equivalent of residents to hospitals fully staffed with a full range of specialists. The field staff has made arrangements for volunteer health care. Volunteers carry an emergency card with instructions about how to seek medical care. The AMIGOS Medical Director reviews the treatment and medication given to volunteers.

10. What will happen if something serious happens to my child in the field? Can I get to my child? How long would it take to get her back to the U.S.?

That depends on the situation and seriousness of the problem. AMIGOS may take volunteers from their communities immediately by private car, ambulance or even helicopter to a major hospital. Volunteer may receive immediate treatment from the doctor in the local clinic. The field staff, the local doctor and the AMIGOS Medical Director determine what is best for the volunteer. Parents will be informed as soon as possible. Hermann Hospital in Houston makes available to AMIGOS and Latin American doctors their LifeLine, a direct phone connection between doctors, and LifeFlight, a medically equipped air ambulance that can leave within one hour to any part of Latin America.

11. How can I be sure my child is safe when I've been hearing so much about governmental problems in Latin America?

AMIGOS places first priority on the safety of the volunteers. Work areas are confirmed in the early fall of each program year. Each area is monitored before and during the summer for overall safety of the conditions. In addition, volunteers are given a step-by-step plan in case of day to day crisis, natural disasters or political upheaval. This information is on an emergency card that they carry with them. International Trustees in the host countries keep the International Office in Houston abreast of possible problems. Programs will be changed or canceled at any time if the safety of the volunteers is in question.

12. What do I pack?

What you pack will depend on where you are assigned. Packing suggestions can be found in Chapter IV of the Volunteer Handbook and in the Volunteer Country Materials.

13. I graduate the day of departure and am very independent. Can I arrive just one day late?

No. All volunteers assigned to the same project must travel to and from Latin America together. Often the volunteers must travel to remote sites for in-country briefing. The staff can not wait for stragglers. A variety of program lengths and starting dates can accommodate different schedules.

14. After the project is over, can I stay in Latin America and travel?

If you are at least 21, AMIGOS may release you after the field project provided you have completed the appropriate forms. If you are under 21, AMIGOS will only release you in-country into the custody of your parent or legal guardian..

15. How do I communicate with my child during the summer?

Phone communication may not always be an option, particularly in rural communities. A summer mailing address will be provided to each volunteer prior to their departure. Depending on assignment, mail can take anywhere between 1-3 weeks to arrive. Therefore, parents and friends are encouraged to begin writing letters prior to volunteer departure. Remember that no news is good news. Families will be contacted if there is an emergency. If there is a family emergency and parents urgently need to reach their son/daughter in the field, please call the International Office, who can relay a message to field staff who will assist the volunteer in calling home.

16. Why does AMIGOS work in Latin America when there is so much need in the U.S.?

Although promoting improved public health in Latin America is an important aspect of the AMIGOS program, it is only one part of the organization's mission. Along with health services, AMIGOS is committed to providing opportunities for leadership development and cross-cultural understanding in the Americas. Living in another culture and using another language provides opportunities for personal growth. The volunteers bring back to their home communities increased self-confidence and caring attitudes that are reflected in community activities for the rest of their lives.

17. Where does the money go?

Approximately 80% of each dollar raised by the organization goes directly to cover the cost of the program. Program expenses include training materials, support for the volunteers, scholarships, international travel and supplies such as vaccine and cement.

While food and lodging for the volunteers in Latin America are contributed by the host communities, the cost of the support provided by the AMIGOS field staff is covered by the organization. The other 20% covers overhead costs of the organization such as insurance, telephone and office costs.

18. Who runs the organization?

AMIGOS is governed by an International Board of Directors with day to day activities coordinated by the International Office staff in Houston. With the exception of the small, full-time, professional staff, all AMIGOS personnel are volunteers. AMIGOS was founded in 1965. Over the past three decades, more than 18,000 volunteers have performed over 11 million health services. AMIGOS meets the criteria for exchange programs set by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. AMIGOS also has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Pan American Health Organization and is a member of the Independent Sector, InterAction, and the National Council on International Health.

19. My friend and I are studying together. Could we be assigned together?

No. One of the many facets of the program is having the opportunity to meet and work with people from diverse backgrounds. This represents another dimension of the learning opportunities in AMIGOS.

20. Will an AMIGOS representative meet my child when he/she arrives to his/her assigned country? How will my child know what to do?

Upon arrival in the country of assignment all volunteers are met by the field staff. They are taken to a predetermined site for two or three days of orientation to the country and additional technical training before going with their partners to the community where they will work.

21. Are all assignments rural?

AMIGOS works with host organizations to assess local health needs and the capabilities of the volunteers. According to this assessment, AMIGOS volunteers are placed in primarily rural areas, but also in urban and semi-urban communities.

22. Is there insurance protection for my child in case of illness?

While in the field, AMIGOS pays for minor medical expenses, up to $100 total (i.e. doctor visits & medication). In case of greater expenses, AMIGOS will pay immediate medical costs and then will seek reimbursement from the family. Volunteers are required to be covered by their own health insurance during the training and field program. AMIGOS provides information on obtaining additional insurance coverage.

23. Is sexual assault a problem in the field? How does AMIGOS deal with the issue of sexual assault?

Statistically, volunteers are at a greater risk of being assaulted on a college campus than while in their community in the field. However, just as in the United States, sexual assault does occur in Latin America. AMIGOS views sexual assault as a serious issue which requires immediate and unequivocal support from the organization. Volunteers participate in personal health/safety training, including sexual assault awareness, prior to departure. This training provides life-long skills in assault awareness and prevention. In addition, AMIGOS provides 24 hour on-call support to all field staffs. The on-call support includes an International Office staff member , the AMIGOS Medical Director, a rape crisis counselor and an adolescent psychiatrist. In the event of a sexual assault, AMIGOS has and will continue to provide its maximum support.