Amigos de Las Americas of Silicon Valley

In the summer of 2014, Amigos da las Americas (AMIGOS) sent volunteers, including volunteers from the Santa Clara Valley Chapter to Latin America. In the 9 months leading up to the summer, we provided our volunteers (Vols) with extensive instruction in project managemnt, effective selling, and community organizing. We taught our Vols practical conversational spanish, with specific focus on cultural sensitivity. Once in-country, our Vols were assigned to rural villages where they lived with host families, often without electricity or in-door plumbing. The Vols worked with community leaders and other local aid agencies on health care, local youth empowerment, and environmental-health projects.AMIGOS is committed to recruiting teenagers from all socio-economic classes across Silicon Valley. We offer scholarships to low-income and minority volunteers and attempt to minimizw program fees for all through a series of fundraising activiities. - Our Vols sell Grapefruits and Poinsettias and solicit donations from family,friends and their community at large.- Our Board of Directors also solicit contributions and sell Grapefruit/Poinsettias to fund scholasships and magmt expenses.AMIGOS is dedicated to developing future leaders, while also delivering important community service projects locally and throughout Latin America.