Travel News

Voluntourism Spotlight: Amigos de las Americas

Community development opens the door to improving health, eduction and the environment. In this week’s Voluntourism Spotlight, we look at an organization that develops two Panama communities. Check back every Thursday for our voluntourism spotlight and tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio to hear more of these opportunities.

Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) was founded in 1965 as a non profit- international organization for high school and college students. AMIGOS’ mission statement is to “build partnerships to empower young leaders, advance community development and strengthen multicultural understanding in the Americas.”

This summer, AMIGOS is offering two summer programs in Panama: Panama, Cocle and Panama, Guna Yala. Both of these summer programs aim to work with local youth and community members on health and environmental projects, educational activities, as well as a community-specific projects. If you wish to volunteer in Cocle, the program lasts 6 weeks from 6/26/2012 – 8/9/2012.

The summer program in Guna Yala includes similar environmental awareness activities, with an additional immersion into the Guna culture. The Guna are one of the largest indigenous groups in Panamá and were the first indigenous people to gain autonomy in the Americas. The program in Guna Yala is from 6/21/2012- 8/2/2012. The volunteer participation fee for 2012 is $4, 865, for six weeks, including airfare, food, lodging and transportation. The application deadline is April 3rd. For more information visit AMIGOS’ website.

By Tara Ekmekci for Peter Greenberg.com