HOW TO JOIN

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 with a host family and work on sustainable community service projects. 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 Summer Programs.

 

READY TO APPLY?
  1. Explore our website. Check out our programs and review our admissions requirements.
  2. Learn more about the National Chapter path! Volunteers from the Washington DC metropolitan area, including DC, Virginia, and Maryland should select “National Chapter” on the application. While there is no longer a formal DC Chapter, there is a strong alumni and supporters network that supports AMIGOS as the DC Community. You have the option to join DC AMIGOS Community activities taking place throughout the spring.
  3. Attend an HQ-led online information session.
  4. Submit your application (it should take around 30 minutes or less) and pay the $75 application fee to hold your spot. Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at [email protected].

 

Application Deadlines

AMIGOS DC Community activities will start in February, so we highly encourage you to complete your application before February 15, 2026. Please note that final application deadlines depend on the project, and some close as early as May.

 

Information sessions

Zoe Paglee and Guthrie Fitzsimmons-Graves recorded a short informational video. This meeting reviews basic program information and highlights the DC AMIGOS Community. We encourage all applicants and families to watch it.

 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

The DC Community is finalizing their activities calendar. Volunteers in the DMV area are invited to participate in group meetings throughout the spring where attendance is highly encouraged. Please save the date for the Kick-Off meeting on February 22, 2026. In addition, there will be two retreats taking place on February 28-March 1 and April 11-12.

 

CONTACT

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Zoe Paglee, DC Community Coordinator, via [email protected].

ABOUT

The Washington, DC AMIGOS Community recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local area. Volunteers from the Washington DC metropolitan area, including DC, Virginia, and Maryland train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Group leadership supports volunteers and families with training, service learning, community building, and overall preparation. Learn more about our Summer Programs here!

 

History

The Washington DC Chapter was incorporation in 1993, and over 900 youth from the Washington, DC metropolitan area and its suburbs volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer. During Fall 2025, the Washington, DC Chapter transitioned to a Community model. Local DMV area volunteers continue to build community before their summer experience in Latin America.

 

RECENT Volunteers

Past Washington DC Community volunteers have attended Archbishop Carroll, Edmund Burke School, Fusion Academy, George C. Marshall, Georgetown Day School, Gonzaga, Jackson-Reed, Maret School, Mclean High School, Montgomery Blair, Rochambeau, The French International School, Saint John’s College, School Without Walls, Sidwell Friends, The Madeira School, The Mclean School, The New School of Northern Virginia, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Wakefield High School, Walt Whitman, Washington International School, Washington-Liberty, Westfield, Winston Churchill, Yorktown, and many more!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

AMIGOS is committed to making our programs accessible to anyone who wants to join. We offer need-based financial assistance and fundraising opportunities for the DC Community through the National Chapter. We work closely with every family to understand need before determining financial assistance packages. Financial assistance applications are considered on a rolling basis and funds are available until exhausted. Read more here.

 

ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. We highly encourage you to apply for financial assistance.

2026 applicants, alumni, and parents of alumni can earn discounts or cash payments for referring the next cohort of AMIGOS volunteers! Learn more about our Alumni Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.

RESOURCES:
CONTACT:
  • Please reach out to our Admissions team by email at [email protected] if you have any questions about financial assistance.

TRAINING

The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.

With over 60 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips volunteers with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. The Washington DC Chapter training is youth-led, experiential learning that prepares volunteers for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help volunteers succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by the Training Team and include guests from the community and the Washington DC Chapter Board of Directors.

 

SERVICE LEARNING

The Washington DC Chapter incorporates service-learning into the AMIGOS training to add depth and first-hand experience to the curriculum. Service‐learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. : As part of training activities, participants will be expected to attend at least one of the volunteering activities with the student cohort.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDE:
  • Unparalleled leadership development
  • Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
  • Health and safety training
  • Opportunities to practice Spanish
  • Creating a community of young people with shared values
TRAINING CALENDAR

Retreat 1: Weekend of February 28-March 1, 10 am – 10 am

Serving Learning: Saturday, March 7 or 14, tentative

Retreat 2: Weekend of April 11-12, 10am – 11am

FUNDRAISING

OPTIONAL FUNDRAISING

Fundraising is a key part of making an AMIGOS experience possible and an opportunity to begin building key skills you will need for success during your time abroad. We offer guided support to help you succeed.

Members of the DC Community can opt in to fundraise with the National Chapter to help cover the cost of their program fees. AMIGOS will support in creating an individual online fundraising page, provide a webinar, a fundraising guide and mentoring! National Chapter students should email [email protected] for more information.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Share Your Time and Talent!

The Washington DC Community of AMIGOS is always looking for volunteers! If you are interested in contributing to our group, please email [email protected].

Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons
President
[email protected]

Carynne Jarrell
Vice President
[email protected]

Jillian Winstanley
Treasurer
[email protected]

Alyson Woolley
Secretary

Krista Flagg
Training Director
[email protected]

Zoe Paglee 
Community Coordinator
[email protected]

Sara Vargas Osorio
At-Large

Jessica Daly
Parent Liaison