Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some questions that parents and volunteers often ask. Many of these will be expanded upon during the training and parent meetings. If you think of other questions, ask the Training Coordinators or contact us. Call the chapter office (713-782-5290 ext 125) or send an email to hchapter@amigoslink.org
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| The Answers |
1. What kind of training does AMIGOS provide the volunteers?
The AMIGOS training program offers hands-on experience to learn the necessary skills. In chapter training groups, the correspondent training program and in-country briefing volunteers learn and practice the human relations, cross-cultural, language, leadership and technical skills they will need for their project. The Calendar provides a comprehensive view of the overall training and the specific dates that volunteers must commit. 2. Is the food and water in Latin America safe? How can I be sure my child will not get sick? During training volunteers will learn how to protect themselves 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. 3. What kind of health care would my son or daughter receive if he or she gets sick? Health care facilities in Latin America range from clinics staffed by our equivalent of medical residents to hospitals fully staffed with a full range of specialists. The field staff makes arrangements for volunteer health care and will help volunteers receive prompt care in a respected health care facility. Volunteers carry an emergency card with instructions about how to seek medical care. Field staff consult with the International Office on-call team about volunteer illness and treatment. The AMIGOS Medical Director reviews the treatment and medication given to volunteers. 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. The 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 based on known information. Parents will be called immediately if the situation appears to be a medical emergency. In cases of extreme emergency, when treatment may not be appropriate in Latin America, 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 on one hour notice to any part of Latin America. Emergency treatment and medical evacuation may be influenced by the volunteer’s health insurance coverage. 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 volunteers 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. 6. When will my son or daughter know his or her country and project assignment? Assignments are usually made during February provided the complete application has been submitted. The Houston Chapter sponsors an ASSIGNMENT PARTY for the volunteers and their families. Invitations are sent via the Newsletters and with the Volunteers. Assignment is based on a variety of factors and is done by the International Office. Be certain to indicate any constraints, such as when your school begins, on the COUNTRY ASSIGNMENT FORMS. Volunteers submit a list of their country choices. First choices are not guaranteed. Volunteers have a extremely rewarding experiences--even if it is not in their preferred country. Project changes, although rare, would be made in response to a change in current events or a change in an airline schedule. Projects occur between mid-June and mid-August. 7. Will my son or daughter live with a family? It is AMIGOS intent to house every volunteer with a family. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the International Office, and would likely be either a local clinic, church, community center or school. The field staff will have visited your child's community to determine his or her eating and living arrangements. Any problems should be reported by the volunteer promptly to the field staff. 8. 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 voted on by the Board of Directors and have been explained to the field staff. AMIGOS expects these guidelines to be adhered to in every situation. 9. Why do you need both parents' signature? It is AMIGOS policy to have signatures of both parents because many Latin American countries require a parental release for minors. The parent with sole custody, however, can sign and attach a copy of the custody agreement in lieu of the second signature. 10. Exactly what documents do parents need to sign? Parents of volunteers under 21 must sign the following forms: Agreement and Release for Participants and Parents, Parent Permission to Travel, Acknowledgment of Standards of Personal Conduct and Community Behavior, and the Insurance Coverage Form. 11. 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 departments of Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Studies, political science, anthropology, geography. If you still need assistance, contact the International Office. Credit must be pre-arranged in all cases. 12. What do I pack? What you pack will depend on where you are assigned. Packing suggestions can be found in the Volunteer Handbook and in the Volunteer Country Materials. Here are some general packing suggestions. 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 cannot wait for stragglers. A variety of program lengths and starting dates can accommodate different schedules. Be sure to indicate the types of constraints that apply to you when you complete your COUNTRY ASSIGNMENT FORMS. 14. After the project is over, can my child stay in Latin America and travel? If a volunteer is at least 21, AMIGOS may release him or her after the field project provided you have completed the appropriate forms. For volunteers under 21, AMIGOS will only release them in-country into the custody of a parent or legal guardian unless there are extenuating circumstances and authorization. 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 volunteers 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 (800-231-7796 ext. 150). Someone there can relay a message to field staff who will assist the volunteer in calling home. There is a weekly summer posting on the Amigos web site www.amigoslink.org providing parents with an update on each project, not on each volunteer. It is helpful to know the status of the different projects. The converse of this question is also asked, "How will my child communicate with me during the summer?" If history is any indicator, some volunteers are, shall we say, not given to lengthy letter writing--or in many cases no letter writing at all. Rest assured that if there is any sort of problem in the field, you will be contacted. Otherwise, assume that all is well and that your volunteer is actively engaged in their assignment and getting to know the host country and its people. It is sometimes possible for the volunteers to call home once during their mid-term break if they are located in a community large enough to have an international phone connection. You may want to provide them with instructions on how to call home collect or with a calling card in the event that they are able to do so. 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 an increased self-confidence and caring attitudes that are reflected in community activities for the rest of their lives. 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 field program supplies such as 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? How stable is it? 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 meets the criteria for exchange programs set by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. AMIGOS also has a Letter of Understanding with the Pan American Health Organization and is a member of the Independent Sector and InterAction. 19. My child and a friend are studying together. Could they be assigned together? No. One of the many facets of the program is having the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds. This serves as another dimension of the learning experience in AMIGOS. Once volunteers reach their countries, the staff there will make the assignments in order to maximize compatibility and diversity among the volunteers. Upon arrival in the country of assignment all volunteers are met by the field staff. They are taken to a predetermined site for several 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? The cost of the program (Family Participation Fee) includes the cost of short-term medical insurance coverage for the volunteer during the project. The AMIGOS Chapter and International Office can provide additional information on 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. 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. It is imperative that volunteers promptly and completely report assaults to their field staff in order to receive assistance. 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. 24. How much money should my child take with them when they go into the field? This is pretty much dependent on the volunteer's spending habits and the assignment. In some cases there will be an opportunity to purchase souvenirs at mid-term break; in other instances, there will not be markets readily accessible. Also volunteers may be able to buy things like sodas, cookies and candy in their town, others may not. A general rule of thumb might be an allowance of $150 dollars. Volunteers are encouraged to talk to the veterans who served in the same location to get a more accurate feel for the need for discretionary money. |