Amigo Friendship Partners

During your time in Atlanta, wouldn’t it be nice to have a local American friend who could welcome you and help you navigate life in America? Sign up for the Amigo Friendship Program to be matched with an Atlanta volunteer for friendship and sharing of cultures. (Amigo is the Spanish word for "friend.")

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How to Sign Up for the Amigo Program:

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1.  Fill out our online Amigo Student application (enrollment period is August 1 - March 30).  Please tell us as much as you are comfortable sharing as we will use the information to match you with a local friend.

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2.  Sign up and join a 30 minute Amigo Student Zoom meeting with our Amigo Director, Jill Parker.  These online meetings are mandatory so that you understand what you are signing up for and what to expect from the program.

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3.  It may take a few weeks, but you will receive an email introducing you to your new Amigo friend.  Be sure to respond promtly to emails from AMIS and your Amigo friend as email will be the main way that we communicate with you.

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Amigo Program Expectations:

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We know being an international student is demanding, so when you fill out the Amigo Student application you can choose to sign up for EITHER:

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a) a one-time "Coffee Break" meeting with an Amigo volunteer, in which you will be introduced to an American friend to arrange a one-time meeting, which can be getting together for coffee or lunch near your campus, OR

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b) a year-long friendship in which we hope that you will meet 2-3 times over the year, which may include holiday or social gatherings in the volunteer's home, at AMIS events, or for outings around the city.  We also ask that you be in touch by text, email or phone to check in with each other at least monthly throughout the year.  Students who are here for a semester may apply for this program.  Or course, you may continue your friendship beyond the program and many Amigo friendships have lasted for years!

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About our Amigo Volunteers:

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Our Amigo Friendship volunteers have cleared a background check and are screened, oriented, and trained by the AMIS Atlanta staff before they are introduced to you.  Our Amigo volunteers range in age from college-students, young adult professionals, parents with children at home, empty-nesters, senior adults, and retirees. They may be single, married, divored, or LGBTI. As we are not a dating service, we usually match the same gender when both partners are single.  It is best to remain open to the American friend you will meet through the program, but you can indicate your requests through the Amigo Student application and to Amigo Director, Jill Parker and we will try our best to meet them.

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If you have any questions, please email Jill at jill@amisaltanta.org.

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Be sure to join our mailing list to find out what else AMIS Atlanta is doing. 

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The Amigo Student Enrollment period is August 1, 2023 to March 30, 2024.