Volunteer in Brazil
Brazil is a country of extraordinary size, covering almost half of South America , granting it an expressive cultural diversity and a huge variety of landscapes and people, creating deep impressions on its visitors. As a volunteer you will experience Brazil from a whole different side and gain a perspective from the community.The goal of all the volunteer programme is to make a positive impact on Brazilian society and on the projects in which they take place and promote intercultural exchange. It is the ideal travel experience for those who want to go beyond the ordinary.
About BrazilBrazilian people come from a complex ethnic mix of Indians, Portuguese, Africans and other cultures. Their cultural identity is based on values of tolerance, solidarity, and happiness of living and also the taste of ancient things. The Brazilians are lovely hosts who love to laugh, sing and dance. It is also a complex country, contradictory, unfair and unequal, reflecting one of the highest concentrations of income in the world. Less than 1% of Brazil's population owns more than 42% of money and property. But, at the same time, it gives people lots of opportunities to improve.
The country also has a lovely tropical climate, with a large variety of fauna and flora, starting from an impervious forest, going through a vast variety of mountains of different sizes, large swamplands and several large rivers nets - sometimes moving along plain lands or forming magnificent waterfalls -until they arrive at the Atlantic coast, with about 8.000 kilometers of continuous beautiful beaches.
The programme
You can choose to work in a variety of different areas of work, including:
- Arts Programmes
- Child Development
- Sports Programmes
- Teaching English
- Environmental Programmes
- Media & Design Innovation
- NGO Development
- Health Education & Awareness
- Social Circus
Within each area, there are a number of local Non Governmental Organizations - NGOs, with whom we have developed volunteer programmes for, which cater to the specific challenges that they face, whilst benefitting the communities they serve in. You will have the opportunity to actively participate in developing communities for a fairer world whilst at the same time having the rich personal opportunity for cultural exchange. Details on the above programmes can be found on the following page.We can develop a programme for you according to your abilities and interests. All programmes take place in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Volunteers from 18 to 60 yrs of all nationalities are welcome to apply.
When?
You can join from 3 weeks up to 24 weeks as a maximum. In general, volunteers work between 10 to 20 hours per week.
The programmes take place all year round, but we have arrival days that are set to help us organise airport pick-ups, accommodation and placements. You should arrive on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month (please see below). If you want to arrive on a different day, please contact us to check availability and extra costs. Please note that the Portuguese course starts on the first Monday after the arrival days.
Arrival dates in 2010:
January 9 and 23
February 6 and 27
March 13 and 27
April 10 and 24
May 15 and 29
June 12 and 26
July 10 and 24
August 14 and 28
September 11 and 25
October 9 and 23
November 13 and 27
December 11
The programmes take place all year round, but we have arrival days that are set to help us organise airport pick-ups, accommodation and placements. You should arrive on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month (please see below). If you want to arrive on a different day, please contact us to check availability and extra costs. Please note that the Portuguese course starts on the first Monday after the arrival days.
Arrival dates in 2010:
January 9 and 23
February 6 and 27
March 13 and 27
April 10 and 24
May 15 and 29
June 12 and 26
July 10 and 24
August 14 and 28
September 11 and 25
October 9 and 23
November 13 and 27
December 11
Arrival dates in 2011:
January 8 and 22
February 12 and 26
March 12 and 26
April 9 and 23
May 14 and 28
June 11 and 25
July 9 and 23
August 13 and 27
September 10 and 24
October 8 and 22
November 12 and 26
December 10.
Language Requirements
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. If you can grasp a little, it will definitely take you a longer way and you will feel much more rewarded, and at the same time you would be able to offer more to the organisation. Therefore, we have included an intensive 20 hours Portuguese course that takes place in parallel with the volunteering on the first week of the programme.
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. If you can grasp a little, it will definitely take you a longer way and you will feel much more rewarded, and at the same time you would be able to offer more to the organisation. Therefore, we have included an intensive 20 hours Portuguese course that takes place in parallel with the volunteering on the first week of the programme.
LodgingYou are lodged in wonderful Guest Houses in Santa Teresa, one of Rio de Janeiro's most enchanting neighbourhoods. A bohemian area with an intense cultural life. It stands out for its unusual architecture and the hundred and ten years old tram which still runs through its winding cobbled streets. 
For the environmental programmes, you will be lodged in a residential sanctuary in the heartbeat of the Mata Atlantica (Tijuca national park), the world's largest urban subtropical rainforest, it provides ready access to the Christ statue of Corcovado as well as to the city centre, sambadromo (the place where the samba schools compete) and beautiful beaches. With an atmosphere reminiscent of that of a small town, it enchants visitors with its panoramic views of the 'Marvellous City', offering a variety of options for eating local dishes to international cuisine. The houses have cable TV, free Internet access 24x7, fully equipped kitchens, laundry service and cleaning service as well as many other facilities. Volunteers stay in BIG shared rooms. Linen is provided. Please bring your own bath towel. The houses are located in the best area of Santa Teresa, walking distance to the area where all the bars and restaurants are, as well as to the supermarket, drugstore, bakery, health clinic, and easy public transportations.
For the environmental programmes, you will be lodged in a residential sanctuary in the heartbeat of the Mata Atlantica (Tijuca national park), the world's largest urban subtropical rainforest, it provides ready access to the Christ statue of Corcovado as well as to the city centre, sambadromo (the place where the samba schools compete) and beautiful beaches. With an atmosphere reminiscent of that of a small town, it enchants visitors with its panoramic views of the 'Marvellous City', offering a variety of options for eating local dishes to international cuisine. The houses have cable TV, free Internet access 24x7, fully equipped kitchens, laundry service and cleaning service as well as many other facilities. Volunteers stay in BIG shared rooms. Linen is provided. Please bring your own bath towel. The houses are located in the best area of Santa Teresa, walking distance to the area where all the bars and restaurants are, as well as to the supermarket, drugstore, bakery, health clinic, and easy public transportations.
Food and MealsBrazil is a relatively inexpensive country for foreigners, but it all depends on your lifestyle. As described above, the houses also have fully equipped kitchens where you may cook. A meal at a restaurant may be as cheap as R$ 7.00 (2.50 GB pounds) in very nice and healthy popular restaurants or up to R$ 30.00 (10 GB pounds) in nicer places.
Transportation:
Buses cost R$ 2.20 (0.80 GB pence) and subway costs R$ 2.80 (1 GB pound). You should budget R$ 50 (18 GB pounds) per week for transportation. Upon arrival you will receive a complete guide with information about public transportation, drugstores, ATM machines, banks, restaurants, markets, shopping malls, beaches and other useful information.
CostsThe cost for a 4 week programme (or less) is: 930 GB pounds, 5 weeks is 995 GB pounds, 6 weeks is 1060 GB pounds, 7 weeks is 1125 GB pounds and 8 weeks is 1190 GB pounds. For every extra week, the cost increases by 65 GB pounds. So the cost for 24 weeks is 2230 GB pounds. Please email Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com for prices of other durations. The final payment is paid in local currency upon arrival because of fluctuations in the GBP to the Brazilian Real.
What is included in the cost:
- Lodging in one of our comfortable houses
- Airport pickup by a programme representative
- Orientation and information about getting around the city, guides, listings, tips, maps, health issues and safety;
- Intensive Portuguese course on the first week of the programme (20 hours, 4 per day, all books and materials included)
- Placement and support from partner organisation in Brazil and WorkingAbroad Projects
- Assistance in the case of emergencies
- Free Internet access 24x7
What is not included are your flights and travel to Brazil, in-country transport (except for airport pickup), meals, visa costs (if necessary) and your own health and travel insurance. Please note that it is mandatory for all volunteers joining this programme to take out a medical/accident insurance to cover the duration of the programme.
