Volunteer in Brazil

Volunteer in Brazil

As a volunteer in Brazil, you will discover Brazil's diverse and fascinating cultures and landscapes. While the north of the country is characterised by the Amazon basin with its vast rainforests, you’ll find mountains, plateaus, and the world-famous Iguazú waterfalls in the south. In the vast Midwest, you’ll find partly-agricultural savannah lands.

Along the Atlantic coast, the beaches will lure you in with their secluded coves, white sands, and challenging surfing areas. The majority of the population lives along the coast, where almost all of the largest cities are located. One of these cities, the great metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, is where you’ll start your South American adventure, before you begin to volunteer abroad in Brazil.

Living in Rio de Janeiro

Known as the “Cidade Maravilhosa”, Rio de Janeiro stands for everything Brazilian and draws throngs of tourists to the east coast each year. Popular attractions include Rio’s famous Carnaval and the Sugar Loaf Mountain. Rio’s Ipanema and Copacabana beaches are so lovely they’ve become famous song titles. “Cristo Redentor”, the massive statue of Christ overlooking the city, will welcome you to Brazil with wide-open arms – Bemvindo ao Brasil!

Language course in Rio de Janeiro

Before you volunteer in Brazil, you will take a 2-week Portuguese language course for beginners, in which you will learn to speak everyday Portuguese. Language classes usually have about five to six students, but there could be as many as 10 people in your class. You will have 15 lessons per week, unless there are three or fewer students in your class, in which case the class will drop down to 10 lessons per week. If you already have prior knowledge of Portuguese, you will have 10 Portuguese lessons with a private instructor.

Within your first three days in Brazil, there will be an orientation, during which you will receive important information about Brazil and tips which will help you as you volunteer. During the language course and as you volunteer in Brazil, you will stay with a host family at half board, so you will have the opportunity to practice your newly-learned Portuguese in everyday Brazilian life with your host family.

Please note that Rio is a very large city, and the distance between your host family's home and the language school could be quite far.

Volunteer in Brazil

• Activities: Volunteer in Brazil in the fields of care, education, animal protection, and nature conservation. See project descriptions.
• Free time: Usually at the weekend. (Project 6: weekdays.)
• Duration: 6 weeks (2-week language course, 4 weeks volunteer work)
• Application: At least 2-3 months before departure. We are happy to receive applications much earlier than this.
• Starting Dates: Usually once or twice a month (not including March, June, or November), on the following dates: 2 Jan., 30 Jan., 27 Feb., 3 Apr., 1 May, 29 May, 3 July, 31 July, 3 Sept., 2 Oct., 30 Oct., 4 Dec. 2011.
  During Carnaval (5 – 8 March), there will be no instruction, and classes will be made up for at a later date. The volunteering projects are also closed at this time. Projects 2, 3, and 5 are closed from the end of December through the beginning of January due to holidays.
• Practical experience: Not necessary for most of the projects, but it would most likely make it easier for you as you volunteer abroad in Brazil.
• Other: Self-sufficiency, flexibility, personal initiative, and adaptability are important qualities to show as you volunteer in Brazil. Travel experience is an advantage.