Volunteer in Brazil

Globe Aware Brazil--The Road Less Traveled Brazilian Village Experience Palm trees, sand, sunshine, surf. Laughter, poverty, beauty, pain, its all part of the Bahian reality. It is affectionately said that when Bahians are not actually participating in a festival they are rehearsing for one." And in a way it's true. The people of Bahia, a fusion of Africans, Native Americans and Europeans, are carefree and upbeat, always looking for a good time. However when you get outside of the noise and traffic of the tourist complexes of Brazil, you’ll have a chance to expand your mind to see the incredible beauty and challenges of the region. The program takes place in a little village with approximately 500 inhabitants, in the state of Bahia. The community faces a number of challenges: Poverty; alcoholism; unemployment; absence of basic infrastructure (sewage and treated water for instance); local school maintenance (materials, food for the kids and transportation); lack of medical and dental assistance; and lack of a space to display, market and sell local crafts. Contact: info@globeaware.org, www.globeaware.org.

Featured

United Planet Bring Change to Brazil Welcome to the "Republica Federativa do Brasil" the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world in both area and population. As a volunteer, you can bring your help to different areas, working with children, disabled, elderly or homeless people, or else improving human rights & caring for the environment. Come volunteer and make a difference in this former colony of Portugal, home to both extensive agricultural land and rainforest. Cost: 6 months $4695, 1 year $7195. Dates: Starts in August or January. Contact: United Planet, 11 Arlington St, Boston MA 02116, USA. Telephone: 617-267-7763. Email: quest@unitedplanet.org Website: www.unitedplanet.org

Featured

i-to-i Meaningful Travel Community Work with Children in Rio, Brazil This is your chance to support some of Rio?s most at-risk children whilst soaking up the rich vibes of this amazing capital city. Working with youngsters from a number of favelas (urban slums) you can help shape their lives by helping out with all manner of recreational activities. From dance and theatre to sports and arts and crafts, your input will help to stimulate and educate the children, giving them a positive focus. Project resources are limited, so your help could make a huge difference. Cost: $2035. Dates: 4 week minimum, please call for exact start dates. Contact: Director of i-to-i North America, 190 East 9th Ave, Ste 350, Denver, CO 80203. Tel. (303) 991-5402 Website: i-to-i.com

Featured

All Languages Abroad: 50 Countries 30 Languages 1 Adventure! We offer a variety of language courses for all ages & budgets. Immerse yourself in the local culture, pick your accommodation type (host family or apartment) and enjoy many cultural activities with international students from around the world. We also offer the chance to volunteer in selected locations around the world helping the local community. These volunteer programs are not just fun and interesting but very rewarding and meaningful for the local people you are helping. Visit www.languagesabroad.com/volunteer.html for more information.

Featured

Volunteer Camp Counselor in Brazil Experience the beauty and hospitality of this fascinating, vibrant country from the inside while sharing your English skills and knowledge of American culture with young Brazilians. By volunteering as a camp counselor you will be more than just a tourist passing through, you will become a member of the community. The camp is located in a beautiful part of southwestern Brazil. Brazilian children ages 5 to 17 learn English through fun and engaging sports and recreational activities. Camp counselors (ages 18 to 28) play an important role in introducing American culture and cultural exchange to the children. Dates: 2, 3 and 4 week programs during the month of July. Cost: The price for the 4 week program is $930 including room and full board at the camp, insurance, transportation to and from the camp, full support and laundry service. Contact: Center for Cultural Interchange, 746 N. Lasalle Dr., Chicago, IL 60610. Tel: 1.312.944.2544 or direct 312.264.1601. Email: info@cci-exchange.com Website: www.cci-exchange.com

Featured

Volunteer in Brazil with Volunteer Adventures! Volunteer Adventures gives you the opportunity to live and volunteer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You will have the chance to volunteer in our teaching English and community outreach efforts in the city or in our rainforest conservation project in the nearby Tijuca Rainforest. As a volunteer with Volunteer Adventures, you will be able to take intensive language classes in our school in Brazil while volunteering with our local partner organization. You will benefit from not only learning the language, but also by applying it in your volunteer placement to make for a more meaningful experience for everyone involved. Contact: volunteer@volunteeradventures.com, www.volunteeradventures.com.

Featured

Abandoned Street Kids of Brazil Trust - Task Brasil
Volunteer Placements in Brazil
The program gives volunteers the chance to work in all of our projects: Casa Jimmy, Casa Charlotte, Epsom College Farm/Forest House, Casa Roger Turner and the Street Approach Project. Placements start throughout the year. We are looking for self-motivated, well-organised volunteers with lots of initiative who can communicate in Portuguese (or are willing to learn), help our carers with the children or be involved with creative workshops or tasks such as administration or maintenance.
Ecotour - Organic Farming Experience in Brazil
By taking part in the Ecotour – The Organic Farming Experience, travel in Brazil can take on a new meaning. The Ecotour is suited to those people who thrive on challenge and who like to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The farm project for adolescent boys aged 10-14 is partly sustained by the Ecotour, which takes place twice a year.

Contact: info@taskbrasil.org.uk, www.taskbrasil.org.uk

Amigos de Iracambi
Offers volunteer opportunities with rainforest preservation efforts at the Iracambi Atlantic Rainforest Research and Conservation Center in Minas Gerais state. Minimum stay is one month ($400), with consecutive months costing less.

Contact: Fazenda Iracambi, Caixa Postal No. 1, Rosário da Limeira – MG, CEP: 36878-000, Brazil; 011-55-32- 3721-1436, fax. 011-55-32-3722-4909; iracambi@iracambi.com, www.iracambi.com.

Amizade, Ltd.
The current program partners with several Brazilian NGOs and is based in the Amazon city of Santarém, working with street children; $1,510 for 2 weeks, $1,600 per month; $830 each additional month for the long-term program.

Contact: Amizade Global Service-Learning & Volunteer Programs, PO Box 110107, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 USA; tel: 888-973-4443; fax: 412-441-6655; volunteer@amizade.org, www.amizade.org.

Associação Iko Poran
Works with a number of NGOs in Rio de Janeiro, mostly engaged in community development projects in low-income communities (often with children and youth), such as art/music education, community health projects, citizenship, and more. Programs range from 2 to 24 weeks, with lodging included (but not food). Portuguese courses are available for a fee. Program fee: $660 (approx.) for up to four weeks; each additional week is $80. Fees vary depending on the exchange rate.

Contact: Rua Doutor Julio Otoni 571, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro RJ, CEP: 20241-400, Brazil; 011-55-21-2205-1365, fax. 011-55-21-2205-2765; www.ikoporan.org.

Caledonia Languages Abroad
Spanish and voluntary work programs organized in Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador, year round. Community and environmental projects and teaching English, depending on skills and level of language ability.

Contact: The Clock-house, Bonnington Mill, 72 Newhaven Rd., Edinburgh EH6 5QG, Scotland; 011-44-131-621-7721; www.caledonialanguages.co.uk.

Earthwatch Institute: Provides volunteer opportunities in scientific field research and education, in conservation efforts in the Pantanal (13 days; $2,095–$2,695) and protection efforts for dolphins, seals, and whales along the coast in São Paulo state (12 days, $2,395).

Contact: 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754; 800-776-0188 or 978-461-0081, fax. 978-461-2332; www.earthwatch.org.

Ela Brasil Tours
Volunteer Vacation
Travelers can choose from a couple of volunteer options - The River Otter Program and The Humpback Whale Research. While getting closely involved in the program travelers also get a chance to visit local towns on their free time.

Contact: ela@elabrasil.com; www.elabrasil.com

Global Crossroad offers programs in Recife and Olinda, such as building housing for the homeless, working at health centers, teaching English, music or dance, historic preservation, and community development. Programs last from 2-12 weeks ($1,099 for 2 weeks; $1,469 for 4 weeks; $2,549 for 12 weeks); Portuguese course available for an additional fee. Program fee covers room and board, insurance, airport pickup, etc.

Contact: 11822 Justice Ave Suite A-5, Baton Rouge, LA 70816; 800 413-2008 or 225-295-4950, fax 225-295-4954; info@globalcrossroad.com, www.globalcrossroad.com.

i-to-i Volunteer Travel
Teaching English in Brazil
Your help is needed to teach the English language in Brazil to children and young adults through favela community organisations in Rio de Janeiro. As well as the key objective of English tuition, you can also get involved in a wide range of exciting extra-curricular activities such as cultural projects, games, dance, music, painting, sports, and computer tuition. By equipping young Brazilians from the poorest neighbourhoods with vital English language skills, you will be helping them to overcome the barriers of poverty and unemployment and ensure that they can take their first steps into a meaningful career.
Building in Brazil
Based in the historic city of Salvador, you will be able to get your hands dirty assisting with the building of an arts and dance centre. For the nimble and quick-footed there may also be possibilities to participate in creative dance and music activities. Whatever you find yourself doing; the focus of the projects is to provide opportunities to the youth from poor communities to develop their citizenship through the traditional arts.

Contact: Director of i-to-i North America, 190 East 9th Ave, Ste 350, Denver, CO 80203. Tel. (303) 991-5402; www.i-to-i.com.

Pantanal Institute
Institute combines teaching English as a Foreign Language (to Brazilian biologists) and captive breeding facility for hawks. Voluntary/work experience vacancies available on conservation projects in the Pantanal region, a vast wetland habitat in central western Brazil. Volunteers must pay £500 ($982) a month for board and lodging.

Contact: Rua B, No. 4, Setor Centro Sul, Morada do Ouro, Cuiabá/MT, Brazil CEP: 78053-164; 011-55-65-3644-2331; contact@pantanalinstitute.com, www.pantanalinstitute.com.

Service Civil International Workcamps SCI US
SCI is an exchange organization that sends volunteers on 2-3 week international work projects and long term 3-12 month opportunities in over 50 countries, including Brazil. The $250 application fee covers lodging, meals, and minimal health insurance. SCI promotes voluntary service to impact social, environmental and humanitarian issues.

Contact: Service Civil International (SCI), 5505 Walnut Level Rd, Crozet, VA, 22932; Tel. 1-206-350-6585.
Email: sciivs.placement@gmail.com
Visit www.sci-ivs.org for an application.

Volunteers for International Partnership
Current programs include working with at-risk children in São Paulo, Florainópolis, and Natal, working with manatees in Balbina (Amazonas state), and environmental protection in Bahia state; Portuguese courses and homestays included; $2,225 for 2 months, $2,425 for 3 months.

Contact: PO Box 6141, Brattleboro, VT 05302; 802-258-3467, fax. 802-258-3467; info@partnershipvolunteers.org, www.partnershipvolunteers.org.

Volunteers for Peace
Offers affordable volunteer opportunities near Fortaleza (Ceará state), currently including a project for dental students providing clinical assistance ($280 for 2 weeks), teaching English to children ($550 per month, for up to 4 months), and working at a childcare facility ($280 for 2 weeks). An additional placement fee of $250 is charged for all programs.

Contact: 1034 Tiffany Rd., Belmont, VT 05730; 802-259-2759, fax. 802-259-2922; vfp@vfp.org, www.vfp.org.