 Volunteers on this project
will be working with our partner organization in the Pavã-Pavãozinho
favelas of Rio de Janeiro. This area is located on a steep
hill overlooking the famous beachfront neighborhoods of
Copacabana and Ipanema in southern Rio. Although
the residents of the beach neighborhoods are wealthy,
poverty overwhelms the shantytowns right around the corner.
Our partner organization in Rio is committed to providing
health and education to the underprivileged families of
the favelas in this neighborhood. They have converted
donated houses into schools, daycares, and health centers
for the favela community. They currently provide help
for over 400 children, and their medical staff provides
support for over 1500 families.
As a volunteer, you will be assisting the community center
in providing daycare, teaching English, and organizing
recreational activities with the children. Your work with
the youth of the favelas will encourage them to seek higher
education and help them feel like valued members of society.
Orientation:
After arrival in Rio, you will be picked up by
a shuttle service provided by Volunteer Adventures. You
will be transported to your hostel or host family for
the first night. You will be given instructions on how
to arrive at the school the following morning, where you
will begin your Volunteer Adventure with an extensive
orientation. During the orientation, you will become familiar
with living in Rio, using public transportation,
and working in the favelas. After the orientation, you
will be taken to the community center where you will meet
with a volunteer coordinator who will discuss with you
where your skills will be best utilized as a volunteer.
Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will provide airport pick-up in Rio
and transportation to accommodations. Volunteers pay
for transportation to and from the project and other activities.
 Language
Classes:
Volunteers enrolled in the Complete package will be taking Portuguese language classes at BridgeBrazil, our affiliate language school in Rio. For more efficient placement upon your arrival, we ask that you take our to determine your language proficiency. If this is not possible, we will test you upon arrival at the school.
For the rest of your time in Rio de Janeiro, you will be in a group of four or fewer students, learning conversational Portuguese for four hours a day*. After class hours, you will go directly to the community center for your volunteer experience. During your volunteer work, you will be able to practice your Portuguese language skills as well as become more closely involved with the favela children and their culture.
*Class time for groups of three or fewer students will be reduced from four to three hours per day.
Accommodations:
Basic: Volunteers selecting the Basic package will be responsible for arranging their own accommodation.
Standard and Complete: Volunteers can choose to stay in either a hostel or with a Brazilian host family. Hostel accommodations include breakfast. Host family accommodations include a private room and two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Commute time to the project varies, but may be up to 30-60 minutes, depending on your placement. If you opt to stay with a host family, you will be glad to know that our host families are carefully screened and must meet Volunteer Adventures' requirements before being accepted as a host family. You will be given a key to your host family's home to come and go as you please.
Meals:
Basic: Volunteers selecting the Basic package will be responsible for arranging their own meals.
Standard and Complete: Hostel serves breakfast only. Host family provides two meals a day, breakfast and dinner.
Excursions:
Although you will be serving the community for most of
your time in Brazil, there may be time for some sightseeing.
Below are a few of the trips that our local school organizes
for students and volunteers, schedule permitting. Participants
are expected to pay their own transportation costs and
entrance fees.
Activities:
During your free time in Rio de Janeiro, you will have
the opportunity to participate in the following activities:
 Seminars
about the country, the Portuguese language, history, geography,
and culture.
Afternoon cultural tours and excursions to the surrounding area.
Social
outings with BridgeBrazil students to local bars and
restaurants to practice your newfound language skills
and to meet more new people.
In-Country Support:
We work directly with our school in Rio de Janeiro
to ensure your safety and support during your time in
Brazil. You can expect help from the teachers, staff,
and other employees at Volunteer Adventures and BridgeBrazil. We also always
have on-site support at the community center, where both
coordinators and professional volunteers can help you
with anything you need. |
