Want to work with the brightest kids on the planet?

You need sunglasses in Brazil even when the sun goes down. The primary colours of the city are sandwiched between lush green jungle and golden yellow sands, and just when you think it can’t get any brighter, you meet the kids on your community project. We work with a number of groups in Rio de Janeiro which all offer a wide range of support services which aim to open up educational and social opportunities. Rio being Rio, there is a great emphasis on the arts and the project provides workshops on percussion, circus skills, capoeira (a mix of martial arts and music) and even graffiti.

Fast Facts

Project Information

Project Duration: Min 4 weeks - Max 12 weeks
Project Costs: US$ 2195.00 for 4 weeks, US$ 220.00 for every week thereafter
Location of project:Rio de Janeiro
Arrival Airport:Rio de Janeiro (airport code GIG)
Activities:Various activities including recreational activities, arts and crafts courses, dance and music workshops and teaching English
Working Hours:Flexible; Monday to Friday typically 10 to 15 hours per week, all other time is free
Getting to the project:Dependent on location; 30-45 minutes by bus (budget approximately US$25 per week)
Requirements:Minimum Age 18
Other:Carnival week will be from February 21st to 28th 2009 and February 13th to 20th 2010, you may have some disruptions to the placement during this time. In 2009 projects will be closed from Thursday 19th February to Monday 2nd March.

What's Included

Accommodation:Shared room in guesthouse
Food:Food is not included; you will need to purchase your own food (budget approximately US$50 per week)
Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
Training:In-country orientation
Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

What's not included

Flights, Insurance, Visas, Return Airport transfer, Local Transport, Food

Project details:
We work with a number of groups in Rio de Janeiro which all offer a wide range of support services, as well as educational and social opportunities for the young people of the urban slums, known as the favelas. There is often great emphasis on the arts and many projects will include working with the community to provide workshops on percussion skills, boxing, circus skills, capoeira and also graffiti. They all aim to provide focus for the people in the community away from life on the streets and gang crimes associated with the slums towards boosting their quality of life.

NOTE: The project itself is closed for Carnival between the 13th and 22nd February 2010 but accommodation and in-country support still runs as normal. Being in Rio during Carnival is an experience of a lifetime and shouldn't be missed!

Why the project needs volunteers:
All of these projects have limited funds and resources, and are always trying to reach more members of the local community. To do this, and to continue with the work they are already undertaking, they need assistance from volunteers, especially those from overseas who can also contribute through cultural exchange.

What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
Basic Brazilian Portuguese and/or Intermediate Spanish is strongly recommended, otherwise volunteers may find communication difficult. Enthusiastic, hardworking and committed volunteers are needed. If you wish to teach a class in any given field, experience will be required. You can undertake extra Portuguese lessons when in country alongside the project, these are highly recommended.

Your role as a volunteer:
There is a wide range of activities that volunteers can expect to get involved with while assisting in the cultural projects, from music, dance, sports, photography, and language tuition.

Where the project is based:
The projects are based in a number of community, recreational, and child day care centres.

The project is based in Rio where you will be living and work in the local communities. Rio is a diverse and cultural city with lots to see and do in your spare time. The main attraction is the annual carnival where the streets are lined with people who come to the city to see the elaborate costumes and join in the dancing. As well as this you can go to see major sports games.

The cultural diversity of Rio de Janeiro, with its more than 400 years of history, has been the reason for it to be main choice of visitors who come to Brazil. It is a big city, privileged by its geography which grants its title "Cidade Maravilhosa" ( Gorgeous City). It is located in one of the most beautiful places of the world, where the sea, mountains, forests and lakes blend in amazing traces.

When the lights turn on, the city acquires a new life and rescues the dream with the people who always have a smile in their faces and with an eternal belief that the most unreal of plans can come true.

Please note that the projects may be closed during Christmas/New Year and Carnival time so your time can be spent enjoying yourself in this vibrant city!

You will need to arrive at Rio International Airport (GIG) on your specified arrival date.

What exactly do i-to-i provide?

It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.

Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….

Project sourcing and assessment

We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More

Expert help-desk

Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.

Thorough project briefing materials

Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.

TEFL training

If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More

Airport pickup

It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

Arrival orientation

Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More

Local in-country coordinators

Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More

24/7 emergency support

Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More

Ongoing training

The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More

Supporting our projects

We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.

Recruiting people like you

We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.

The intangible benefits

Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here

What we will do after you've booked:

Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account

We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know

Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course

Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant)

We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.

We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with confirmation of your project and accommodation 2 weeks after you've booked

We will ask you to complete your forms and pay your final balance if they are still due when required

We are available for any questions you may have on 800 985 4852 or support@i-to-i.com

What you need to do after booking your place with us:

Book your flights

Arrange suitable travel insurance

Fill out some extra details through our online interface:

Application from
Travel details
Insurance details
Medical information
Emergency contacts

Complete your police check if requested

Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)

Make final payment at least 90 days before you go

Make sure you have a visa for your trip if it's needed

Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention

Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip

Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!

Get on the plane!

Orientation Information

You will arrive on the Arrival Date – Saturday and will be met at the airport on that day (whether it is 12 in the morning or 11:59 at night). You will be taken to your allocated accommodation where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. For information on this please see your online account 2 weeks after you book your placement.

Note: If you’re arriving early we can arrange a meet and greet for you. If you require this please contact us to arrange this service.

Your orientation will take place on Sunday morning (address details below). Orientation will cover introduction to the country, safety, travelling around, time for questions.

Baron Garden - Dag Malta
Rua Barao de Guaratiba
195 – Gloria
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil

You will have the rest of Sunday free to explore and relax before starting work on Monday morning.

Brazil

A little bit of history...

Brazil Country Guide Pre-empting the diverse cultures and races that exist in modern day Brazil, its indigenous groups were an eclectic mix. The earliest known settlers are believed to have inhabited the land at least 15,000 years before the arrival of the Europeans. Owing to Brazil’s uniqueness is its status as the only Latin American country to form part of the Portuguese empire. The Portuguese arrived in the 16th century and developed brazilwood, sugar cane and gold exports while harbouring a lucrative slave trade having replaced Indians with African slaves to work the plantations. The country’s profitable resources also attracted the attentions of the French and Dutch but is was the Portuguese who maintained overall control until 1822 when Brazil declared independence. Following the abolition of slavery in 1888, an influx of European immigrants flocked to Brazil to work on the highly profitable coffee plantations. With support from the coffee barons, Brazil became a republic in 1889 via a military coup.

Military intervention dominated the political landscape for much of the 20th century until 1985 when power was ceded to civilian leaders and by 1989 the first democratic elections were held since the military takeover. A push toward social reform was attempted by President Lula, who came to power in 2002, to combat the nation’s high levels of poverty. While Brazil’s economy has suffered extreme highs and lows, it is South America’s leading economic power though a large disparity between rich and poor remains.

Best time to go...

Opposite to the seasons experienced in the northern hemisphere, Brazil’s summer runs from December to March and its winter months are between June and August. The main seasonal changes occur in the south of the country and summer is the best time to visit to avoid frost, the possibility of snow and prolonged rain. Coastal areas like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are warm year round but can get stifling in summer with temperatures in the high 30°Cs and sometimes reaching the low 40°Cs. The northeast is also warm but benefits from a cool breeze that alleviates the heat during the summer months. Tropical rains are a year round occurrence throughout the country and often amount to short sharp periods and rarely, if ever, impact on travel plans. Unsurprisingly, the Amazon receives the most rainfall with January to June seeing the heaviest downfalls. Although heavy with humidity, this can be the best time to navigate the rivers and catch sight of wildlife that would not be seen during the dry season.

The busiest period to visit is between mid-December until the close of Carnaval which takes place in February or early March. It’s a good time to soak up the celebratory mood of the country but it’s advisable to book accommodation well in advance. The major hotspots are also packed and heaving with foreign and Brazilian tourists during Easter and July, when the schools enjoy their winter vacation break.

Getting around...

The flexibility afforded by flying does not necessarily come cheap in Brazil though there are some bargains to be had if you shop around. Foreigners can purchase air passes from the country’s major airlines like Varig and Tam which offer various flights within a set time frame; they must be purchased outside of Brazil. It’s worth noting that flight routes are not always direct and may involve several stops on the way. It’s advisable to go by flight number when keeping track of a flights departure time at airports, since only the final destination tends to be listed. There are also low-cost carriers available such as Bra and Gol which offer competitive fares and fly to major cities.

Train travel is very limited in Brazil and is not a mode of transport that can get you from A to B, though there are several scenic routes that are worth the experience alone. In the south of the country, for instance, the Curitiba-Paranagua line takes in glorious vistas of mountains and lush forests during its 4 hour route.

Buses on the other hand are in abundance and depart from bus stations (known as rodoviária) in towns and cities on a regular basis. Distances can be extremely long so it may be worth investing in the more luxurious kind which offer air-conditioning and seats that recline flat to resemble a bed (leitos); Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo is a respectable 6 hours, while Rio de Janeiro to the north eastern coastal city of Recife is a leg-numbing 38 hours by bus. There are a number of bus companies such as Itapemirim that offer extensive services across the country. It’s advisable to book bus travel in advance, and tickets can be purchased at bus stations and travel agents. Car rental is also readily available but it takes an experienced driver to negotiate Brazil’s roads. Driving at night is not advised due to poor road conditions in some parts.

For travel on a local level, buses and taxi’s are easily accessible within towns and cities. It’s essential to ride in bona fide taxis that have meters and the driver’s details clearly visible. Reliable taxis are easy to spot in Rio de Janeiro, where yellow taxis are the norm. Taxis in some cities are identifiable by red number plates and are equipped with meters. For added convenience, both Rio de Janiero and São Paulo have subway systems which are easy to use, though not as developed as cities like New York.

Useful links

www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.

www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.

www.itapemirim.com.br
Bus company Itapemirim.

www.voebra.com.br
Domestic low-cost airline Bra (site currently unavailable in English)

www.voegol.com.br/INT
Domestic low-cost airline Gol.

We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.

Community Work in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Trip Notes

Project Info