Overview

Do you like to party?

The Rio carnival is where the world lets its hair down and now you’re all invited. It’s hard to imagine such a frenzy of singing and dancing, which is a great reason to go and see it for yourself! Samba and sway your way through the streets and get a view of the carnival that travellers almost never get: from the middle of it! Over the years the Samba schools have become a crucial (and colourful) part of the carnival and the dance is a great way through which to learn more about the city and its people. Activities range from designing costumes and floats to helping build the stage, with plenty of time left over to explore one of the world’s most exciting cities at its vibrant best.

Trip Highlights:

An unbelievable opportunity to be a PART of Rio's Carnival

Learing to Samba the Rio way!

Making real friends for life in this incredible city

Fast Facts

Project Information

Project Duration: Min 4 weeks - Max 12 weeks
Project Costs: €1599.00 for 4 weeks, €160.00 for every week thereafter
Location of project:Various locations within Rio de Janeiro
Arrival Airport:Rio de Janeiro (airport code GIG)
Activities:Working with the Samba Schools to decorate floats and costumes in preparation for the Carnival in February
Working Hours:Flexible; usually Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, 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 13th to 20th 2010 and March 5th to 12th 2011, you may have some disruptions to the placement during this time.

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

Itinerary & Details

Project details:
You will work alongside Samba School members to assist with the decoration of the big Carnival floats, and/or help prepare the costumes for the world famous carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro - the biggest show on earth with more than 50.000 participants and 22 hours of show!

Over the decades, the Samba School floats have developed into full-blown stage sets that bring even more vibrancy and life to the parades. However, for a long time there was a problem with space - the floats used to be built in shed-like workshops scattered amongst each community. When the Sambadrome was built in the 1980's, the Samba Parades experienced a period of expansion and the Samba Schools moved into abandoned warehouses near the Docklands. Although an improvement, this was still not an ideal solution, so a permanent premises was sought. In 1999, the Mayor agreed to build permanent workshops on a huge site of disused rail yards in the Gamboa district, thus creating a Samba City. The complex is fitted with the latest facilities and the centre also has a separate section providing sports facilities for poor communities. The Samba City flourishes today in the same district where the samba started, reflecting its traditional roots. Moreover, the Samba Schools of Rio are now united by their shared home.

Why the project needs volunteers:
This is a unique opportunity to take part in a cultural exchange programme in which you will be exposed to the culture of carnival and its new structure. This is an excellent way of gaining work experience a behind-the-scenes insight into the Rio carnival.

What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
You need to have creative and manual skills to help decorate the big floats. Experience in fashion or textiles may be useful when making the costumes.

Your role as a volunteer:
Work in the Samba Schools workshops is hard, but at the same time it is fun and interesting. Volunteers should bring very comfortable and light working clothes. Volunteers will be able to:

Paint and decorate big carnival floats.
Create carnival costumes by gluing or sewing.

Where the project is based:
This project is based at the new Samba City where all the samba schools belonging to the special group build their floats and create their costumes. It is located only 30 minutes from the accommodation in Gloria (Baron Garden) by bus.

You will be living and working in the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Rio de Janeiro. Rio is a culturally diverse city with lots to see and do in your spare time. It is in a geographically stunning location and deserves the title of cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city). It is surrounded by lush peaks and amazing beaches. It is a city of contrasts where the rich live alongside the poor. The Cariocas - inhabitants of Rio - are free-spirited, welcoming and with a love of Samba and celebration are always ready to party.

Carnival is 13th February to 20th February 2010 and 5th March to 12th March 2011 during the week there will be no work just celebrating!

Brazil encompasses all aspect of the Latin spirit. It is a seductive place and is also a country of staggering beauty - its scenery is guaranteed to take your breath away. There is also an intoxicating rhythm of life - that is famous the world over. From the bronzed bodies of its beaches to the unexplored wonders of its rainforests, Brazil is a destination that has to be seen to be believed and experienced to understand.

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!

Please book your flight to arrive into Rio de Janeiro (airport code GIG) on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup.

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 60-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

Next Steps

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 +44 1132 050 076 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.

Join the party with carnival preparation in Rio

Trip Notes

Project Info