Overview
Combine the stunning location of Rio with the excitement of the circus - now that is living life to the full!
Have a great time working with children from the streets or from at risk families where you can help them to see the great side of life though all the fun circus activities that they can participate in. This is a project for people with a sense of adventure and fun - you'll see the faces of the children light up as they try new skills and learn to develop their potential.
Trip highlights
Working to make a difference to the lives of these young disadvantaged children
Have a great time with the children learning new skills of the circus!
Enjoy the amazing nightlife of a city that never sleeps
Learning from the locals how to live life to the full!
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:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Arrival Airport:Rio de Janeiro (airport code GIG)
- Activities:Various circus activities, theatre and dance classes and recreational and educational games with the children.
- Working Hours:Project operates Monday to Friday 8.am to 6pm and volutneers can work full time, most volunteers work three-four full days and have a long weekend
- Getting to the project:2 bus rides or 1 metro and 1 bus ride, approximately 1 hour in total journey time.
- 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 as Rio turns its attention to partying!
What's Included
- Accommodation:Shared room in a 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
What the project does and why it needs you!
The project came into being in 2002 when figures showed that 49% of Rio`s street kids came from the ‘Baixada’ area of Rio and it was decided that something had to be done for these children to make their lives more worthwhile. The project - ‘Circo Baixada’ - was then born with the aim of re-integrating the children from the streets and at risk children and adolescents with their families and the local community. The circus gets the children involved in lots of fun activities and it is through these actions that the children`s accomplishments are valued and they are able to develop their competencies and skills. The project currently works with just under 200 children and at risk youths and their families. Volunteers are needed to provide more assistance in helping the children with the activities, cultural exchange and to bring some new ideas to the project too!
Who is it for?
This is ideal for anyone who has lots of energy - both physical and mental - with lots of ideas and creativity and enjoy working with groups of children. You should be proactive, motivated and be able to think on your feet and enjoy getting involved with the local community too. Brazil has a great culture and people so there is no better way to find out more than getting to know the locals!
What you will be doing
You will be getting involved in various circus activities with the children so be prepared for an exhausting time! You can also use your creative skills in theatre and dance classes with the children and get involved in fun and recreational activities with the kids too!
The project operates from Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and you may work full time. The schedule may vary according to the activities that you would like to develop and most people end up working 3-4 full days a week taking Friday off in order to make the most of a long weekend.
Where you’ll be staying
You will be staying in one of three guesthouses which are all situated on the same street within walking distance of each other. The guesthouses are located on a hilltop setting with amazing views over Rio.
Rooms are on a shared basis and bathrooms have shower hot water and western style toilet.
The project is situated about an hour away and can be reached by taking two buses or one metro and a bus.
What you will be eating
Food is not included so you will need to budget for this, Rio is a large city with plenty of places to eat with lots of choice so there will be something for all tastes! Supermarkets are also within easy reach if you want to cook for yourself.
Advice and what to bring
You will need to bring mosquito repellant sprays, personal toiletries and any personal medication. Please bring some clothes that you do not mind getting dirty and any other supplies according to any activity that you would like to develop eg juggling and other circus related activities.
It is advisable to learn some Portuguese before you arrive.
When you arrive
If you time your arrival to one of the designated arrival dates then airport pick-up is completely free. Please book your flight to arrive into Rio de Janeiro International –Antonio Carlos Jobim - Airport (airport code GIG). Should you require a different pick-up time or any additional nights at the orientation accommodation, for example if you arrive a day or two early, you can arrange this through the i-to-i office.
Day 1: Arrive in to Rio
You will be met at the airport and taken to your guesthouse where the rest of the day is for you to explore (or rest!) as you wish.
Day 2: Orientation
You will have an orientation meeting in the afternoon at one of the guesthouses - introducing you to life in Rio, some do's and don'ts, how to get the most out of your time at the project (and Rio) and so on.
Day 3: Start of your project
Today you will be shown the way to the project and start to have fun with circus activities with the children
Days 4 to 7: Work at the project
You will carry on your work at the project and get to know more about the circus activities.
Day 6 to 7: Weekend and your time!
The weekend is yours to do as you wish - there is plenty to do in Rio so now is the time to make the most of it! Whether it's beaches and the ocean or bars and and nightlife there really is something for everyone in Rio - however, be careful to keep some energy for Monday morning!
Day 8 onwards (this project is from 4 to 12 weeks):
You will carry on having an amazing time with the children at the circus and giving your all to the project and the new skills you'll pick up! Weekends are yours to do as you wish and the team in country are always keen to advise you on where all the greatest places to explore are, both in Rio itself and further afield for a long weekend.
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
A little bit of history...
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.
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