Helping Disadvantaged Children in Brazil

  Brazil

• Northern Brazil: 
Recife

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: all year round

Description: Volunteers will assist in a community project designed to educate, foster skills, and provide recreational opportunities for disadvantaged children ages 7 to 15. You will aid teachers and community workers who rescue children who would otherwise live at the city's municipal waste site. The area's community and educational center, much like a youth center, was built for this purpose and serves as many as 200 children. Volunteers help with a wide range of recreational activities such as art, dancing, music, and sports which promote learning and understanding all with the aim of helping children progress to a mainstream school.

Activities

Volunteers will assist in all areas of the project, particularly recreational classes for the children such as organized sports and other enjoyable, active pastimes.

Working Hours

Volunteers will help at least 4 hours each day, from 1-5 p.m.

Resources

Activities take place in a self-contained community center with a large recreational area. The center has classroom facilities, meeting rooms, and some resources such as books, pens, and pencils. Supplies are not abundant, but volunteer creativity and enthusiasm can make up for what is lacking.

Special Points

At times, volunteers may have the option of going to the municipal waste site to rescue children and bring them into the project. If you are invited to go by a senior project staff member or other authorized person, you will be an assistant only and offer general help.

Note: Volunteers are not permitted to go to the rubbish dump without an invitation and the accompaniment of an authorized staff member. This is not a compulsory part of the project. These children lack nutrition and formal education; they can be naturally disruptive and at times difficult to handle. Therefore, this project requires much patience and understanding.

Qualifications: no qualifications are needed

Cost in US$: starts from $1349

Salary / Pay: volunteer job

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A typical Global Crossroad volunteer would be one who enjoys traveling abroad, adaptable and open to cultural immersion, and has strong convictions to help others on the international level. An ideal candidate would be able to handle, in a mature manner, any challenge, both physically and emotionally, that may present itself within the trip.

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Brazil Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 5

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Global Crossroad's Mission Statement: Global Crossroad offers many remarkable and challenging volunteer, internship, mini-adventure, and cultural immersion opportunities to interested international volunteers in marvelous countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Mongolia, Ghana, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya. Our unique programs are creative and exciting, as they engage volunteers in breathtaking journeys. Here, a volunteer can become involved in service projects while they explore remote villages. A volunteer can also learn a wonderful new heritage as the Global Crossroad provides language training courses and cultural tours.

Year Founded: 2002