Community Work in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  Brazil

• Rio de Janeiro: 
Rio de Janeiro

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

Description: 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 cant 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.

*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.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights:
* Making a positive impact on the lives of the people you work with
* Learning from the enthusiasm and passion for life of the people at your project
* Getting to know Rio - one of the world's most incredible cities

Qualifications: 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.

Cost in US$: USD 2195.00 for 4 weeks, USD 220.00 for every week thereafter

* Accommodation: Shared room in guesthouse
* Food: Food is not included; you will need to purchase your own food (budget approximately USD 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

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and European Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Brazil Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994