Community Work and Visit to Iguazu Falls in Brazil

  Brazil

Foz do Iguazu

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description: Brazil, renowned for thousands of miles of palm fringed golden beaches, the Amazon, the mighty Iguazu Falls, the Pantanal wetlands, Rio and carnival. This placement allows volunteers to experience this country from a unique combination of two perspectives; as a tourist enjoying the best of what Brazil has to offer and as a member of the local community on your voluntary placement.

Your Experience

This placement is based close to the incredible Iguazu Falls in the south of Brazil in the town of Foz do Iguazu (ee-wa-su). Volunteers can choose to teach English to small groups of children or help supervise art/play activities. No experience is necessary, just a commitment to have a go. English teaching materials provided. Volunteers teach/assist during the afternoons Monday to Friday between 1:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. Mornings are usually spent preparing for the afternoon's activities, relaxing by the pool, exploring the town and arranging activities/travel for the weekend. Placements can also be arranged for volunteers with a background in special needs or for those interested in gaining some experience in this area. Volunteers working with special needs usually assist for three days a week and combine this with play/activity based placement elsewhere.

Volunteers may want to attend Portuguese or Spanish classes during their stay and help will be provided to find a suitable course on arrival.

Highlights: Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world is a land of wonders and is still mostly undiscovered by British tourists. It can almost feel like a continent rather than a country, taking weeks to travel overland from one side to another. Despite its size, most Brazilians live on or near the coast and consider their country a frontier country.

Your placement is located in a popular destination with bus load after bus load arriving at the local bus terminal every day from around the world to marvel at the impressive Falls. Don't think that one visit will be enough either! There are two sides of the Falls to visit, the Argentinean side and the Brazilian side both competing to offer visitors the best experience. You will need to allow at least a day's visit to each and possibly another visit to include a boat trip, a helicopter ride over the Falls or a guided trip into the jungle.

A trip to the Falls is the main purpose of a trip to the region and this is also a perfect base for a longer trips. During your weekends there is plenty of time to get away to the quirky riverside capital of Paraguay (5 hours by bus, £30) and the Jesuit Ruins in Argentina or Paraguay.

After your placement a trip further afield from Foz to Bonito is a must-see and one of South America's best kept secrets. A trip can easily be arranged after your arrival in Foz with a local tour operator and trips can include snorkelling and exploring the azure waters of the underground caverns, horse riding and fishing.

Or you could take one of many over night luxury coaches (approx. £30 return) to the island of Santa Caterina -a surfer and beach lover's paradise .

For further inspiration before your trip to the region check out the 1980s film The Mission with Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons which was filmed here. This film will give you a flavour of the area's turbulent history and of the Guarani Indians.

Qualifications: Portuguese is not needed to be a successful volunteer on this placement. Your accommodation hosts speak fluent English.

Cost in US$: GBP 36 per week

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: This project is ideal if one or more of the following apply to you: - I am thinking about a longer stay but am unsure about committing at this stage. - I would like to use this placement as an ideal base for exploring the area during my free-time (Paraguay, Argentina). - I would like a comfortable introduction to life in Latin America.

Age Range: 18 above

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Brazil Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Written Application

Original Volunteers's Mission Statement: Original Volunteers sends volunteers abroad rather than large financial contributions from volunteers. We accept applications from anyone with passion to get stuck in and make change happen regardless of age or background. We provide programs that are fun, rewarding, and affordable, as well as different opportunities for learning and self-development. The projects we work with values the physical (rather than financial) contribution of the volunteer.

Year Founded: 2006