Brazil: Volunteer Care/Orphanage work

Brazil: Volunteer Care-Work with Children

• Placement locations: Niteroi
• Types of care projects: Day care centres, orphanages
• Age of children: 2 - 18
• Number of people cared for:
  15 - 30
• Role: Assisting with local staff including playing with children, basic teaching and giving general help
• Accommodation: Host families
• Price: From £1795
• What’s included? Food, accommodation, transfers, insurance, personal webpage, induction and orientation, 24/7 support, social activities
• What’s not included? Flights, visa costs, spending money
• Length of placement: From one month
• Start dates: Flexible

As a volunteer on a Care project in Brazil you will have an important role to play, whether you are a trained professional offering us the benefit of your experience or on a gap year or career break looking for some experience of development work. Everybody is welcomed, provided they are willing to work hard and be committed to the role, their work-colleagues and the children they are there to help.

In whichever volunteer Care project you find yourself, you need to be ready for a challenge. Many of the children have had very difficult lives and may be desperate for attention. There are likely to be some who have health problems or who require special attention due to disabilities. Your job is to help to improve their lives in whatever way possible. This will be quite varied; it may involve playing games with them or helping with their homework. You may even want to take a group out on a trip. Projects Abroad will support you in any way that we can.

Voluntary work at orphanages and care centres with Projects Abroad

Brazil may now be the eighth largest economy in the world, but it is also a country with one of the largest disparities between rich and poor. At Projects Abroad we are attempting to get right to the heart of this problem. Though we don't pretend we can solve the social problems of this incredible country, we can work to make a difference to the lives of a good number of these children. But we cannot do this without the help of our volunteers.

Our Care placements are based in Niteroi in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The placements are spread throughout the town and are normally within walking distance or a short bus ride from your host family.

We work with orphanages, day care centres and community centres, with young children through to teenagers, wherever our volunteers can really help to make a difference.

The orphanages we collaborate with are relatively small, allowing you to build strong relationships with each child and have an impact on their daily lives. You will be working alongside committed local staff to provide practical help and friendship to the many children who are in need of support.

Working at a day care centre for young children you’ll assist the local teachers. The children will be aged between 2 and 14 years old, you’ll play games, but may also be asked to ensure the younger ones are washed and dressed and help with their meals.

Some volunteers work at community centres for older children and teenagers, in addition to arranging games and activities you may also be required to help with homework, personal and social education or support. It may also be beneficial if you can provide informal English tuition.

The schools and community centres have their main holidays from mid-December to mid-February, with a shorter holiday in July. Volunteers are able to travel or enjoy the festivities with their host family over the Christmas period, then from the second week of January we organise a variety of holiday programmes.