Community Development Volunteer Program in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
Interested in being a Community Development volunteer in Brazil? International Volunteer HQ’s Community project allows volunteers to get involved in activities that benefit low-income communities in Rio. Many of our volunteers work with an organization which gives children opportunities through Arts and Music. Volunteers with renovation skills will also be very welcome. The more information you can provide in your application form regarding your skills the better.
Highlights:
- Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
- Affordable fees from CA$1014 for 3 weeks
- Includes accommodation, daily breakfast, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Make a meaningful difference to disadvantaged communities
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Explore Brazil’s world-famous beaches
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Stay in a hostel in the pretty bayside area of Gloria, Rio de Janeiro
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Disadvantaged communities in Rio de Janeiro struggle with a number of issues that impact the wellbeing of their people. As a Community Development volunteer, you’ll be assisting local teams and other volunteers working on events and initiatives to improve their community. You’ll be helping with the tasks that are top priority for them at the time so you know what you do will be worthwhile and appreciated.
Community volunteer work varies widely, but could include:
- Restoration projects
- Gardening
- Arts projects
- Health education and awareness
- Technology, media and design
- Environmental development
Please note this project has a minimum duration of three weeks.
Why do Community Development volunteering in Rio De Janeiro with IVHQ?
When you join the Community Development project in Brazil, you’ll be helping out local neighbourhoods while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Supporting disadvantaged communities
- Assisting with a variety of projects
- Gaining community development experience
- Practicing your Portugese
- Developing your communication skills
- Immersing yourself fully in the Brazilian culture
- Exploring Brazil’s most famous city, Rio de Janeiro
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.
- All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Brazil photo gallery
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit”My favorite moment from the volunteer experience was walking into the project every day and being greeted by warm smiling faces, happy to see me. With a little time and effort, anyone can make a big difference to peoples lives. Don't over think it, just do it !!”
Shane, British, 52
Read reviews from Community Development volunteers in Rio De Janeiro
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Location
IVHQ’s volunteer projects are based in the glittering city of Rio de Janeiro. It’s the second largest city in Brazil and home to glorious beaches, breathtaking scenery and a huge selection of cultural activities including the world’s biggest street parade, Carnival.
The volunteer accommodation is based in Glória, a bayside neighborhood in central Rio which is close to Copacabana Beach and many restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and tourist attractions.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month and volunteers need to arrive into Rio de Janeiro on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) in Rio de Janeiro. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Rio. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in Brazil prior to your volunteer program, you will need to arrange your own transport to the hostel accommodation.
Orientation is hosted by our Brazil team at their office in Rio de Janeiro. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Brazil - an introduction to Brazil, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local team member and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours at the placement are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day is as follows:
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast at the hostel. |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteeers travel to their placements. |
| 8:30 - 2:00 PM | Volunteers join the placement staff and begin work. There is usually a morning tea break and lunch break. |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their accommodation, go sightseeing, hit the beach, or do some shopping. |
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have free time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Rio de Janeiro and other areas of Brazil. Popular tourist activities include relaxing on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, climbing Corcovado Mountain, visiting the statue of Christ the Redeemer, catching the cable car to get a 360-degree view of the city from Sugar Loaf Mountain, horse trekking and wildlife spotting in the Pantanal wetlands, exploring Iguazu Falls and trekking through the Amazon.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers stay in a hostel in the central Rio neighbourhood of Glória, which is a short walk from the metro station.
You can expect to share a bedroom with 5 to 8 other volunteers of both genders. Bedrooms have bunk beds with bedding and air conditioning provided. All rooms have a communal, co-ed bathroom equipped with western toilets and hot showers. You should bring your own towel or can rent one at the hostel for 5 BRL. Lockers are available but you’ll need your own padlock.
Accommodation upgrades to private or matrimonial rooms or homestays can be requested subject to availability at an additional cost after registering for the program. All upgrades must be arranged through the local team prior to your arrival. Additional accommodation before and after your program can also be arranged subject to availability. Please ask your IVHQ program manager for more details.
WiFi is available for volunteers to use at the hostel. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.
Due to the higher costs over busy Carnival week, an accommodation surcharge will apply to any volunteers on the program over the Carnival week period.
Meals
You’ll be provided with breakfast at the hostel, but will need to arrange your own lunch and dinner. Breakfast generally consists of coffee, tea, natural fruit juice, fruit, bread, butter, jam, cheese, ham and cake.
The hostel has cooking facilities to prepare meals and there are nearby shops to buy food. If you have any special dietary requirements for breakfast, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | CA$1014 Equivalent to CA$48/day |
| 4 weeks | CA$1226 Equivalent to CA$44/day |
| 5 weeks | CA$1437 Equivalent to CA$41/day |
| 6 weeks | CA$1649 Equivalent to CA$39/day |
| 8 weeks | CA$2072 Equivalent to CA$37/day |
| 10 weeks | CA$2495 Equivalent to CA$36/day |
| 12 weeks | CA$2917 Equivalent to CA$35/day |
| 16 weeks | CA$3763 Equivalent to CA$34/day |
| 20 weeks | CA$4609 Equivalent to CA$33/day |
| 24 weeks | CA$5455 Equivalent to CA$32/day |
- Accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately CA$463) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in CAD.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Brazil generally find US$250 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including lunch, dinner and miscellaneous spending.
- If your chosen duration includes the Carnival festival (scheduled for February 16th - 22nd, 2023) , a one-off surcharge will apply which covers the increase in the cost of accommodation and living in Brazil during Carnival. For those who will be on the program during this time, a US$350 surcharge will be added to the program fee.
Portuguese language lessons
Portuguese language lessons are available to all volunteers regardless of their ability. IVHQ recommends these lessons for all volunteers in Brazil unless they are fluent in Portuguese. Volunteers with a basic level of Portuguese should strongly consider these lessons to allow them to work and communicate more effectively during their program. These language lessons can be organized upon arrival in Brazil, during the program orientation. These language lessons are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Portuguese and must be paid for in Brazil to our local program staff.
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
| Capital | Brasilia |
| Population | 198.7 million |
| Languages | Portuguese |
| Currency | Real (BRL) |
| Time zone | UTC-03:00 |
Weather and climate
The climate of Brazil has a wide range of weather conditions across a large area and varied topography, but most of the country is tropical. The different climatic conditions produce environments ranging from equatorial rainforests in the north and semiarid deserts in the northeast, to temperate forests in the south and tropical savannas in central Brazil. Many regions have starkly different microclimates.
