Our Brazil Fact File will give you background information on certain areas of Brazil. We are constantly updating the Brazil Fact File with new information so you can get a great insight into Brazil before you decide to travel there.
Brazil is a country of amazing contrasts and contradictions. It is intoxicating, vibrant and breath-taking. A visit to Brazil guarantees a lifelong bank of memories and hopefully a life-changing experience.
For an introduction to these contrasts you need only look as far as the influence in different regions. In the extreme south, German and Italian immigration has left distinctive European features; São Paulo has the world's largest Japanese community outside of Japan; there's a large black population concentrated in Rio and Salvador; while the Indian influence is most visible in the people of Amazônia and Northeastern interior.
Brazil is also a land of profound economic contradictions. Rapid postwar industrialisation made Brazil one of the world's ten largest economies and put it among the most developed of Third World countries. But this has not improved the lot of the vast majority of Brazilians. The cities are dotted with favelas, shantytowns that crowd the skyscrapers, and the contrast between rich and poor is one of the most glaring anywhere.
Full Country Name: República Federativa do Brasil Area: 8.51 million km squared Population: 175 million Capital City: Brasília Language: Portugese
Brazil's Religion: 70% Roman Catholic; also a significant proportion who either belong to various cults or practice Indian animism. Brazil Borders: French Guyana, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
If there is any aspect of Brazil you would like more information about, please do not hesitate to contact our South America team.
Help families break the poverty circle by teaching English, mentoring children, organising leisure activities and helping with the running of the day care centre. Your efforts will help them towards employment in the future.
Work with children from the local Pavão – Pavãozinho community in the South Zone of Rio. The education centre cares for 353 children from ages 3 months to 18 years. The centre aims to deliver education and medical care, to children and their families who are living in social risk situations.
Help brighten up the lives of underprivileged children in Rio. Whether you teach them English, play games with them or run arts and crafts sessions, you’ll improve their self-confidence and social skills.
Get involved with efforts to help blind people lead normal lives. Accompany residents on daily errands and leisure activities, type up materials and promote the project work. A challenging but very rewarding programme.
Teach English, take part in vocational and health workshops, organise leisure activities and help with fundraising. You’ll give people of all ages the chance of a better education and a better life.
Give vulnerable children a better quality of life by teaching English, football and other subjects. You’ll assist with homework, build up their confidence and help them to a brighter future.
Learn Portuguese and make visiting Brazil a more involved experience. Small, classes, innovative teaching methods, cultural activities and accommodation with a local family make learning quick and enjoyable.
Put your love of tennis to a worthwhile cause and coach underprivileged children. Help out with sessions, organise your own classes and competitions, umpire in the community – you’ll be amazed by what sport can do.
Explore the true heart of Rio whilst making a real difference to the city’s underprivileged communities. Get involved in a broad range of projects from educational support and health programmes to working with handicapped teenagers from low-income communities.
Study two martial art forms: jiu-jitsu and capoeira. Take lessons with locals, practise the techniques and learn about the history behind the art. You’ll find out why size doesn’t count when it comes to jiu-jitsu…!
Master the basics of rock climbing above a truly spectacular city. Learn the ropes(!), and in your free time, relax on the beach or explore Rio de Janeiro’s many other attractions.
Take part in a truly unique project. Give English lessons in the morning, help build the touring, floating school in the afternoon then learn capoeira from locals in the evening. No experience needed, just enthusiasm!
Incorporate education and conservation as you travel by boat around the islands of the Tinhare Archipelago raising environmental awareness amongst children. You will also be involved in tree planting, assist with local environmental research and even producing a theatrical performance to raise environmental awareness!
Become fully immersed in Brazilian culture and lifestyle through language lessons, cultural studies, Capoeira and drumming classes and homestay accommodation in the historic city of Salvador.
After redundancy, Sally decided to see the world. She enjoyed our South Africa Wildlife Course so much that within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK she booked onto the Malaysia Orangutan Experience and the Thai Adventure! Read more..
Recently viewed projects
Gap Year for Grown Ups provides Career Break Voluntary Projects and Culture & Language programmes throughout South America and Central America. They have the best available Community voluntary projects as well as a number of Conservation Volunteer Projects to choose from. Combine these voluntary work placements abroad with learning Spanish in South America.
For useful volunteer travel advice to South America from Gap Year For Grown Ups, use the following links:
