Orientation
When you arrive into Rio, you will be met at the airport (unless you are already in the city) and will have an orientation with the on-site staff covering all you need to know about the project itself, such as what you will be doing, health and safety and so on. You can also expect a country and area orientation, which will cover things such as:
- The Brazilian Culture
- Money and Getting Around
- An Introduction to Rio
- What to do in your free time
- Local food and places to eat
If you feel that you haven't been given enough information in your orientation, you are more than welcome to ask the on-site project staff any questions that you want answered.
Accommodation and Meals
During your stay in Rio de Janeiro, you will be accommodated in a host family, allowing you to experience the Brazilian way of life. All host families are carefully vetted and inspected before any placement is considered and all families receive an orientation on their obligations to their guests. Accommodation may be in single or shared rooms and the accommodation is on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner). For lunch you can sample the local restaurants and get a taste for the delicious Brazilian cuisine.
Host family accommodation includes the usual facilities: shower/bath, laundry once a week as part of the family laundry, use of the telephone (as agreed with the host family), access to common living areas, etc. Guests are expected to be respectful of families and their homes at all times.
Free Time
The people of Rio pride themselves on the fact that their city has so much to keep visitors busy. You must work a minimum of ten hours a week on the project, in the morning or in the afternoon, but of course you can work as much as you like. Either way you have plenty of time to explore the city. Take the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain or hitch a ride up to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, both providing excellent views of the city, the beaches and out over the Atlantic. The beaches themselves are great for relaxing, swimming or playing volleyball and football.
The weekends are for you to spend as you wish and are a good opportunity to head a bit further out of the city to explore the surrounding area. The beaches in either direction along the coast are definitely worth exploring - they are both beautiful and deserted!
Project Support
Throughout your time in Rio you will have the support and guidance of a team of project coordinators based in the city. They will provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay.
The staff will be on hand throughout the day to ensure your comfort and safety. In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health
Project Requirements
You need plenty of enthusiasm, compassion and a general interest in helping people. You also need a high beginner level of Portuguese language.
Portuguese will be the main language used whilst on the project in order to respect staff that cannot speak English. For those who are new to the language or if you just need to brush up on the skills you already have, we recommend that you take part in our language school before your project starts.
