Volunteering is not only a cultural exchange to learn from each other but also an effort to help building a better world.
Volunteer programs in Brazil are a unique experience and there are lots of different projects available to join all year round in places like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador Bahia, the Pantanal and the Amazon Rainforest.
Most projects have a focus on education, community development, wildlife and conservation.
Top Reasons to Volunteer in Brazil
Why is Brazil one of the most popular places to volunteer in South America? These are some reasons why you should go:
Meet some of the friendliest people on the planet
Brazil is a very warm, welcoming destinations. Local people fully appreciate the efforts of volunteers and go out of their way to help you make it a home. You’ll learn so more about the people, country and culture.
Make a real difference
Volunteer positions in Brazil are available in various areas and we would be glad to help you find one. You can work on social areas with children, nature conservation or help with an ecological project.
See spectacular destinations in your spare time
Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, Pantanal, Foz do Iguazu waterfalls, the beaches – Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Best Volunteer Programs in Brazil
Below you can find some examples of the kinds of projects on offer. If you are interested in volunteering in an area you don’t see below, local and international organisations do their best to accommodate all requests.
• animal welfare
• building and construction
• childcare/children, handicapped, orphans and street kids
• community development and social work
• conservation, environment and reforestation
• culture and eco-tourism
• education and teaching
• health care, medicine and nursing
• human rights
• organic farming
Volunteer Teaching Programs
Some projects are based in nurseries, primary and secondary schools and require volunteers to teach the English language along with a range of extracurricular activities such as art, sports and basic computer studies. Schools are a central part of the community. As a volunteer, you would therefore have a key role in this, becoming involved in Brazilian life and the social activities.
Community and Health Projects
Several healthcare organisations and NGO’s in Brazil to provide voluntary support to Brazilian families and communities through community health programs.
Volunteers on community and public health programs in Brazil provide voluntary service in coordinating program management units, promoting participation among children and evaluating Brazilian communities and family health programs.
HIV and AIDS Service
Help promote awareness and prevention of the disease in Brazil. By participating in this program volunteers abroad in South America, you will help increase awareness of HIV and AIDS and save lives among Brazilian communities.
Overseas volunteers can help the HIV/AIDS Awareness and Care Program by: helping with informational events, developing action plans, distributing educational leaflets and condoms, and speaking to and uniting communities in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Public Health Volunteer
Volunteer with Nature and Environment
Recycling of plastics is an area of great need in major cities of Brazil. Recycled plastics including bottles are used to make furniture, creating new job opportunities and generating income. Volunteering on this project entails providing assistance to local bottle recycling teams in the collection and arrangement of plastics for recycling.
Volunteering in Brazil FAQ
What languages do I need to speak?
Some knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish is recommended but not mandatory in most cases. If you can grasp a little, it will definitely take you a long way. Some organisations offer Portuguese courses in Brazil providing you with the basic needed language skills.
When is the best time to participate?
Any time is just as good.
When do the programs begin?
Weekly/monthly depending on the project.
Are there age limits?
18 and over or under 18 if accompanied by guardian or with group e.g. an organised school trip.
What is the weather in Brazil like?
Brazil is a large country with five climatic regions. Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador on the coast have warm climates balanced by the constancy of the Trade Winds, so that there doesn’t seem to be distinct seasons in this region. Although summer is between May and November, along the Atlantic coast from Recife to Rio de Janeiro, mean temperature in the year range from 73°F (23°C) to 81°F (27°C). Most of Brazil has moderate rainfall of between 39 to 59 inches (1,000 to 1,500 millimeters) a year, with most of the rain falling in the summer. The winters tend to be dry, albeit cooler.
What kind of visa do I need? Do I need a work permit?
You will need a tourist visa since you are categorised as a tourist because you do not get paid for any services you provide while in the country. For the same reason you do not need a work visa. A non-tourist visa is unnecessary, difficult to obtain and twice as expensive as the tourist visa.
How much time do I have to spend on programs?
You can usually spend a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks on programs in Brazil.
How much money should I bring for food, transport and my personal expenses in Brazil?
The amount of money you bring depend on you. Most participants can live on USD 20 per week for personal out of pocket expenses excluding food and transport. You can budget for about USD 5.00 per week for transport to and from project and USD 63 for your meals for a total of USD 68.00 per week. A weekend out will cost you between $ 200 and $500.
Where will I live during my time in your program in Brazil?
Volunteers and interns in Brazil will most likely live in a special volunteers house. Rarely, when there is an overflow in the house, overseas participants are housed in local youth hostels. Houses are usually equipped with cooking facilities so volunteers can prepare their own meals. International volunteers may also eat at local Brazilian restaurants. If you would rather stay at a hostel or hotel that can be arranged with costs borne independently by you.
What are the living conditions like in Brazil?
Volunteer houses and hostels will be standard accommodation with running water and electricity; you might have to share a room with another person of your gender.
What is the food like in Brazil?
Brazilian food is hard to define, but comes close to international cuisine: pasta, seafood, beef, and chicken. Except in Brazil, these are served with a regional flavor. Brazilian beef is made from open range and grass-fed cows making for a very lean beef which comes in uniquely Brazilian cuts such as picanha (tender rump steak), fraldinha (bottom sirloin), or alcatra (top sirloin). And of course, no Brazilian meal is complete without farofa and rice or black beans.