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CARE FOR CHILDREN IN CRECHES IN STUNNING BRAZIL!
LOCATION:
Rio de Janeiro or Florianópolis
A very deserving placement working with pre-school children that has a
high feel-good factor.
Do you fancy teaching little ones who could really use your time,
energy and affection? Throughout Brazil, in a beautiful beach town of
Florianópolis and within inner city areas of Rio de Janeiro, there are many 3-6 year old
girls and boys with magnificent spirit and from very poor families, waiting for
volunteers to share their joy with!
One particular crèche that we work with desperately needs voluntary assistance because they are in danger of being shut down by the Government
due to a lack of funds to pay for essential building repair work.
On this project you'll be working in one of our many crèches
in either
Florianópolis or Rio de Janeiro, depending on which area you'd
like to visit. If you can't decide, why not try both....?
"This placement has incredible job satisfaction..."
Chris Bodych
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►SUMMARY
FACTFILE |
| Start Dates |
All year round - you choose your
start and finish dates! |
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Duration |
Minimum stay 2 weeks and up to 1 year, subject to visa
requirements |
| Requirements |
No qualifications needed. |
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Price |
From £775
/ US$1,165 for 2
weeks, ranging to £2,395 /
US$3,595 for 12 weeks.
Full Price List and other
Currencies |
| What's included |
►Accommodation
►Breakfast
(Rio only)
►Meeting you at the Airport
►Transfer to your accommodation
►Transport to and from
your project
►Full pre-departure support
►Local in-country team support
and backup
►24-hr emergency support
►Two free T-shirts. |
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What's not included |
Flights, Insurance,
Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and
assistance), Lunch and Dinner, Return transfer to
airport. |
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Who can do this Project? |
All our projects are
open to all nationalities.
Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+ |
Also on this page:
PROJECT OVERVIEW
For several years Travellers volunteers
have been assisting at a number of
crèches which provide day care to children between the ages of 3 -
6. These crèches are run by the government to enable parents from poor
families to seek employment without the burden of childcare. Many of the children at government-run crèches live in nearby
shanty towns, so the stable environment provided is incredibly important and
worthwhile - it provides a sense
of solidarity, education and fun for young children who are often from
broken homes where survival is a full time job.
We have a variety of
crèche placements in both Rio and
Florianópolis,
and you'll be allocated to one or
more placements. Generally due to the age and number of
children per class you may asked to assist the class’s regular teacher, with
conversational English and general classroom activities, however for other
schools you may be in charge and expected to lead the class. Below is a brief description of
two of the projects that we are currently working with – if you would like
any more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
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An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into
Latin America.
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The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and
knowing that you made a difference to them.
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New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding
of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional
development.
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An entry on your CV/resume that will put you head and
shoulders above most others in the job market
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The enormous satisfaction of learning or improving
your language skills.
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And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!
WORK CONTENT CIEP:
This is a school that also has a Crèche
for the younger children. CIEP is home to just over 500 children who
are split down into more manageable groups of around 35 kids. The Centre
caters for all ages and extends its care to include children suffering from
mental disabilities. Centres caring for children with
disabilities are sadly a rarity – making this centre very important.
As with many of the centres we work with,
CIEP provides a wide range of activities and lessons to children of a wide
range of ages. The centre accommodates children as young as three years old
upwards. Just like any other centre caring for children of such a young age,
the key is to keep things interesting and varied. A typical day may include
activities and lessons that may sometimes require you to use your initiative
and creativity - one minute you may be teaching the children to paint and
the next lesson may need you to find your rhythm as you help with a music
lesson.
The centre is great fun to volunteer with –
be prepared to get involved with a broad range of activities including
music, art, fun & games, and other recreational activities. Educational and developmental lessons are
combined in with recreational activities to provide a combination
incorporating as much physical and mental stimulation for the children as
possible.
APMI
Crèche:
APMI
crèche takes approximately 230 children with around 45 per class. The
children range from 3-6 years old. With the current waitlist standing at
over 250 children, the centre is in great need of help and assistance. The
crèche is partially supported by government funding and
they receive 17 Reais per child per month ... that is just £3.10 per child. This
centre is run by three nuns, but each class is supervised by the ‘tias’ or
auntie, the affectionate nickname given to the staff. Your role will be
primarily to assist the 'tias'
with the class. As your placement develops so will your role in the classroom.
The centre
is open Monday to Friday with the children arriving around at 7:30 am,
receiving breakfast at 8:00 am. Classes begin by 9:00 am with an hour off
for lunch at midday. The children then also enjoy an hour off for a siesta
mid-afternoon, common among children of such a young age. The children are
then picked up from the centre leaving at around 5.30 pm.
The kids of APMI love having the volunteers there, and they learn
remarkably fast with them.
APMI is in urgent
need of donations now. Having recently been informed by the School
Government Department that the crèche is responsible for rebuilding the
school before the end of this year, otherwise they will have to close it
down. The building is 70 years old and such structural building work is
highly expensive.
The government won't help with these costs.
You
will walk to the crèche from your accommodation each day. The crèche has a
playground, a video recorder and a cassette player which you can utilize.
They do not have access to anything more sophisticated such as internet
or a
library etc. Football and games of any sorts are appreciated within the
lessons and will make you even more popular amongst the kids! You will work
approximately 4 hours a day
Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 - 11:00am & 2:30 - 4:30pm.
Your role within the centre may vary through
the academic year, and may be dependent upon your overall project length;
the longer you are with the crèche the more freely they will increase your
responsibilities.
These are two of the
Crèches
we support - they
all need your help!
Each
crèche is in desperate need of both
voluntary and financial assistance - your involvement on this programme will
help to fulfil these needs. You really can
make a difference in a truly magical part of the world! At Travellers we are particularly passionate about these placements
and, in particular, helping one of the
crèches which has been forced with closure, to stay open.
If the
crèche was forced to
close, it would be such a pity as it is extremely important to young children
whose lives are a lot tougher than many of us could understand. At the moment our
volunteer project is helping the
crèche stave off closure.
"The placement has incredible job satisfaction, unrivalled by that of
teaching teenagers or older students, as a bond develops between us and the
children. As many come from broken homes and/or are stricken by poverty, they
look to us as father figures. For instance in a week we are taking them to
the local zoo, somewhere they may never have been able to go. We are also
trying to take them to the Falls, yet this will be very complicated so may
not happen, also obvious safety issues are a concern. However, normally
safety issues are not that much of a concern at the crèche compared to the
dreadful 'sue culture' coming about in England. They hurt themselves playing football or jumping about on the concrete, yet they pick
themselves up and learn not to do it again. It is actually quite refreshing
to be able to see kids play properly again".
Chris Bodych on his placement
SCHOOL
HOLIDAYS AND ... CARNAVAL!
The main school holidays are from approximately
If you are unsure about how seasonal
breaks may affect your placement, please ask us!
Carnaval
is celebrated all over Brazil. The most famous is, of
course, held in Rio, but the authentic versions of Carnaval are found
outside that city. Carnaval begins at midnight on the Friday before Ash
Wednesday and lasts for five days,
but the whole country stops for about two weeks.
"Carnaval - The planet's most spectacular annual cultural
pageant, where the
ancient world's spirit of chaotic collective delirium and abandonment of
self to the impulses of the body and a greater collective spirit is
unrivaled."
Additional Activities
you can do while on this Project:
Add to your travel experience in Brazil by doing some additional
exciting activities - you never know, you could develop a passion for
Latin American dance, or learn a new skill!
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Capoeira: A cross between a dance, a fight skill and an art form ...
fascinating and fun!
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Brazilian Music courses: Choose from a variety of local
percussion/styles
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Portuguese Language Courses: Immerse yourself in the language and you'll
be amazed at the effects it brings!
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Yoga
Courses
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Photography courses
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Latin
Dance Lessons
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Watersports, Treks and Adventure Activities
Support and guidance from Travellers
and the crèches
You'll receive
lots of care and assistance from our very
friendly and helpful UK staff,
from the first stage of applying all the way through to the end of your
placement. We are also available 24 hours a day for any urgent matter
during your time on our placement. Travellers
will send you our extremely comprehensive information pack with details on
everything - ranging from where to go on your weekend travels to what to
pack and extensive safety tips. We will also provide you with a selection of coaching
manuals that will be very useful on your project.
In Brazil you
will have the support of our Brazil Manager who will be on call 24/7 from
meeting you at the airport and will be around frequently to ensure you are
settled and happy on your placement. You will also find that the teachers at
the crèches where you work will be very happy to help you
throughout your days.
If you
speak some Portuguese (or even Spanish), you will find it very beneficial on
this project. But don't be put off if languages aren't your thing! You're
sure to pick up some of the basic words whilst you are there, and will find
other ways to converse without language becoming a barrier. Don't forget
that we can also arrange some Portuguese Lessons for you during your
programme if you would like, so if you're
interested in learning Portuguese during your placement, take a look
here.
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OPTIONAL ADD-ONS










ADDITIONAL INFORMATION




Click here to see the Crèche Project Video
May take a few seconds to load



Travellers Brazil Manager Fabio (left) and volunteers share a dinner
of pizzas

The spectacular Iguaçu Falls, Brazil |
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PAUL WHITE
– a regular volunteer with Travellers and now also an
associate staff member, visited the APMI Crèche in Brazil. This is what
he had to say: |
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"As a teaching
consultant for Travellers Worldwide I am privileged to visit a great number
of schools in many countries. Rarely however have I seen a more worthwhile
project than Creche APMI. I was immediately impressed by the happy smiling
faces of the children who were obviously enjoying their lessons.
It is clear
that the children are receiving valuable education and pastoral care whilst
at this crèche. I also noted how pleased their parents were. I was further
impressed by the staff who showed that they are dedicated to the community
they serve.
Later I
visited the shanty town where many of the children live.
I realised that the
crèche has a wider role within the community and that the staff continue
their hard work long after school finishes for the day. I have
therefore been very saddened to hear that a facility that is so essential to
the wellbeing of these children and their families may be forced to close.
I
urge anybody who can, to do whatever is possible to prevent such a tragedy
from occurring."
Paul White, Teaching
Consultant, Travellers
Worldwide
Mike,
Travellers Operations Director:
"In the summer I took part in a sponsored run to raise money specifically
for the APMI Crèche. I managed to raise £175 and I'm continuing to
fundraise". Travellers Director, Jennifer Perkes, agreed to personally
match the amounts that Mike raised, so between them, an extra £350 has been donated to
the Crèche.
Elizabeth,
Project Coordinator: "This year, myself and my
immediate family have decided to donate some of the money we would have
spent on Christmas presents for each other to the crèche in Brazil instead.
We did something similar last year for a project in India, and it made
Christmas day so much more special: It’s lovely to give and to get Christmas
presents for the people you love, but it’s actually a whole lot nicer to
know you’ve made a tangible contribution to someone who has so little…The
children here will get SO much more out of this money than I would out of
another pair of socks!" :-)
Jennifer
Perkes, Travellers MD: "When people say to me that
they they admire Travellers because it has a heart, I always reply that
Travellers' heart is made up of two things, its volunteers and its people, and ours have the biggest
heart in the world! I'm am greatly honoured to be surrounded by such
enthusiastic and dedicated people. They change people's lives on a daily
basis, and they help our volunteers to do the same. Mine is the best job in
the world." |
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ACCOMMODATION |
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ACCOMMODATION IN RIO DE JANEIRO:
Accommodation is situated in the Flamengo
region of Rio - just a hop, skip and a jump away from famous Copacabana
beach! This is a great place to be as you will be only 3 minutes away from
the metro station, opposite the Catete Palace and you will be able to visit
Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue with great ease.
You will be staying in a dorm room in a brand new hostel which has been set up by an artist
with a wish to create a hostel that is different to anything else in Rio.
Set in a beautiful redeveloped building from the end of the 19th century,
you will be surrounded by wonderful Brazilian art, dipping you straight into
the culture from the first minute you arrive!
With over 110 beds, some decorated with an “art” theme you will be sure to
meet like-minded travellers, other volunteers and artists from all over the
world! The hostel currently has internet and WiFi, a
common area, TV room, library, book exchange, safes, a terrace area for
socializing, and a housekeeping service. It also has a bike rental service. They often have popular music
from Brazil with live music on occasion and a fantastically vibrant,
friendly atmosphere.
If you'd like to upgrade to a double or
single room, just let us know at time of booking and we can arrange it for
you. There will be a small supplement for the upgrade. All rooms have their own bathroom and
individual cupboard with a key for security.
Eating out is one of the highlights of living
in South America, and an essential part of Brazilian culture! Because of
this, the price of your placement includes your breakfast but not lunch or dinner,
thus giving you the freedom to sample some of the fabulous food
which Rio is famous for. Breakfast currently includes fruits and
juices (try the acai – a delicious berry to sprinkle on your granola
cereal), coffee, milk, bread, cheese, ham, butter, jams and sweet cakes
(popular in Brazil for breakfast) amongst other things. You'll be allowed to use the kitchen
facilities whenever it is not being used by the hotel staff.
The Brazilians have a passion for food. They spend long, balmy evenings dining in restaurants and al fresco
in the city’s buzzing streets on fare from the traditional Feijoada (black beans and pork stew) or Mariscada (seafood stew) to modern
global cuisine rivalling that of any other international city! You might
also like to indulge in a caipiranha, Brazil’s
traditional carnival drink made with lime and cachaça, best enjoyed in the
sunshine with a churrasco, which is a Brazilian barbeque of rice, meats and
– of course – salsa!
The cost of eating out in Rio can vary from a just a couple of pounds up to
a couple of hundred pounds! This is one city where you certainly won’t have
any trouble eating well on a tight budget - there are some very inexpensive
options available and you'll dine out handsomely on about £4 ($6) (estimate
correct at time of writing); although
you could be lucky and get away with spending even less and still be eating
well. The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the bargain eateries
offering specials such as buffet lunches. Also don’t forget the supermarkets
are a good option and are comparable in standard to those found back home.
Area: The hostel is located only a 15 minute-walking distance away from the Arches of ‘Lapa’,
‘Cinelandia’ and ‘Flamengo’, from where you can visit Sugar Loaf Mountains (Pao
de Acucar) and the Statue of Christ, the Redeemer; only 3 minutes away from
‘Catete’ Underground station, where you can catch the train and get to
‘Copacabana’ or ‘Ipanema’ beach in less than 15 minutes. There are several
banks, ATMs, supermarkets, drugstores, cinema, hotels, shops, etc., all
within a couple of minutes away, which makes the area interesting and busy
even in the night time! The options for entertainment are endless too; one
night you can choose to watch a film at the cinema; the other you can just
chill out with friends in a local bar or pub.
ACCOMMODATION IN FLORIANOPOLIS:
For a complete cultural experience in Florianópolis you will live with one of
our selected host families that help Travellers to make your placement as much
enjoyable as possible.
All of our host families are welcoming and will provide you a very familiar
environment.
We believe that this is the best way to become integrated into the local culture
- you'll be much more that just a “tourist” and the added benefits are that
often our host families introduce you to their families and friends and they
often invite our volunteers to many local events, such as football matches,
cinema, a drink in a local pub in the evening after a day of work, birthday
parties, family Sunday’s meals, a ride to the beach, etc.
It’s also a great opportunity to learn Portuguese in an easy and natural way.
The family you'll live with will be allocated according to the location of your
project, the number of volunteers at the same time as you, any personal issues
(such as if you’re allergic to pets, for example), but all our host families are near to launderettes, supermarkets, shops, banks, pharmacies,
internet cafes, etc., and located in safe areas. The centre of the city is usually a 20-minute bus ride
away.
You may share a room with another Travellers’ volunteer and you will get contact
details of all the other volunteers who are in Florianópolis at the same time as
you so you can be in touch with them.
Food:
Meals are not provided for you but you will be allowed to use the kitchen
facilities to store your food and cook whatever you want. It’s common that
the family members invite you to join them at meals when everyone is at
home, especially at weekends. You will also receive orientation about local restaurants,
many of
which can be very cheap, sometimes cheaper than cooking at home.
The bathrooms are Western style and have hot water. |

Art Hostel Exterior in Rio

Host Family Accommodation in Florianópolis

Accommodation bedroom in Florianópolis
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TRAVEL:
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For
Florianópolis,
you'll more than likely fly into
Sao Paulo or Rio, as these are the nearest international airports. From
there you can either fly to
Florianópolis
or you have the option to take a comfortable bus/coach ride instead. The trip
takes about 18 hours and is an excellent way to see some of the country. For Rio, you'll fly
into the international airport.
When you arrive, you'll be welcomed by
our local Organiser and introduced to the people you'll be living and working
with.
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Limited, ATOL No. 6856.
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the
same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other
volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up
before leaving for your placement.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our
volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination
country.
Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa
and the level of your air ticket,
of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get
a changeable ticket.
VISAS:. In countries where visas or
immigration documents are required, we'll send you all the necessary forms and
information and make the process very easy for you.
To read about the excellent Support
& Backup we provide before you leave and during
your programme,
please click here.
We can also arrange your flight
dates
to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a
fascinating and wondrous country!
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Rio's perfect white sand on Barra beach



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