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TEACH UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN BRAZIL
LOCATION:
Rio de Janeiro or Florianópolis.
Two different locations, each with their own special attractions.
Teach
Conversational English in this hot tropical paradise to deserving
children and adults who need your help!
A
stimulating yet laid-back experience in one of the most beautiful and
diverse countries in
the world.
You may want to
work at one institute or you may be keen to spread your help between a selection
of institutes. Our projects are very well structured but, as with all things
Brazilian, also pretty laid back!
You don't need any qualifications to
participate in a teaching placement in Brazil.
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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, just a
big dose of enthusiasm! |
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Price |
From £775 /
US$1,165 for 2 weeks, ranging to £2,195 / US$3,295 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, Lunch & 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
You can teach a huge variety of subjects in
Brazil, in just about every type of institution, with children,
teenagers and adults. Teaching here is exciting and rewarding. You will
have students from a variety of backgrounds, and you are
likely to learn about their culture as they will hopefully
learn from you. Many of the children that you will teach, particularly in
Rio, are from some of the poorest areas, but they are full of life and their cheeky
manner is infectious and endearing!
We have a selection of institutions that you
can teach at, each one individual with its own atmosphere and attraction.
Some cater for children ranging in age, from the very young, where you will
probably spend more time playing than teaching, to older children who will
be excited to meet a foreigner like you and probably won't stop talking in a
mixture of Portuguese and what little English they know!
This placement is an all-round experience of volunteering. However if
you have any specifications (for example - you might only want to teach sport),
just let us know and we can tailor-make the program you are looking for. Otherwise, you may
wish to go with the flow and volunteer in a variety of worthwhile institutes for a
diverse experience. You may also work
with adults who want to improve their English so that they can improve their
career prospects - here you'll be able to have more in depth conversations. As well as English, you can teach the
following subjects in Brazil:
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Music
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Dance (modern, contemporary, ballet, etc.)
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Art
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Drama
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IT
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Sports (Football, Basketball, Netball, Volleyball
on the beach!) and various other sports - see also the
coaching sports page
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
As well as providing much needed assistance
to children within schools, Travellers have also developed a number of
partnerships with social projects aimed at providing English lessons and recreational activities
to street children or those from disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Our projects provide educational assistance
and also encourage children to see the 'good side' of the world
by taking them away from the violence and poverty that they live in and
encouraging them to see things in a different way. Such children have the
opportunity to develop social skills and life skills. Along with the co-ordinators
of such projects you'll be acting as a positive role model to children,
keeping them away from the dangers of the streets. It is not uncommon for
children, particularly in Rio's poorer areas to never have left their village. Many will be amazed and confused that you
speak an entirely different language - and they'll want to learn it too!
We have a huge variety of placements dotted
in and around the city of Rio de Janeiro, some right next to the beach and
some a little further inland. You'll no doubt work with several different
institutions, depending on what age groups you'd like to work with.
All projects
are within 45 minutes of your hotel accommodation and you will live and play
with all of our other Travellers Rio-volunteers!
Below are brief descriptions of
some of the projects that we are currently working with – if you would like
any more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.
CIEP:
This is a state school located towards the
north of Rio, on the outskirts of the city. It was once a near derelict
building in an area of extreme poverty where many residents had no access to
sanitation or running water. Five years ago, a new principal took over the
management of the school, and worked tirelessly to not only renovate the
building of the school but to change the mindset of the pupils and their
families in the surrounding villages. With donations gained privately and
through local sponsorship, she has managed to create an environment that
encourages learning, both through the curriculum for children at school, and
through extra curricular activities provided for free to children and adults
in the community.
The schools main objective is to keep children in off the
streets, so it provides activities throughout the day and in the evenings in
the hope that children will want to stay all day, every day..... and they do! On
top of this, children receive a nutritious meal at lunchtime, which is
usually their only meal of the entire day. For many children their parents
can't afford to provide food, so on Fridays and Monday's they receive the
largest meal of the week to keep them going over the weekend. The enthusiasm
from the principal and staff (many of whom are volunteers themselves) has
the most incredible effect on the children - despite their circumstances and
the daily hardships that they face, they simply love school!! You will be
welcomed with open arms to teach whatever you can, including sports
(football, basketball), music, art, IT and other recreational activities!
However, all of the teachers are very excited about being able to offer
students the possibility to learn English.
Some of the teachers at this school speak English and
will assist you in your volunteering. It is open from 7am to 10pm and your
work will constitute 4 to 5 hours a day. There are approximately 500 children here,
with around 35 to a class. The children are all ages. This centre also
accommodates children with mental disabilities.
Vicky Boughton, Travellers Manager, said of her
visit to this school: "I was introduced to each
classroom by the principal, who explained to the children that I was from
England and didn't understand Portuguese. Their mouths fell open that
someone from another country had come to visit! Many of these children have
never even been into Rio itself, so you can imagine their excitement and
surprise at a foreigner being there.
She taught the children in each class
how to say 'GOOD MORNING, VICKY', and they all chanted it at the tops of
their voices. She then asked them in Portuguese, 'Who wants to learn
English', to which everyone's hands shot up in the air! At lunch, I was
surrounded by happy, giggling children asking me to "Fala Ingles" (speak
English) - they were fascinated to hear words that they couldn't understand
and we had fun comparing the English and Portuguese words for parts of the
body. A good
lesson in Portuguese for me as well!
The principal is incredibly genuine and
passionate about the school and is viewed as a mother figure by many of the
children. When I left, she couldn't thank me enough for being part of
setting up this programme, which will give children at the school the
opportunity to be exposed to native English speakers. This project is going
to be a huge success - the school is incredible and heartbreaking at the
same time, anyone volunteering here will fall in love with it's magical
atmosphere!"
BALLET DE SANTA TEREZA:
This is a
non-profit institution providing
a range of extra-curricular programs to children, teenagers and families who
live in surrounding areas, many of whom are vulnerable to the less desirable aspects
and sub-cultures of modern-day city life.
The institute tries to give children social stability
through encouraging participation in activities that stimulate social and
cultural awareness and encourage stronger integration among community
members.
The focus of Ballet de Santa Tereza is on teaching dance, but
aside from this you can also help take lessons in drama, art
(usually painting) or English teaching. There are also music lessons where
you can 'jam' with the children. The institution is
desperate to receive volunteers, whether it is to teach English or take
ballet (one of their more popular programs).
Most of the team at the centre are local community volunteers
who are willing to give their help freely. They say that the
satisfaction they get from seeing the smiling faces of the children is worth
more than any amount of money in the world!
Unfortunately sometimes lessons have to be called off because
of the lack of available teachers – so you will certainly help to make a
difference and keep the centre going through taking part in this project.
The centre is open from 9am to 6pm and
you'll usually work for around 4 to 5 hours a day.
There are approximately 140 children aged between 3-18 years, with around 25
per class.
Stephanie White, says of her placement at
Santa Tereza: "Everyone at
Ballet De Santa Tereza made me feel at home and it was a brilliant
experience. I really couldn't of asked for a better bunch of kids! The
children at Santa Tereza are so much fun and very talented, I became very
close to them all and I miss them very much! A lot of the families there
don't have much when it comes to material things but their culture and
lively personalities make up for that!
Ballet De Santa Tereza is a great
organisation, the children enjoy every day there! I suppose it is like an
escape for them! I would definitely recommend a trip out to Rio and
volunteering somewhere like Ballet De Santa Tereza, it really was the best
time of my life!"
Fundação Nosso Lar
About 26 students in total with 6 to 8 students per class ranging in age
from 7 to 16 years. Volunteers will teach here for 3-4 hours a day Monday to
Friday. Volunteers can teach English, music or art here. The children at
this school are very poor and they have practically no knowledge of English
presently.
Sometimes you will be asked to assist the class’s regular teacher, with
conversational English, whilst at other times you may be in charge and
expected to take the lead for the class.
Associação Benedita da Providência –
Creche Mamãe Carolina
This school hosts 120 pupils from young children to young teenagers with
classes of about 27. You will teach 3 to 4 hours a day during the working
week. Again the children here are poor with no knowledge of English
currently.
SCNSA - Sociedade Civil Nossa Senhora
Aparecida
Located 20 minutes away on the outskirts of Iguaçu, the SCNSA complex
has a wide range of social services, including a fully operational hospital,
dental surgery and a crèche. The SCNSA has approximately 200 infants aged
4-6 (you'll work with some of them in the mornings) and approximately 250
adolescents aged 12 – 18, some of whom you'd work with in the afternoons. Group
sizes vary but the average is between 30 to 35. Your role and
responsibilities may vary greatly from day to day - you may be asked to work
independently, in pairs, or as part of a team under supervision. Activities
range from informal fun and games to a more structured teaching schedule.
The teaching programme is designed to address all of the students’
developmental needs, both academically and socially.
New Wave Private Language Centre
Here you can teach conversational English to students who range in age
from about 16 upwards in the ‘schools'. These students appreciate the
benefits of learning English and the effect it will have on their working
lives and their future, thus teaching them is very satisfying. The schools
have a lovely atmosphere and group sizes usually are not larger than 15 -
group sizes generally range from 8 to 12, making easily manageable classes
and a friendly and inviting atmosphere. Classrooms are small and intimate,
with good teaching facilities.
"New Wave school
where I teach is amazing. They have excellent facilities, staff and
students are friendly and I feel part of the teaching team when I attend
teacher meetings every other Friday at 2.00p.m. There are three branches
of the school so you have a variety of classes."
Videesha
Kunkulagunta Some of the schools are located in the centre
of town within walking distance of your accommodation. Others are slightly
further away but can be reached easily via public transport. Transport to and from your
school is covered by Travellers.
Whilst a basic grasp of Portuguese will be
extremely helpful on this placement, it is not mandatory and there are
English speaking teachers/supervisors at all the centres who will help you
with translation. It is worth considering combining a short language course
with your volunteer placement to fully get the most out of your experience.
If you're interested in this please have a look
here or ask us for more details.
Before you go - you can enroll in a
1-day
intensive open teacher training course (optional)
if you're unsure about teaching.
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 begins at midnight on the Friday before Ash
Wednesday and lasts for five days,
but the whole country stops for about two weeks. 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 - 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
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