Salvador

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Volunteer Work in Salvador

Our volunteer placements in Brazil are all with locally-run organizations, and volunteers help to support various community initiatives in Salvador:

Caregiving: Volunteers in Salvador can care for infants as young as two months to the elderly in community centers, homes for the elderly, and daycares that are often overcrowded, and lacking both resources and qualified staff. Volunteers help to energize the staff, and provide personal attention to children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Teaching: Volunteers help to teach conversational English to people of all ages in Salvador. Knowledge of English offers better opportunities for those seeking employment, and school attendance often increases when the community knows that there is a native English speaker volunteering there. Volunteers can also assist teachers of special education with sports activities, arts classes, and dance lessons for children with learning disabilities.

Healthcare: Salvador is one of the only places in the Latin American region where CCS volunteers can care for and provide companionship at support homes for people affected by HIV/AIDS. The lack of basic health education in Salvador has a strong relationship with high rates of early parenthood and HIV/AIDS, and the stigma associated with the disease means that many go undiagnosed. Volunteers can also observe and assist local health professionals in Salvador.

Community Development: Volunteers may teach English, build resumes, and share business skills with adults in Salvador at a vocational school. Many local students hope to find jobs in the tourism industry, so improving their knowledge of English is key to their future careers. Volunteers are also supporting women’s empowerment here, as classes are mostly female.

Volunteer Abroad and Insight Abroad (one week) programs are offered in Salvador, Brazil. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Salvador

Cultural & Learning Activities in Brazil include bi-weekly Portuguese classes, insightful discussions with guest speakers on topics such as local politics and Afro-Brazilian art, and trips to local churches and museums. Past guest speakers have included an architect who speaks about the history of Bahía and the importance of its architecture, and Paula Maria Santos, a journalist and expert on Brazilian culture, who discusses the influence of African culture and the beginning of slavery in Bahía. City excursions are also offered and may include a guided walk through the historical part of the city, a visit to African heritage sites, and tours of local art exhibits, museums, and artists’ studios. There is also time to travel outside the city to see the nearby fishing village or farms, take a boat to the islands, or visit a colonial town.

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Free Time in Salvador

During your Free Time, you may want to explore the historical area of Salvador, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can also walk to the nearby beaches, take part in free music workshops in Pelourinho, take capoeira lessons, or tour the many galleries and museums in the city. You may also want to visit the TAMAR project, where scientists are attempting to save five species of sea turtles.

If you are interested in seeing other areas of Brazil in your free time, such as the Amazon, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, or the nearby islands, Salvador is a hub for travel to all parts of the country.

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Home-Base in Salvador

The Home-Base is in a safe residential neighborhood in the vibrant city of Salvador. Internet cafés, laundromats, shops, and banks are conveniently located nearby, and the beach is a 10-minute walk from the house. The Home-Base is a three-story building with 11 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, two volunteer lounges, a dining area, kitchen and outdoor garden. The CCS office is also located within the Home-Base so volunteers have constant access to CCS staff.

Local CCS staff will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

Meals are provided by local cooks and include typical Brazilian cuisine. Transportation to and from your volunteer placement and any Cultural & Learning Activities in Salvador is provided by CCS licensed drivers.

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In-Country Staff in Brazil

Local CCS staff in Brazil will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who want you to feel right at home and will make sure you are well cared for. The staff at each CCS program site includes, but is not limited to, a Country Director or Program Director, Program Officers, drivers, cooks, cleaners, and guards. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Brazil staff below.

Country Director: Grace Najar
Grace was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia. She has a Bachelor of Sciences, majoring in Marketing from the U.S.-based Metropolitan State College of Denver. After several years in customer services with a multinational company, Grace began volunteering in São Paulo for a Children's Hospital that supports children with cancer. Her tenure with CCS began in 2003 as the primary liaison for our Partner Programs in Salvador.

Program Site Manager: Vinicius Belas Prado
Vinicius manages the CCS Home-Base and staff. He has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the program and for volunteer inquiries. He is a football (soccer) nut and a keen supporter of the Brazil team.

Program Officers: Taísa Badaró
Taísa is responsible for developing volunteer placements and maintaining good relationships between CCS Brazil and our Partner Programs. She also monitor the volunteer work, regularly visit our Partner Programs, and are available for any questions from the volunteers.

Accounting/Program Administrator: Viviane Aragão
Viviane is in charge of administrative duties and is responsible for finances in the house.

Cooks: Emilia and Denilson
Emilia and Denilson are great at cooking local specialties and wonderful desserts.

Housekeeper - Lourdes 
Lourdes keeps the Home-Base clean. She also loves to help volunteers practice their Portuguese.

Drivers - Agenor Filho
Agenor is our driver and is great at squeezing in and out of crazy Salvador traffic!

Security: Edmundo Bastos and Reinildo Lima
Edmundo and Reinildo let volunteers in and out of the Home-Base and are in charge of house safety.