South America has a distinct pulse and you’ll feel it the moment you arrive to volunteer in Brazil. Whether you find yourself wandering city streets, hiking around prehistoric-looking Amazonian plant life, or dipping your toes in the South Atlantic, prepare to fall in love with all this country and its people have to offer. Volunteer in Brazil for a chance to be immersed in new traditions, cultures, sights, and sounds. In Salvador, you'll find a beautiful cross-section of Afro-Brazilian culture and cuisine. Samba drum beats course through the city's populous neighborhoods, and it's not uncommon to see spontaneous dance parties break out in the streets — so join in!
South America has a distinct pulse you’ll feel the moment you arrive.
Due to a significant shortage of jobs, many Salvadorians are forced to leave their homes and families to search for work elsewhere, oftentimes leaving young children and elder relatives behind. This has resulted in a real strain on quality care facilities. As a volunteer in Brazil, you'll work alongside local communities as they work to bridge the economic divide and provide quality care and education for all. Despite obstacles, Salvador residents are known throughout Brazil and the world for their vibrant, optimistic attitude.
Volunteer in Brazil and improve education for children, assist with the care of infants and children, improve health and the sense of dignity among the elderly, improve the quality of care for people with disabilities, or support those affected by HIV/AIDS. When you volunteer in Brazil, you'll have a chance to explore everything that this incredible country has to offer while working to make a real difference in your new community.
Volunteer in Brazil during summer months only
Each volunteer does their part in small and large ways working side-by-side with community members to contribute to effecting change in the following areas of work…
Each week our CCS staff will introduce you to a different part of Salvador and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly this city becomes a comfortable home away from home. Stroll the streets of Pelourinho and snap some photos of the vibrantly painted houses and colonial architecture. Stop in the square as capoeristas display capoeira, the traditional Brazilian martial art. And here's where you'll first encounter the aroma of the savory Bahian spices that will soon become very familiar.
Your CCS Portuguese instructor will start with the basics. Learn to mind your manners in Portuguese by adding por favor, "please," and obrigado, "thank you," to your vocabulary. Next, learn to haggle with cab drivers and shop owners -- a key tool in any intrepid traveler's toolkit. For those longer-term volunteers -- or anyone up for the extra challenge -- learn Salvadorian slang in the advanced lessons; you’ll be navigating the streets of Salvador and making friends in no time.
The Bahia region is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines and you'll soon wonder how you lived without Salvador's incredible blend of flavors. Whether you're chowing down on acarajé, a deep fried bread, or moqueca, a stew of seafood and coconut milk, there's always something new and delicious to nibble on. You'll have a chance to learn and sample what makes Bahian cuisine so delectable when you join the CCS cook and your fellow volunteers in the kitchen. Take home some recipes to share a little slice of Afro-Brazilian culture with your friends and family.
Join the roda -- capoeira circle -- with our dynamic capoeira instructor. He'll teach you the basic moves of this uniquely Brazilian form of mixed martial arts and dance. Set to the beat of percussion instruments, and characterized by powerful spinning kicks and artful dodges, you'll be sure to break a sweat. Once you’ve got capoeira down, grab your dancing shoes and give samba a try. This 100 year old dance is characterized by its unmistakable beat.
Experience the diversity of Salvador at Bonfim, a church where Catholic and traditional Candomblé traditions meet to give thanks for “bonfim,” or good fortune. Practitioners of both faiths tie brightly colored cloth strings to the church gates, creating a fluttering rainbow of wishes for healing and love. Each colorful Bahia band yields three wishes for each of three knots tied. When the bracelet falls off, your wish will come true.
Hop on the ferry to Morro de São Paulo for a mini vacay. This island oasis, located just hours off the coast of Salvador has a variety of beaches, each with a personality all its own. Whether you're hoping to wax up your board, slap on your snorkel and explore the coral reefs, make a cameo at a samba party, or enjoy some quiet time surfside, in Morro de São Paulo, you've got options.
Jump on a bus to the Chapada Diamantina National Park for a full taste of Brazil’s incredible natural diversity. You'll have a chance to rappel down waterfalls, snorkel caves, zipline into clear lakes, or hike up to mountain plateaus for breathtaking panoramas. If you don’t have time to head to the Amazon, but still want to experience Brazil's natural beauty, you can’t do any better than Chapada Diamantina.
photo credit: fredfotoIn addition to enjoying the quintessential Brazilian-style beach town, at Praia do Forte, you can visit the Projeto TAMAR, a nonprofit working to protect endangered sea turtles along the Brazilian coast. If you plan your trip during hatching season -- that's February -- you might catch a glimpse of the hundreds of baby turtles scurrying from their nests and out to sea. Now that's cute!
photo credit: fredfotoThere’s simply no excuse for leaving Brazil without a jaunt in Rio, one of Brazil's largest and most famous cities. Take the Corcovado train up to Christ the Redeemer, the towering statue that watches over Rio, arms outstretched. Climb to the top of Sugar Loaf, Rio’s famous mountain, for some of the best views of the entire city, before taking a cable car back down. On any given day you can bike along Rio’s central lake, parasail over the urban expanse, and watch the sunset from the white sand shores of Ipanema.
photo credit: darkdivaYou’ll need at least an extra week for this one, but it's well worth it. Knock "visit the world's largest tropical rainforest" off your bucket list with a few days trailblazing in the Amazon. Boat down the world’s most voluminous river, swim with pink dolphins, or hike through lush forests in search of rare wildlife. Be sure to make your Amazonian adventure a win-win by choosing a tour provider that contributes a portion of the profits to rainforest preservation efforts.
photo credit: jakegordon
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