Volunteer work in brazil: how to embark on a meaningful south american adventure

The Challenges of military volunteer Work

Be realistic: It is important to be realistic about your accomplishment and abilities. Working with disadvantaged youth in a shantytown may not be the best pick if you have never worked with kid before. Similarly, if you have lived in a big city all your life it might not be the best idea to venture straight to a remote control research station in the virago. Volunteer work is a great adventure that provides an opportunity to explore your limits, but keep in mind that just living in another country can be a considerable challenge. Keep in mind that some programs have high cancellation fees should you decide to drop out early.

Research: Each location presents unique challenges, and it is important to do some research to know ahead of time what you are getting yourself into. Working in a shantytown in Rio de Janeiro or helping build low-income housing in Recife, you will be able to enjoy a lively urban lifestyle in your off-time, but you are also faced with the problems of urban life in Brazil: violence, pollution, an overstretched infrastructure, and petty crime. On the other hand, in a small town in the Amazon you will have none of the urban amenities and entertainment, but your stay will be free of the annoyances common in Brazil’s cities. In both cases you will have to make some adjustments to your lifestyle and creature comforts. When I studied at a university in Rio de Janeiro, one of my classes offered credit for volunteering at a community center in Rio’s largest favela (as shantytowns are known in Brazil), Rocinha. It was not an easy environment to work in. In addition to the initial language problems and the loosely structured program, the residents viewed me and the other foreign students with suspicion; foreigners do not usually venture into favelas. It took some time for the news to spread that we were actually volunteering there, after which our presence was welcomed by the residents. When I volunteered with a private reforestation project in the Amazon, I faced different challenges altogether: the relentless heat and humidity in the Amazon, the vast distances to the nearest town, and being woken up at sunrise by raucous parrots and greeted at bedtime by tarantulas on my bedroom ceiling.

Cultural Differences

In addition to the physical challenges of a tropical environment, it is also important to be aware of cultural differences, not only in terms of language, mentality and customs but also in management styles and in the way projects are run. Problems are often solved when they arise and only at the last minute. Strategizing and planning ahead play little role in the day-to-day life of most NGOs. But this is the Brazilian way, and Brazilians have found that, with a little charm and by maintaining good relations with key players, it is always possible to make the impossible happen and jump bureaucratic hurdles. This does not mean that things are overly chaotic in Brazil; it just means that things work differently and that it takes most foreigners some time to get used to.