Peabiru Volunteer Experience

  Brazil

• Southern Brazil: 
Florianopolis

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks

Description: Peabiru Experience has established and developed very good relationships with non-governmental and independent organizations in Florianopolis, resulting in some volunteer project possibilities for those who would like to have such experience. The project will be selected based on the profile of the volunteer to make the best possible match.

Program Overview
Arrival
You will be welcomed at the airport by your host family or a representative from Peabiru Viagens and taken to your host family's house. There you will be presented to the family members, to your room and will be told when and where the next meeting will take place, normally on the next weekday. Should you arrive on a Saturday or Sunday, you will spend a day or two meeting family members and getting a taste of the local life. On the following Monday you will be introduced to your Portuguese teacher and begin the orientation to the program.

Orientation
You will meet your Local Coordinator for a cross-cultural orientation; to discuss your first impressions of the homestay and living with a brazilian family. Other topics like health and security measures, Brazilian cultural aspects, transportation systems and conditions, staff to contact in case of emergencies, procedures regarding classes, volunteer work, do's and don'ts and homestay issues will be also covered in this meeting. An orientation packet with useful information will be given to you at this time.

Accommodation
During your entire program you will live with a Brazilian host family - an excellent way to learn about our way of life and to practice Portuguese. Brazilians have a reputation for being warm and fun-loving, making it easy for you to feel right at home. Our selected host families will welcome and treat you as a family member. We will keep in touch with you and your family throughout your stay to assure that you both have a rewarding homestay experience. If you prefer a more independent accomodation we can assist you on looking for a good option at a hostel or a small hotel with easy access to you work site and public transport.

Portuguese Course
Your Portuguese course will take place during the first week of the program in order to give you a functional knowledge of the language as quickly as possible. The course will contain classroom and outside classroom activities in order to apply and practice new language knowledge. The objective of the course is to learn practical communication and create a base to build upon for further language study. It's a 15 hour course normally divided in 5 days (3 hours per day). Besides the classes, your foreign language skills are expected to improve quickly as you go places, talk with people, watch films and plays, and live a colloquial life. In some cases, the volunteer project may coincide with the language classes which will allow the volunteer a good opportunity to begin using the language.

Social Volunteer Service
Your local coordinator will present you to the teachers and coordinator of the project you will work with and show you where in the project you will be placed. Our staff will be in touch with you and your host project periodically during your community service and you can call him any time to report and talk about any concerns.

Some typical host projects include:
- Assisting in a day-care center for underprivileged children or infants;
- Tutoring underprivileged children after-school programs;
- Working with handicapped persons.

Environmental Volunteer Service
Your local coordinator will present you to the staff and the Manager of the Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri and show you where in the project you will be placed. Our staff will be in touch with you and your host project periodically during your volunteer service and you can call him/her at any time to report and talk about any concerns. As you dont have to have any experience in this particular activity, some training will be provided in your first week of work.

Your duties at the project include:
- Prepare the soil that will be used to plant the seeds.
- Prepare and handle seed trays
- Lift and move seedlings to larger spaces or plastic containers used to transport them.
- Collect seeds of local and endemic tree/plant species.
- Transport saplings to be planted in designated areas inside or outside of the Park.

Qualifications: No previous experience is necessary. All participants must be 18 years old or more.

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Brazil Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2 up to maximum of 08 per project

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Year Founded: 2007