Environmental Volunteering Project, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
Environmental volunteers in Brazil work in this exceptionally beautiful Reserve covering 4,000 hectares of land, including mountains, in Rio de Janeiro State. The primary volunteering work is the reforestation of the land and the re-establishment of the wetlands. The reserve is a well-known centre for rare birds. The owner and his wife have a clear vision for the future and work tirelessly towards their goals of restoration of the original landscape.
Volunteers will work in all areas of tree planting and care, clearing paths, cataloguing flora and fauna, and assisting with parties of school children on educational trips. The Reserve is trying to establish a Research and Education Centre by converting the disused farm buildings into classrooms, workshops and laboratories to cater for the youngest children to postgraduate students. Volunteers also help in establishing a network of trails which allows many of the aspects of the wetlands and forest restoration and its associated biodiversity to be studied.
There is much volunteering work to be done in these areas and the resulting facilities will be of immense value as there is no such centre within two hours of the Reserve. There are also opportunities for research projects and volunteers with specific skills in ecological work are much welcomed.
COSTS
All of our volunteer placements are tailor made. Costs will vary according to the level of accommodation you require and your preferred length of placement. As a guideline, our charges for a 4-week placement in basic accommodation will start at £1,470.
Duration of Stay
Volunteers' placements run from two weeks to two months. If you would like to spend longer in Brazil volunteering in an environmental project, we would recommend working in two different centres.
Accommodation
Volunteers will have their own room in a shared house on the reserve. Meals are taken with the other volunteers in a different house where you can also cook if you wish.
What is Included
Volunteer accommodation in a shared house; all meals while volunteers are in the placement; laundry and all tools and equipment needed to do the work required. Transfer from the airport on arrival to volunteer accommodation, 2 day orientation course in Brazil including some language tuition, accommodation whilst on the orientation course if in Sao Paulo (there is a premium on accommodation if the orientation is held in Rio de Janeiro), pre-departure briefing in London, placement management and supervision, transfer from the bus to the placement, placement management and supervision, local orientation, project donation.
What is Not Included
Volunteers' airfares, travel costs between the city of arrival in Brazil and location of the placement, travel to the airport in UK, insurance, any visa costs, inoculations, personal expenses such as phone calls, travel, meals other than those specified above, language tuition, TEFL tuition.
Support for the Project
BVB will ensure part of each volunteer's charge is spent in Brazil for the direct benefit of our projects there. Again, the amount will vary according to each client's placement duration but will never be less than £200.00. Volunteers will be fully involved in the decision on where the contribution will be spent.
Project Costs
From £1,870 for 4 weeks
It is not possible to provide additional cultural activities for volunteers during the week in this placement because of its more remote location but there are many exciting possibilities for weekend activities from music and dance in Rio de Janeiro to exploring the mountains, colonial towns and cities in the area and further afield in Minas Gerais.
