Saving the Urban Rainforest in Rio: Ecological Volunteering
Saving the Urban Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most important ecological volunteer projects in Rio de Janeiro. Volunteers from all over the world joined in Rio de Janerio to help preserving the tropical forest – on the photo from left to right: Sabrina Ho, from China, Luca Klein, from Germany, George Wade, from Britain, Jawad Dabbour, from United States, Radek Machowiec, from Polland, and 3 Brazilian Volunteers saving the forests of Brazil.
Floresta da Tijuca: Largest Urban Rainforest in the World
The Magnificent City (Cidade Maravilhosa) wouldn’t be the same, if it had not the largest urban rainforest as a green lung to breathe. And of course, there are beautiful hiking trails through the forest and upon the top of the mountains with breathtaking views. So, preserving the Rainforest in Rio is one of the most important ecological volunteer projects to work on!
Why the Ecological Volunteer Project is so important to save the Urban Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro
You can volunteer with the reforestaion project at The Tijuca National Forest in order to preserve the world’s largest urban rainforest. While you are volunteering on this project, you will be helping in the tree nursery. But there is more, what you can do:
- counting species of tropical trees and typical plants
- opening and cleaning hiking trails in the forest
- cutting branches,
- painting fences / signals,
among other activities.
Want to work as a volunteer in Rio de Janeiro?
Find here all the volunteer projects in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and how to sign up.
Volunteer in Rio de Janeiro Teaching English
What about volunteering in Rio de Janeiro teaching English? Rio de Janeiro is still one of the most charming volunteer destinations. Since people are very welcoming and eager to learn English from a native speaker, you will have a unique experience! While teaching young kids from the favela, you will enjoy to get around in this fascinating city. Because our volunteer organization is located in Rio de Janeiro, you will find the volunteer programs with the best cost / benefits equation with us!
Read about Alejandros experience in Rio de Janeiro teaching English to kids from a favela:
I had the oportunity to participate in a volunteer program with Iko Poran in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
I was an English teacher for kids in a community. I had an excelent oportunity to learn about languages, people and new cultures as well as the one to help people and build a better future. The programs that the organization has are very fun and you really feel that you are helping.
The support that the members give you is great and I would like to congratulate Felipe, who really makes you feel like at home and trully fights with all his hearth to change the present and future of communities all around the world.
This was an amazing experience and I higly recommend it for everyone who feels that he wants to help and learn. – Alejandro
How to be a volunteer in Rio de Janeiro teaching English?
Find here our full information about volunteering in Rio de Janeiro, and how to sign up. If you want to learn more about teaching English in more contries, find our Teaching Volunteer Programs here.
You may also enjoy reading about more experiences of volunteers in Rio de Janeiro:
Saving the Urban Rainforest in Rio: Ecological Volunteering
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Volunteers making children smile in Brazil
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Don’t let the News fool you – Brazil is one of the most Beautiful Countries!
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Volunteers making children smile in Brazil
Volunteers from all over the world unite to make the children smile in Rio: Mariangel Chaves Rodriguez, from Costa Rica, Iona MacTaggart, from Scotland, and Laura Vidal Llonch, from Spain came to Rio, to care for the children at a day care.
Thank you very much ladies! You make us believe that “another world is possible”!
What about you, making children smile in Brazil?
Visit our page with the volunteer programs in Rio de Janeiro, to find out everything about our programs and how to sign up. Rio de Janeiro is one of the most charming options for volunteer vacations, and your contribution as a volunteer will be highly appreciated! You will make the children happy, as you make them feel loved and cared for. Of course the children want to play with you and also learn from you.
Even if your Portuguese is still basic, love is a universal language, and you will find your way aroung pretty soon, as people are welcoming and helpful. Check it out!
Read some testimonials from our volunteers in Rio de Janeiro:
Saving the Urban Rainforest in Rio: Ecological Volunteering
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Volunteer in Rio de Janeiro Teaching English
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Don’t let the News fool you – Brazil is one of the most Beautiful Countries!
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Don’t let the News fool you – Brazil is one of the most Beautiful Countries!
Despite all the terrible news spread out by the mainstream media about Brazil, Nathab from USA participated in the capoeira class of a blind teacher in Rio de Janeiro. It turned out to be a life changing experience. As he puts it: “Don’t let the news fool you – Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries we have ever been to.” Read here his full statement:
Would highly recommend this. The people, culture, activities, and experiences will last a lifetime. I talk about them every day to this day. Felipe and his family are such amazing people. We participated in a capoeira class with a blind teacher who changed my life forever, played soccer with amazing children from the favelas to keep them away from drugs and violence, and of course enjoyed everything the beautiful country has to offer. Don’t let the news fool you – Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries we have ever been to. Of course you need to be smart and safe but that applies everywhere you are in the world! The culture and people are one of a kind and so much fun. – Nathab, Washington DC, USA
Want to learn more about capoeira and sports volunteering in Rio?
Find out more about our volunteer opportunities in Rio de Janeiro!
Beautiful testimony from Paulina in Rio de Janeiro!
Paulina has sent us this beautiful testimony about her volunteer work in Rio de Janeiro. During her time in Salgueiro, a pacified community in Zona Norte of Rio, she has been working in the ecological garden of the community. At the same time she was caring for children at the local school, and enjoyed playing and drawing with them. She even taught some English to them. As she says, things move at a different pace in Brazil, you have to be patient. But after a while things start to work out greatly, and you get the support of the nice and welcoming people in the favela.
I had the opportunity to volunteer in Brazil with Iko Poran for three weeks in August 2013. My project was located in Salgueiro, a pacified community very well known for having one of the most famous samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.
In the mornings I worked in an ecological garden that provided food to the poorest families in the community and to the local school, and in the afternoons I helped in what they call “the library”, which is a space where children from the neighborhood come to hang around playing, drawing, painting or learning English.
My volunteer time in Rio was a very nice experience that I’ll never forget. One of the most important things I learnt is that you have to try to not to give up if at any time you have the feeling that the project is not fulfilling your expectations, or that you are not helping enough. You have to always keep in mind that things in Brazil move at a different pace… The best approach to this situation is to face each day with renewed illusion and to always show a positive and proactive attitude.
The best part of the gardening project was meeting the people who work there: nice, friendly and welcoming people, who quickly opened the door of their home to me and their hearts.
In the project with children I learnt that just with our presence, we prevent these kids from being in the streets exposed to dangers and possible negative influences. I also learnt that what really matters is the love you give and that you receive from them in huge amounts. It’s almost amazing to see how their smiles can light up your day and also motivate you to keep going and value the work you are doing there.
This experience also allowed me to meet amazing people. I’m talking about the other volunteers from different nationalities that lived in the same house as me, and also the Iko Poran team. They’re all lovely people that I hope to see again someday!
– Paulina Dañino
How to be a volunteer in Rio de Janeiro?
Saving the Urban Rainforest in Rio: Ecological Volunteering
Read More
Volunteer in Rio de Janeiro Teaching English
Read More
Volunteers making children smile in Brazil
Read More
Ephrat from Ethiopia bought training jackets and a new ball for the football school
Ephrat Fisseha, from Ethiopia, bought training jackets and a new ball for the football school at her Child Development project.
Thank you very much Ephrat!! Our world is a better place, because of people like you
❤
Ephrat and the boys at the football school
Feel inspired to volunteer in Bazil?
Find out more about volunteer work in Brazil.
If you are into sports, you may also visit our page about football coaching abroad, where you can find projects in Argentina, Uganda and Ghana.
Community Development – Volunteering in Argentina and now in Brazil
My fiancé and I had an incredible experience volunteering in Argentina and now in Brazil. Our project in Buenos Aires was in a very special community of which we were welcomed with open arms. The family we worked alongside we now consider our own family!! Here in Rio doing sports development has been extremely rewarding and we are learning so much about this beautiful culture and even learning capoeira with the locals!! Felipe and his family have been SO accommodating & we are having a blast living with him and his beautiful fam! HIGHLY recommend all IKP programs :)!! – Lindsey Willis, USA
About the Community Development Project in Buenos Aires
As a volunteer, you can participate in different campaigns during the year, according to the need of the community at that time.
Volunteers must be willing to participate in various activities that will arise – for example: sorting clothes, food, books, toys, etc, that come as a donation and distribute them. Moreover you can participate in children, youths and families inclusion projects or help to plan events for schools and communities, etc.
Visit our page with all the volunteer projects in Argentina
I had a great time in Rio – Medical Volunteer
I had a great time in Rio learning about the culture and building relationships with the people in the Engenho de Rainha community. I worked with talented, passionate and hardworking health professionals who were willing to help and answer questions at all times. I really enjoyed being immersed in the community and learning about all aspects of the healthcare system in Rio de Janeiro in particular including the many challenges. This was an unforgettable experience I would highly recommend. – Jefrin
Medical internship in Rio de Janeiro
Working as a Volunteer in the medical field in Rio de Janeiro is a great opportunity to help the poorer parts of Rio with a variety of medical issues. As a medical intern, you can work in a clinic and assist the local doctors and nurses. In addition, you can also promote health awareness in the suburbs and favelas of Rio and provide important educational work.
An open-minded medical team on site is always at your side
As our interns told us, the clinics are full of devoted doctors and nurses who really gave them an insight into how the clinic works. The whole medical team is very nice and ready to work with the volunteers, even if the volunteers are still learining Portuguese. Finally, you can have good learning experiences, shadow doctors, and learn some basic medical techniques
Immerse yourself in the culture and art of life of Rio de Janeiro during the medical internship
The Medical Volunteer Program allows you to immerse yourself in the culture and get a feel for the Brazilian health care system. But of course you also have enough free time to enjoy the vibrant life in the city center and to be on the beach of Copacabana or Ipanema!
Feel inspired to work as a medical volunteer with the healthcare system in Rio?
Find the healthcare volunteer project in Rio on IKPVA’s Homepage, or go to our page with all the volunteer programs in Brazil.
You can go to our page with all the medical internship programs in more countries like Peru, India and Uganda as well.
You may also enjoy reading the review of Ana Norleyne from Texas
Read more reviews about medical internships;
Wonderfull Experience at the Children Hospital in Kathmandu! Rita from Portugal
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Volunteering in a Clinic in Rio de Janeiro
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Medical Volunteers in Tanzania
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Medical Volunteers in Uganda on AIDS Prevention
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Medical Volunteers Needed in Brazil, Nepal, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania and Peru
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Medical Volunteer in Thailand: Internship at a Hospital in Surin
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Medical Volunteer in Nepal: Internship at the Pediatric Clinic in Kathmandu
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Brazil Medical Volunteer Program and Health Awareness
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Working with the Red Cross in Rio – Valuable experience
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New Year volunteers in Rio de Janeiro
New Year volunteers in Rio de Janeiro.
Happy 
😃 2018 and Welcome to Brazil.
Felipe Murray with his volunteers on Escadaria Selarón in Lapa, Rio. A promising New Year 2018 has just arrived and the volunteers enjoyed the New Year’s Party in Rio. It is summer in the cosmopolitan city and the beaches are beautiful.
The Carioca Way Of Life
Open-hearted people will welcome you. The Carioca way of life is beyond comparison! People thrive with hapiness and spontaneity. May be this year you try out the Carnival preparation project? You can help creating the decoration for the floats and dive into sambe rhythm.
Many Volunteer Opportunities to choose from
In Rio you can teach English, work with Urban Environmentalism at the Tijuca Rainforest. The Arts and Design programs are sought after as well, you can even work with ballet classes. Or you choose to give your love and joy to the children of a day care centre or orphanage.
There a plenty of options, check it out on our homepage, the Brazil volunteer programs in full detail!
If you want to listen to the words of alumni first, check out the volunteer experiences in Rio here on our blog.
Be welcome to Rio!
Felipe and his family volunteer at Rio de Janeiro’s National Park
Last Sunday Iko Poran’s Founder and Director went with his family to volunteer in a community effort cleaning a riverbed at Rio de Janeiro’s National Park.
Felipe with Samara Cipriano volunteering at Rio de Janeiro's National Park
Environmental volunteers at the World’s largest Urban Rainforest in Rio
The Tijuca Rainforest is one of the natural gems of Rio de Janeiro. IKPVA volunteers have been working at the rainforest for many years now, in order to preserve the ecological so important area. What volunteers say about their experience:
So far I have had a wonderful experience volunteering in Rio de Janeiro with Iko Poran’s Urban Environmentalism program. I am half way through my two-month stay in Rio and I already know that it will be a very valuable experience for me. The project consists of work in Tijuca National Park and at a large community garden in a favela, where they grow almost every sort of common vegetable in Brazil. The people I work with in the communities are all incredibly kind and welcoming, not to mention they are doing work that makes a big difference for themselves and the environment. – Elisa
See First Hand the Ecological Challenges that Rio faces….
Volunteering with the environmental program gave me the opportunity to see first hand the ecological challenges that Rio faces and make a difference myself while also having the chance to witness the incredible beauty of the city and parks as I was doing it! I also loved the independence that Iko Poran gave me! – Destiny
