Volunteering in Brasil was one of the most life-changing things I have ever done. Everyone told me Rio was really dangerous and this definitely gave me some big apprehensions going over there, but my advice to someone planning to go is to absolutely not let that stop you from going. The city of Rio was very high risk but high reward, so once I had adjusted to Rio’s vibrant and intense culture and got into the rhythm of the city and volunteer work I truly found my place there and loved every minute. This trip taught me strength, resilience and independence like I’ve never known but I’m also walking away with many strong friendships and a love for the Brasillian culture.
Childcare Volunteer Program in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
Purpose
Improves access to quality education
Start dates
Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
Duration
Choose from 2-24 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 6 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 18+
Accommodation
Dormitory-style hostel
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Volunteers who like interacting with children and have plenty of energy and enthusiasm for playing with and looking after them.
Project details
Full of life and want to be a Childcare volunteer in Brazil? International Volunteer HQ’s Childcare project enables volunteers to help out in community centers and get experience looking after children. Schools in Rio de Janeiro run in either the morning or afternoon which often means children are left alone for long stretches of time while their parents work. This project aims to give children a safe and supervised environment where they can spend their time constructively, continue learning and have fun.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
In the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, thousands of children grow up with little money and few opportunities. This project aims to give babies and small children a safe place where they can spend their time in a socially positive way and with adult supervision, care and attention.
As a childcare volunteer you’ll be assisting local staff at community centers where there are often many children per staff member. Your help will allow children to get more time with adults and lighten the load for local staff.
Tasks will vary but are likely to include:
- Giving children care and affection
- Setting up and playing educational games
- Arranging sports and physical activities
- Helping teachers with lessons
- Teaching basic English
Why do Childcare volunteering in Rio De Janeiro with IVHQ?
When you volunteer with children in Rio you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving access to quality education
- Helping students grow and learn in a safe space
- Practicing your Portuguese
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining childcare experience
- Immersing yourself fully in the Brazilian culture
- Exploring the marvelous city of Rio de Janeiro
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers need to be 18 years to participate in this program. If you are under 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad to explore these options.
Volunteers are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
All volunteers must speak English and have adequate volunteer travel insurance.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Brazil photo gallery
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Community Development project
IVHQ Sports Development project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Teaching English project
IVHQ Community Development project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Teaching English project
IVHQ Childcare project
Exploring Rio during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Ipanema Beach during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Christ the Redeemer during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring street art during an IVHQ weekend
Watching a Football game during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Ipanema Beach during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring street markets during an IVHQ weekend
Enjoying adventure activities during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Ipanema Beach during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Rio during an IVHQ weekend
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditRecommended online TEFL course
Recommended online TEFL course
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified onlineLocation
Location
IVHQ’s volunteer projects are based in the glittering city of Rio de Janeiro. It’s the second largest city in Brazil and home to glorious beaches, breathtaking scenery and a huge selection of cultural activities including the world’s biggest street parade, Carnival.
The volunteer accommodation is based in Glória, a bayside neighborhood in central Rio which is close to Copacabana Beach and many restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and tourist attractions.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month and volunteers need to arrive into Rio de Janeiro on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) in Rio de Janeiro. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Rio. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in Brazil prior to your volunteer program, you will need to arrange your own transport to the hostel accommodation.
Orientation is hosted by our Brazil team at their office in Rio de Janeiro. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Brazil - an introduction to Brazil, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local team member and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours at the placement are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day is as follows:
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast at the hostel. |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteeers travel to their placements. |
| 8:30 - 2:00PM | Volunteers join the placement staff and begin work. There is usually a morning tea break and lunch break. |
| 2:00 - 5:00PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their accommodation, go sightseeing, hit the beach, or do some shopping. |
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have free time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Rio de Janeiro and other areas of Brazil. Popular tourist activities include relaxing on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, climbing Corcovado Mountain, visiting the statue of Christ the Redeemer, catching the cable car to get a 360-degree view of the city from Sugar Loaf Mountain, horse trekking and wildlife spotting in the Pantanal wetlands, exploring Iguazu Falls and trekking through the Amazon.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers are accommodated in a dormitory-style hostel set in a unique and charming castle, located in the peaceful Santa Teresa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
The area is known for its lush surroundings and local wildlife, and the hostel offers sweeping views over the city—including the iconic Christ the Redeemer. It’s a safe and vibrant location, with plenty of local restaurants nearby offering both Brazilian and international food options.
The castle-style hostel provides a warm and social atmosphere, with great communal spaces to relax and connect with others. Volunteers typically share a bedroom with 4 to 10 others of mixed genders, making it a great way to meet people from around the world. A female-only dorm is also available, subject to availability—if this is your preference, we recommend nothing this in your application.
During your downtime, you can relax by the outdoor pool, spend time in the garden or on the terrace, and take in the beautiful rooftop views—especially at sunrise or sunset. Each week, there’s a complimentary Sunday barbecue, which is a great way to meet the other volunteers on arrival and ease into the week ahead.
Facilities include a fully equipped kitchen, coworking space, cozy lounge, free Wi-Fi, shared bathrooms, 24-hour reception, and a weekend bar—perfect for a refreshing drink by the pool after volunteering.
Private room upgrades and homestay options can be arranged after registration, subject to availability and an extra cost. You can also request additional nights before or after your program. Just chat with your IVHQ Program Manager for more info.
Do keep in mind that the hostel also welcomes other travellers, not just volunteers. It’s all part of the experience and makes for a fun, diverse environment where you’ll meet people from all walks of life.
Meals
A continental-style breakfast is provided each morning in the kitchen or by the pool, including eggs, toast, spreads, cereal, fruit, tea, and coffee. For lunch and dinner, volunteers can cook in the spacious shared kitchen, fully equipped with a gas stove, oven, two fridges, and generous pantry space. There are also a variety of local restaurants nearby, with meals ranging from $5 to $25 .
We can cater to gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian diets for breakfast, but please be prepared to purchase some substitutes locally if needed. Let us know your requirements when you apply so we can make the necessary arrangements.
Typical volunteer bedroom
Upgrade Volunteer bedroom
Volunteer swimming pool
Volunteer outdoor area
Typical volunteer breakfast
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$299 (approximately $299), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately $299) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $770 Equivalent to $55/day |
| 3 weeks | $945 Equivalent to $45/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,120 Equivalent to $40/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,295 Equivalent to $37/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,380 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,730 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,080 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,430 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,130 Equivalent to $28/day |
| 20 weeks | $3,830 Equivalent to $27/day |
| 24 weeks | $4,530 Equivalent to $27/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately $299) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Brazil generally find US$250 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including lunch, dinner and miscellaneous spending.
- Breakfast
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country emergency support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Lunch and dinner
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Check what's required to visit Brazil
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Brasilia |
| Population | 198.7 million |
| Languages | Portuguese |
| Currency | Real (BRL) |
| Time zone | UTC-03:00 |
Weather and climate
The climate of Brazil has a wide range of weather conditions across a large area and varied topography, but most of the country is tropical. The different climatic conditions produce environments ranging from equatorial rainforests in the north and semiarid deserts in the northeast, to temperate forests in the south and tropical savannas in central Brazil. Many regions have starkly different microclimates.
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
DG
Danielle Gibbs
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LN
Luna Niemann
I gained a lot from volunteering abroad. Not only did I learn something about the amazing Brazilian culture, but I also had to get out of my comfort zone and thus learned a lot about myself. I had so many great experiences that I will remember for a long time
...
NH
Nathan Hill
This experience helped me pick up another language and become conversation in Portuguese, it gave me the opportunity to make an immense amount of connections that I will carry with me forever and have the most memorable, spontaneous, crazy adventures.
...
EW
Emily Widdows
I gained a sense of purpose and responsibility. If someone was to join the program I would tell them to walk in with no expectations and an open mind to allow you to immerse yourself fully into it.
...
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
