Escola Casa do Mar
Why choose Escola Casa do Mar?
Volunteers from around the world live with us in a shared house above Ipanema. In return for a small daily contribution, they teach English, coach sports, or mentor local entrepreneurs alongside our permanent local staff. This is truly a volunteering experience, as opposed to a working experience, with plenty of time to explore the city and shift into vacation-mode. You will not be expected to do any class prep or admin work outside of class hours. We employ two long-term teachers (including a now-fluent former student), who know all our students well, providing much needed continuity to our classes. By teaching in our classes, you allow us to bring down student:teacher ratios (1:3 is our goal), speeding up our students' progress by making the lesson more student-focused. While there is no pressure to design classes yourself, we greatly value the ideas that come from the 10-15 volunteers who stay with us each month from all over the world, and we are always excited to improve our curriculum. Our classes are 100% free for all favela residents.
Volunteers from around the world live with us in a shared house above Ipanema. In return for a small daily contribution, they teach English, coach sports, or mentor local entrepreneurs alongside our permanent local staff. This is truly a volunteering experience, as opposed to a working experience, with plenty of time to explore the city and shift into vacation-mode. You will not be expected to do any class prep or admin work outside of class hours. We employ two long-term teachers (including a now-fluent former student), who know all our students well, providing much needed continuity to our classes. By teaching in our classes, you allow us to bring down student:teacher ratios (1:3 is our goal), speeding up our students' progress by making the lesson more student-focused. While there is no pressure to design classes yourself, we greatly value the ideas that come from the 10-15 volunteers who stay with us each month from all over the world, and we are always excited to improve our curriculum. Our classes are 100% free for all favela residents.
Escola Casa do Mar Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
An Amazing Experience
May 11, 2026by: Derek Cubb - PanamaProgram: HostelEscolaCasadoMar
It was an excellent experience, I connected a lot with the local culture. The Favela Inc project is fantastic. The weeks I spent at the project was one in a lifetime experience, Having the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time in a cultural exchange with the locals which is also a big chance to learn the language.
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Escola Casa do Mar
5
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Share a welcoming, bilingual home with fellow travellers while you teach, create, or explore Rio de Janeiro. No need to be fluent in English or P...
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need teaching experience or to speak Portuguese?
You’ll share a volunteer house in Vidigal, living in community with other travelers in a space surrounded by ocean views and rainforest.
What does a typical teaching day look like?
you walk through the neighborhood to class, teach in small groups, and spend the rest of the day enjoying the area — beach time, hikes, or community activities in Rio de Janeiro.
Why is there a nightly contribution?
The program is an NGO run by volunteers. The contribution helps cover school materials, transport to teaching sites, housing, administration, and a lead teacher so the classes remain 100% free for students.
What makes this program different from other volunteer opportunitie
It’s not just volunteering — it’s full cultural immersion. You live, teach, and connect the community every day, building real relationships while making a tangible impact.