IVHQ Childcare Volunteer Program in Brazil

IVHQ offers life-changing experiences that help you grow as a person, open your mind, and inspire people from all over the world to support those who need it most. When I first joined, I was nervous and a little scared, but I’ve never met anyone with a bad word to say about IVHQ. On the contrary, I’ve only heard inspiring stories about how it created a “before and after” in people’s lives. With IVHQ, the local team, and my coordinator by your side every step of the way, you never feel alone. Living this experience with them is a guarantee that you’ll learn from others, discover new things about yourself you never knew existed, and realize just how much you can positively impact someone’s life. Most of all, this project leaves you with a truly unique experience that stays with you forever.

Going to Brazil absolutely changed my life. I went not knowing what to expect, and was blown away. The Rio accommodation was very nice and in a central and convenient part of the city. There were shops and the metro station just down the block. My placement was at a daycare that was an hour and a half away from the accommodation. This was the only downside of the trip, but it didn't effect my overall trip. At my placement, I was able to truly experience a part of the city most tourists don't even know exists. The kids were glowing and ready to learn. I taught them about dance and music. I also taught some English despite not being able to speak Portuguese. A part of my heart was left with them in Rio when I returned to the States. I had plenty of time to explore and sightsee, with plenty of trips to the beach. Some of my friends went to Ilha Grande, as well as a never-ending list of excursions. The IVHQ team was always there to answer any of my questions.The city is beautiful and I will be back for sure!

Having just returned from my IVHQ experience in Brazil, I can honestly say that it was one of the most exciting times of my life! The program provided me with the opportunity to work and interact with amazing Brazilian children in a way that was both fun and educational. I felt that I also learnt a lot from the children about life which I will keep with me forever. Unfortunately, I did not learn Portuguese before coming to Brazil. This didn't hinder my experience as much as I thought it would when interacting with the locals as I was still able to form friendships with people, but learning the language will assist your experience immensely!

It was a mix of trepidation and excitement venturing over to Brazil for 4 weeks. As 19-year-old girl travelling by herself to a foreign country there were obviously some nerves. This apprehension was however quickly dismissed once arriving in the volunteer hostel. The welcoming staff and other friendly volunteers made this transition to this new life extremely easy. It took a couple of days to adjust to the extremely hot weather and lack of utilities that we are so lucky to have at home in Australia, such as air-conditioning, clean drinking water and adequate plumbing. Starting up the placement of working with children was an incredible experience. I was with 2 other volunteers from the house so it was reassuring going with other familiar faces. It was so insightful in order to see how these children lived in their communities. I brought along a ball game and the joy it brought these children was so satisfying it simply reinforced all the reasons why I wanted to do the volunteer work. Language was a barrier as the children tried to communicate and although you tried your hardest to understand they occasionally got slightly frustrated. Although I was taking the 2 weeks of IVHQ Portuguese lessons I would recommend having a rather strong knowledge of the language before arriving in Rio. The impact our volunteer work had on the children was significant to an extent. As the community centre where the children were already had supplied and materials, we were more there to play with the children, rather than to teach them different skills or languages. The time spent with the children was only topped off by the unreal experiences shared with the fellow volunteers. I can honestly say I have made friends for life. This sounds so cheesy but without a doubt this experience has changed my outlook on life and I will return home with a more grateful and open attitude, which only a volunteer experience like this could teach me. A few tips when volunteering in Rio! ~ Bring loads of sunscreen! The South American sun is so strong it’s really easy to get burnt. (Probably useful to pack some aloe-vera in case you get burnt) ~ If possible, bring a laptop or other device where you can download pics and communicate with people back home ~ When out, try to take as minimal as possible. I rarely took out a bag and put my money in pockets or my bra – only take out your phone if you really need it! ~ Pack some comfortable walking shoes. There is a lot of walking around Santa Teresa and it is a whole lot easier in comfortable shoes! ~ Bring any favourite snacks from back home – for me I wish I had brought some peanut butter! Brazilian peanut butter just isn’t the same. ~ Bring the necessary medication e.g. gastro stop, aspirin (As there is a chance you will need these!)