Young learners qualifying Center is a non-profit organization that develops social projects and customized education for unprivileged teenagers. In order to qualify them for the labor market and help them get better education and work opportunities.

Our partner organization:

Founded in 2001 in Curitiba, their mission is to qualify young learners in social risk to enter the labor market. Currently, there are around 800 teenagers taking classes with them in order to work in a company. According to “Lei da Aprendizagem” (Learning Law) approved in 2000, teenagers between 14 and 18 years old can work just as apprentices. To be suitable for those positions, they have to go through a course to have a basis of what it is to be working, which skills should they develop and so on. ELO provides this course to teenagers whose families have an income below US$ 1,185 per month.

What are Volunteers needed for?

Typically volunteers are needed to:

• Attend/Participate in classes to connect and interact with the students.
• Teaching/co-delivering English classes.
• Preparing cultural classes, presentations and/or activities.
• Accompanying the students to trips and visits.

Schedule

The schedule depends on how many classes are taking place each day, in average of 4 hours/day.

What should volunteers expect?

• A rewarding experience
• The opportunity to connect and interact with young Brazilian youth.
• The chance to make a volunteer contribution, earn references and certificate.
• Opportunity to face a reality tourists do not see.
• The chance to experience the Brazilian culture while living with a host family.

What volunteers should NOT expect?

You should not expect that everybody could speak English. Bear in mind, the working environment and style in Brazil may differ a lot from the one in your home country.

What to Bring

The following items are essential:

o    Comfortable trousers and t-shirts/shirts for work. It’s not allowed to use shorts or short skirts at the center.

o    Wet Weather Clothing

o    Comfortable boots or tennis shoes for winter enrollments

o    Comfortable sandals or tennis shoes for summer enrollments

o    Long Sleeved Shirts and coats for cold weather, regardless the season

o    Bath towel and all your personal hygiene items

Brazilian Experience organizes home stay placements. This type of accommodation allows students to have a deep cultural immersion. It´s also a great option for those willing to improve Portuguese skills.

Brazilian host families are open, nice and protective. Our families are carefully selected through an interview and house inspection.

The home stay placement includes breakfast and dinner only. Brazilians have a quite light breakfast such as bread, butter or cheese and a beverage such as coffee, milk chocolate, orange juice.

The main meal in Brazil is lunch but nowadays few families go home for lunch in between working hours on week days. On weekends it´s common to have late lunches on Sundays, sometimes they make barbecues with all the family (cousins, grandpas, etc).

Sometimes the family’s get together hour is at dinner time (quite late, usually after 8:00 pm). Some families have a rich meal at dinner, as lunch, and in other cases they just have a snack, being a sandwich or soup.

Accommodation includes one night before the start of the internship program date and includes one night after the end of the program.

Who should apply?

• Personality: students should be mature, responsible, flexible and adaptable
• At least 18 years-old
• Minimum commitment: 2 weeks
• Compassion and genuine interest in helping
• Language skills: no previous knowledge of Portuguese is required, but reasonable English and/or Spanish knowledge is necessary. Portuguese is a plus and will allow you to get more tasks during your placement.

Necessary documents to apply

• Complete online application form
• Resume
• One picture of yourself
• Copy of your passport identification page

Note: The maximum number of volunteers the organization accepts is 2 per period. (Note: that we do not know if positions are available until you apply.)

What is included?

• Pre-Arrival Orientation;
• Airport pickup and transfer;
• Arrival Orientation and reflection sessions along the program period;
• Volunteer placement and on-site orientation;
• Selection of suitable homestay accommodation including half-board (Breakfast and dinner);
• Donation to the project;
• Full-time support from Brazilian Experience.

What is not included

• Airline tickets
• Domestic flights and weekend trips
• Visa fee, if applicable
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses

Best deal – 6 weeks Standard program (2 weeks Portuguese + 4 weeks volunteering): $2285

Minimum enrollment length (2 weeks volunteering): $930

Extra week volunteering: $230

Portuguese tuition fee (10-15 hours/week depending on group size): $355

If you fulfill the program requirements and agree with the suggested dates and fees, you are ready to apply! Check below the necessary steps to confirm your application:

Step 1 – Complete online application form and attach: your resume, one picture of yourself and a copy of your passport identification page

Step 2 – We will confirm the project availability

Step 3 – Pay $150 non refundable deposit

Step 4 – Submit your visa documents to the nearest Brazilian consulate and book your flight

Step 5 – Upon payment we will start the home stay match

Step 6 – We will send your complete placement details

Step 7 – Pay program balance