My experience during 3 months in Foz was amazing. […] Polo Iguazu was a great place to see different tourism companies and possibilities to work in social and sustainable tourism projects… the experience motivated me a lot for future plans and gave ideas. Als,o the team was really nice and helpful with everything! I would definitely go back if I get the chance!

I spent about 4 months in Curitiba, Brazil with the most amazing Brazilian host family, who soon became a second family to me. I was given the opportunity to intern at a Brazilian company and to interact with Brazilians while learning cultural differences through being immersed in the job culture. […]I was able to travel throughout the country and visit beautiful places.

Overall, my experience in Brazil remains one of the best memories that I have had in my life. […] If I could, I would do it over and over again.”

I absolutely recommend volunteering and/or doing an internship with ELO. In such a short time, the staff became like family to me. It was such a great experience teaching the youth English and getting to know them, exchanging our cultures and making a difference.

If you have this opportunity, do not hesitate!

Hannah in the middle

[…]My relationship with all my co-workers was brilliant, they’re all lovely people and I’ve made a lot of great friends.

My work activities varied greatly from hand feeding the penguins and baby possums to giving the animals their medication and monitoring the local beaches to check for injured/dead animals. […] Lots of amazing experiences.
[…]I think I have become a lot more confident in my own abilities and now feel much more independent than I did before coming to Brazil. I have learnt to communicate with people from different cultures despite having little language in common. I have also become much more confident in handling various different animals.

My highlight (other than making so many new friends) was probably the first time I interacted with the baby monkeys. They were so tiny and so cute and kept trying to hold my hand or lick my fingers. Such a special experience! […]I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone as I have had an amazing time in Brazil and feel as though I’ve really got to know the culture in the short time I’ve been here.

I loved it. This was a really great way to open my mind and grow as a person. I lived with a great family that was very supportive and the work environment was very welcoming despite the language barrier. Overall I wish I could experience this again from the beginning and this motivates me to go beyond the limit.

Picture by CoemJr