About Us – Eco Farm – Brazil

In 2014, we – Hilaine, Bart, Roger, Nico and Lucas Bijen – decided to head to Brazil to set up Eco Caminhos, a sustainable farm. We are idealists with extensive experience in social projects, engineering, management, entrepreneurship, and educating Brazilian youth. We know what it takes to set up a project in Brazil, where we have lived and worked for over 10 years. We enjoy getting our hands dirty, connecting with people, and exchanging knowledge.

We believe that the challenges we face while realising our dreams allow us to grow as human beings. We cooperate with the local community and invite people with similar dreams to join us. In the past three years we have received volunteers from Brazil and across the globe. Slowly but steadily our team is growing with people who intend to stay here with us and become an integral part of the Eco Caminhos team.

Our Vision

The earth is in crisis. With 7.3 billion people on this planet the world is facing unprecedented challenges. Polluted cities, a growing number of natural disasters, financial crises, hunger, wars, terrorism and corruption. Eco Caminhos is part of a growing countermovement looking to pursue a simpler lifestyle and committed to finding and sharing sustainable solutions. Eco Caminhos believes in self-sustaining community living in terms of food, energy, and building materials. This should be based on an exchange of knowledge, skills, and experience between people. We also work towards the inclusion of youth in this process.

Our Mission

Eco Caminhos wants to become a role model in Brazil and beyond when it comes to social development and sustainable farming, building and living. Our goal is to live in harmony with nature and produce our own food and energy, while the land grows in richness, productivity, and aesthetic beauty. We treat our own waste, generate our own energy and train underprivileged youth. We welcome tourists to experience this lifestyle, offering a wide variety of eco sports and workshops. In the near future our guests will be accommodated in Eco Lodges and offered locally cultivated organic food.

The Caminhos Pillars

Eco Caminhos is part of the Caminhos group, a three-pillar organisation that offers the following services: 1) education; 2) social work; and 3) self-sustainable community living and ecotourism.

Services:

– Ipanema language school offering Portuguese courses
– Accommodation services for students
– Free activities for students
– Visa services for students
– Consultancy for students

Website

Location: Farme de Amoedo 135, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Number of staff: 20

Services:

– Bioconstruction projects
– Vocational training for teenagers and young adults
– Sustainable farming and organic food production
– Accommodation for tourists
– Renewable energy production

Website

Location: Estrada Ernesto Souza Cardinot s/n, Cardinot, Nova Friburgo, RJ, Brazil.

Number of staff: 11