Volunteer at an Eco Farm in Brazil
Eco Caminhos takes volunteering very seriously. We believe it is an incredible opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and to build friendships. Here at our Eco Farm in Nova Friburgo, we bring together people from around the world. Volunteers bring creativity into our organisation, experience a sustainable way of life and, after leaving, spread the acquired knowledge across the globe. With over 10 years of experience in running volunteer programmes, we understand how to best organise them. If you take a look at our reviews on our blog, Facebook and google, you will see that people have had unforgettable experiences with us. At Eco Caminhos you learn about bioconstruction, organic farming, nature, the Portuguese language, and Brazilian culture while making friends for life.
But there is more. Many people come to Eco Caminhos to “discover themselves” and in search of their purpose in life. The beautiful nature, rural tranquility, and manual labour provide an excellent environment to reflect, come at ease, and liberate your mind. To make volunteering accessible for everyone we have organised 4 types of volunteer programmes:
Eco Experience
Duration: 1 day – 8 weeks Workload: 18 – 24 hours per week
Our Eco Experience programme balances volunteering and ecotourism. The programme is designed for people who want to enjoy an authentic, active experience at our eco farm in a beautiful green mountainous area in Brazil. You will be staying with a local Brazilian family, so you can immerse yourself in Brazilian rural culture. You will have the opportunity to practise your Portuguese, learn about local customs and food, and experiment typical Brazilian cuisine. Believe us, Brazilians are very welcoming and the food is delicious! The programme is very flexible. You can work 3 – 5 days per week at the eco-farm in bioconstruction or organic farming. Eco Caminhos also organises a number of activities, including: Portuguese classes, hikes, horseback riding, campfires, and sightseeing.
Short-Term volunteer in Brazil
Duration: 1 – 12 weeks Workload: 24 – 30 hours per week
The short-term volunteer programme is designed for younger or inexperienced candidates, or for people who simply lack the time to join us for an extended period of time. Volunteers are expected to work 24 hours per week and the programme is adjusted to their personal interests and preferences. After completing the short-term programme there is the possibility to continue in our free long-term volunteer programme. However, this depends on the motivation and growth of the volunteer in the first three months and available room in the volunteer houses. Over the past 4 years 90% of short-term volunteers with interest in the long-term programme received an invitation to join us long-term (free).
Long-Term volunteer in Brazil | full-time programme (100% free + room + board)
Duration: +1 year Workload: 40 hours per week
This is a demanding programme for which we need very mature, motivated and responsible people. The objective of this programme is to become part of Eco Caminhos and to eventually generate your own income, so you can stay with us for as long as you want. You are offered accommodation, food, and internet until you generate your own income and can live independently. Volunteers are expected to work 40 hours per week, show motivation, and be an example to others.
Group Experience
Duration: 1 day 2 weeks Workload: flexible
For groups of a least 6 people we can design special volunteer group experiences for up to 2 weeks. We can complete custom design the programme to your interests. Besides Bioconstruction, agroforestry, permaculture workshops it is possible to design a social impact activity for the community. Example projects are the reform of the house of a 90 old local farmer, the reform of a school building and the building of an organic garden in a school for underprivileged kids. We can offer basic and highly comfortable accommodation.