Founded in 1996, our partner organization is a Catholic Social Centre that provides alternative education and social opportunities for under social risk children and adolescents aged from 3 to 19 years old. Our partner's main aims are to promote physical integrity for children and adolescents, a regular intellectual and emotional growth and a happy childhood in a safe environment; to provide psychological and pedagogic advice: every child and teenager receives professional advice when necessary; to offer learning opportunities through informal education and leisure time activities. The project assists about 1500 people, offering to the community also an internet point, library, dentist assistance, legal and psychological support for the families and so on for free. It is a very big social project with many buildings, sports facilities and a good structure, so it can provide many kinds of activities and workshops (sports, informatics, language lessons, dance, art workshops, theatre, ecological workshops, music, capoeira, special trip and so on…). It has a lot of open space, nature and animals, so there are recycling and
ecological workshops and children learn to take care of animals; on some special dates, the educators organise dance, theatre or music performances with the children too. Located on the same grounds as Cesmar, there is a marista high school that offers education to about 360 students. The school is the result of a longstanding demand of the local community . It provides quality education for children and young people in situations of social vulnerability There is also a Technological Education centre comprising a part of human development , economic growth, social justice and environmental protection. There are developed various leadership projects and empowerment of young people and adults of the community.

Volunteers will assist staff with general non-formal education, being involved in all recreational and sport activities. According to the project needs and the volunteer’s experiences and skills, our partner offers a wide space of several proposals of activities that can be developed by the volunteer. There is the possibility of giving English lessons at the high school. Volunteers with very good language skills and work experience might be able to join projects at the Technological Education centre.

The projects provide the volunteer lunch at midday and snacks during the morning and the afternoon, depending on how long the volunteer will be staying at the project.

In Porto Alegre, volunteers will have the opportunity to taste a variety of delicious dishes. Among the regional specialties not to be missed are churrasco, a barbecue of various meats, feijoada, a stew of black beans and meat, and barreado, a slowly cooked beef dish served with manioc flour and fried bananas. Volunteers can also enjoy traditional desserts such as cuca, as well as the famous local drink, chimarrão, made from yerba mate leaves.

In Porto Alegre, volunteers will have plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery. They can visit historical sites such as Farroupilha Park and the Rio Grande do Sul Art Museum, as well as enjoy nature by strolling along the lakeside promenade of Lake Guaíba. The city also offers a vibrant cultural scene with theaters, art galleries, and musical events throughout the year. Volunteers can also indulge in local cuisine at the city's numerous restaurants and cafes.

The role of the volunteers in the social project is important. The educators are expecting a volunteer who will be enthusiastic and willing to get involved. Most projects don't have a specific role to offer for the volunteer. The volunteer should strive, be creative and self-confident to develop their own activities/workshops while keeping in mind the responsibility of asking the people involved (project coordinators, staff) about the possibilities of doing such things.

In social projects in Brazil, most people do not know a second language - such as English - and may not be able to help the volunteers so much at yheir arrival in the project… For this reason, a basic Portuguese knowledge (or Spanish) is required in order to get an ongoing communication: the more Portuguese you know, the easier work activities get and the more opportunities appear for you.

Long Term Volunteers normally will be working about 35 hours weekly, every day from Monday to Friday, with a free morning or afternoon. 

ICYE Brasil is responsible for the costs of volunteer’s transportation from the living placement to the project (buses, local train, or sometimes you can go walking or by bike). Volunteers have to be prepared to catch buses alone, but they should not worry because the bus system is a quite efficient means of transport.