Volunteer Brazil | Blogs and Blags

2008-08-23T03:36:00.000-07:00

Half-Price Volunteer Programs for Sept/Oct 2008

Be quick to end your year on a meaningful high!

Half price Volunteering in Brazil is only available on 2 and 3 week programs. To apply and reserve your place complete our quick online application now - Quick Application

Some things you could do:

If you like sport, particularly soccer - go here

Do you fancy teaching? - go here

How about helping kids? go here

Be quick before the half price offer is GONE...GONE...GONE....gon...go....g...g.....

2008-07-24T21:32:00.000-07:00

Are you NUTS about Brazil ?

44 lb of Brazil Nuts shipped to your door...

2008-07-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just a quickie...

We are starting to get some serious enquires regarding Carnival in Brazil - Even though the annual bash doesn't start until February 2009 , if you want to play, get your skates on, Brazil Carnival 2009

A couple more updates:

Don't forget in addition to Brazil , volunteer Brazil have partnered with organisations in Peru and Costa Rica, we will also very shortly be changing our current partners in Africa to a South African based Conservation Organisation - check back here for updates.

We are also currently expanding our Brazil program to include more cities, particularly in south and north west Brazil - again check back here for updates.

On the other hand, due to various factors we are reducing our programs in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza.

And finally, it's always nice to get feedback and a brief note from former volunteers, and as I write this blog entry , Tom Ireland from England wrote. Tom volunteered on one of our partner projects in Recife(June and early July 2008)

¨Hi Alan, I just wanted to email and say that I am now home in England. Thank you for letting me experience Brazil. Brazil is a great country and it was great to work with the children that I met at the day centre. I will be back in Brazil for sure¨...

Thank you Tom, see you again , very soon...

2008-07-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Fantastic opportunity to own and develop a piece of the action in Brazil.

Brazil is quite probably one of the most exciting and potentially lucrative investments of the decade.

If you want to own 94 hectares of prime land in Gravatá, Pernambuco, north-east Brazil, contact us TODAY, information@volunteerbrazil.com

If you would like to learn more before contacting us – read on…

Gravatá in Pernambuco is one of the most exciting land opportunities in north-east Brazil.

Gravatá is both a well established city and a frightfully underdeveloped region. It is however, firmly, very firmly in fact, an established and popular weekend destination for not only Recife city dwellers but middle-class Brazilians from all over Brazil who flock to the region escaping the day-to-day grind of busy big city life.

The Opportunity:

The 94 hectares of land enjoys a private road, a barrage, fresh water and electricity supply in addition to a luxury condominium community with heated swimming pool and other amenities, all set in a landscape below a hill of 360 degrees (which you will also own) with breathtaking views over the Serra das Russas.

The land is ready to develop, some suggestions for you; golf course, tennis courts, hotel or luxury resort, leisure and or residential facilities – the sky’s the limit, the choice is your’s …

Do you want to own this land? Contact us TODAY information@volunteerbrazil.com

Further information:
Google Map of Gravata

Economy of Gravata is currently driven by the following activities:
Tourism
Rustic Furniture making
Vegetable, fruit and flower growing
Horse breeding

Purchase this land before it’s too late: information@volunteerbrazil.com

PS: Guide Price is R$8.000.000,00 OR 4.9 Million United States Dollars ( 3.1 Million Euros or 2.4 Million Pounds)

2008-05-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

Volunteer with kids at Santa Cruz FC

The Training School at Santa Cruz Football Club - Recife - Brazil.

This is an exceptional volunteering opportunity to get involved with street kids, orphans and abondoned children on a joint volunteer program with Santa Cruz Football Club and the State Government of Pernambuco.

You will have an enthusiasm for sport, in particular, soccer. You will have a desire to help extremely disadvantaged children and be able and willing to turn that desire into practical support and encouragement. In addition to acting with care, patience and understanding.

You will be involved in the day to day development and care of the children and be involved with their general well being, training and sports school schedule, both at Santa Cruz Football club (Arruda) and the shelter where the children live.

Santa Cruz Futebol Clube currently play in the Brazilian 3rd Division - but are fully expected to be promoted back into the 2nd Division in 2008.

They play at Arruda in Recife, Brazil. The ground has a capacity of 70,000 fans.

Santa Cruz's most famous Brazilian footballer is Vitor Borba Ferreira, otherwise known as Rivaldo. Rivaldo also played in Europe, for Spanish Club; Barcelona and Italian Giants; AC Milan.

To volunteer on this great sports program opportunity - contact Volunteer Brazil ;

http://volunteerbrazil.com/booknow.html

2008-05-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hello, Good Morning...

Haven't posted for a while, been so busy setting-up new programs and other new developements regarding volunteer and cultural exchange programs - not to mention other stuff!

Anyway, we are really getting choc-a-bloc for the summer period, with no current vacancies available in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, we do however have spaces in Recife, Olinda , Salvador and Porte Alegre.

Rio and Sao Paulo will be good for June onwards - it's just May which is now fully booked.

A bit of a change of subject for all you Brazilian Football fans - the Brazilian Soccer Season starts today (Saturday 10th May)...

I have penned a Brazilian football articles about Serie A...

Série A (Brasileirão) is where the big boys play, there are currently 20 teams in the league, who play the usual one home and away against each other - the objective besides winning it, of course, is to avoid the drop into the wilderness that is Serie B - but 4 teams will ultimately, at the end of the 40 games have to face that humiliation.

One of the things to realize about Brazil is the huge geographical area it covers, and an away game can take a few flying hours - this however, doesn't usually affect the teams, but what it does do is ensure that home crowds are partisan - this is lessened in games involving teams from the same state, because there will be some away fan presence.The teams that tend to dominate the top-half of Serie A are the Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro sides.

Below, you will find the teams in the Brazilian Serie A this year, the 4 teams in red were promoted from Serie B.

Atlético Mineiro MG
Atlético Paranaense PR
Botafogo RJ
Coritiba PR (promoted from Serie B)
Cruzeiro MG
Figueirense SC
Flamengo RJ
Fluminense RJ
Goiás GO
Grêmio RS
Internacional RS
Ipatinga MG (promoted from Serie B)
Náutico PE
Palmeiras SP
Portuguesa SP (promoted from Serie B)
Santos SP
São Paulo SP
Sport PE
Vasco RJ
Vitória BA (promoted from Serie B)

You will notice a series of 2 letters after the football team name, this indicates the State the team is from, there is a key below:
State Key:
RJ = Rio de Janeiro
MG = Minas Gerais
PR = Parana
SC = Santa Catarina
GO = Goais
SP = Sao Paulo
RS = Rio Grande do Sul
PE = Pernambuco
BA = Bahia

You will note from the above , that there are only 9 states represented in Serie A - actually a third of the countries states - of course , all 27 states are madly and passionately in love with football, but they are just not currently good enough for Serie A.

Naturally, with promotion and demotion at seasons end, this can change , year-on-year.Here follows a map of Brazil, with all states marked clearly, along with their capitals.

If you intend following Serie A this season, it will pay you to familiarize yourself with the geography - in addition to noting the Rio and Sao Paulo teams.

Both principalities account for 8 of the 20 teams:

Rio teams are; Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and Vasco.

Sao Paulo teams are; Sao Paulo, Santos, Palmeiras and Portuguesa.

Recife, Pernambuco, in the north-east has 2 teams, Nautico and Sport.

Also from the north-east , Bahia has 1 team; Vitoria.

Minas Gerais which borders Sao Paulo and Rio has 3 teams; Atlético Mineiro, Ipatinga and Cruzeiro.

Whilst the southern state bordering Argentina, Rio Grande do Sul, also has 2 teams in the shape of; Gremio and Internacional.

Parana, also has 2 teams , Atlético Paranaense and Coritiba.

Santa Catarina and Goias each have one representative, Figueirense and Goiás, respectively.

If you have already studied the map and team location you would have noticed that most of the teams in Serie A are from the southern part of Brazil, the teams furthest north this season are Nautico and Sport in Recife, Pernambuco.

There are states in Brazil which are bigger than some European countries, - and as in all regions of the world, football rivalry is no different in Brazil.

It's worth noting that there are two layers and primary aspects of rivalry in Brazilian football. The first is the obvious rivalry between teams from the same state and city, but just as intense , is inter-state rivalry.

Hope you enjoy following Brazilian Soccer and Serie A this season...

PS: Go Nautico -

2008-01-22T17:04:00.001-08:00

Last Friday I told you about the volunteer Brazil testimonials which we had received from past volunteers.

Well it's fair to say that after almost 6 years and more than 2000 volunteers (directly and indirectly) we have had some hairy experiences. We do make checks on all volunteers who apply, and follow up references etc.

It's a case of having to, as many of our projects are working with children, women at risk and other vulnerable people - Nevertheless, we sometimes don't know quite enough about volunteers before they arrive in Brazil - and mistakes are made - but fortunately we have been able to protect the vulnerable children and communities from missfit applicants ( for the most part anyway).

Here follows some incidents involving volunteers who came to Brazil on a program, who really shouldn't have come (due to one thing or another).

We recently had a volunteer from Calgary who came to work on a health project in Brazil - when he arrived everything seemed fine - it would wouldn't it. His resume stated that he was seeking admission to Medical School at the University of Calgary. And also stated he was currently under the wing of Dr **** (to protect the Doctor's reputation, I won't name him) on an open studies program.

Anyway, to cut the chase, this self employed-subcontracter for an Architectural Finishing System Company in Calgary turned out to be a very unstable man who behaved rather odd, so odd in fact that the the staff of the health project were concerned about admitting him to the program.

Initially, we thought this his behaviour was due to culture shock, but after a week got really concerned when he threatened to cut the throat of one of our domestic employees (a gesture made to her in an elevator)...

She was terrified and traumatized by the incident - and is still shaken over the incident.

To be frank I was going to call the police, but refrained from doing so, by the way , his account of this incident was that he meant it as a joke - some joke, eh!

Needless to say, we had no alternative but to terminate his placement... And he now has the audacity to send us abusive and disgusting emails (using his name and an alias)...

I'm running out of time on this blog, but just very quickly... We also had a volunteer who had used all her fundraising monies having a honeymoon with her boyfriend - 3 others who were mentally unstable (they hid this from us on their application and references)...

So, if you are intending to apply for a volunteer program abroad, please don't come to get away from your problems (it never works), don't come if your medical advisor advises against it or because you think it will look good on your resume - Oh, and don't lie on your application , you will be found out - and don't give false references...

Happy Days.....catch you soon...

2008-01-18T03:45:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to Volunteer in Brazil with Volunteer Brazil?

Rather than me tell you, I thought it may be a good idea for volunteers to tell you about their experiences volunteering in Brazil...

This first testimonial about volunteering in Brazil is from 2 sisters, Ujali and Deepali - (they are from the United Kingdom)...

I only received their testimonial a few weeks ago (Jan 5th 2008), so am pleased to be able to post it here:

My experience through volunteer Brazil has been life changing. Working with thechildren we worked with and seeing what brazilian culture was really like was extremely endearing. The children and teachers welcomed us with open arms andto see how grateful the children were for our time made every moment worthwhle. Our home stay was just the same. We had the pleasure of staying with alovely lady who made us feel extremely welcome. The experience was a fantastic way to combine travelling with giving something back to the country. I'd recommend this experience to anyone and encourage everyone to welcome it with open arms as it will truely give you the greatest self satisfaction possible.

Ujali & Deepali.

The second Testimonial from Brazil, was written by Chris, Chris is from England and in November 2007 volunteered with Street Children.

Hey Alan things are amazing! its amazing here and i would recommend it anyone. the kids are amazing and each of them is so happy and playful. everyday we play and have fun. im starting to get the launguage aswell being constantly surrounded by it. its okay if someones talking directly to me but if their talking around me it goes over my head.

But its okay tho because i know whats going on most of the time. but like i said everything is amazing, the scenery, the kids and the staff are also really good. they really help me and help explain things if needs be.

Had a massive futsol tournament last night and im paying for it now. my feet are in pain but it was worth it. am really enjoying my experience here just cant believe how quick the days are going. hope everything is well with you. and thank you for this, i cant describe how happy i am here.

Chris.

Testimonial number 3 is from Emily. Emily is from The United States and volunteered with her daughter in October and November 2007.

Volunteer Brazil provided me and Afton with very appropriate accommodation for my situation. The location in Recife was excellent, with good access to everything.

The beaches around the Recife coast are beautiful, and we went there quite a lot with the orphanage girls.

I will be coming back, for sure - thank you Alan ,Mirian and staff of Volunteer Brazil , so much for your hospitality.

Emily

The following Testimonial is from Sara Pironti. Sara is from Los Angeles...

I just recently got back to Los Angeles....all is well here and i am writing to thank you for helping me havesuch a wonderful experience. I keep thinking of the boys at the orphanage...i really miss them!!I would love to recommend the experience to anyone whois interested in volunteering in Brazil through your programs.

I thank you again for all your help and for giving me the opportunity to have such a wonderful experience. Please keep in touch....

Sara.

Here is what Danielle from California, said...

I just wanted to say thanks for your help and that I had a wonderful volunteering experience while in Brazil. The children at the center were amazing, as were Brazilians in general.

Danielle.

The following is a testimonial from a volunteer's mother - she wrote thanking us for providing her daughter; Annabel with good accommodation in Brazil.

I would like to say how fantastic the family you chose for her (Annabel, my daughter) have been and also what a superb experience working in the orphanage has been for Annabel. Many thanks.

Hilary.

I could go on all day here, but think I had better stop for now - the final testimony is from Geraldine of Dublin...

What fantastic kids, appearing to have nothing at first glance but laughed, smiled, sang and danced all the time and in my opinion had a richness in their life that we simply seem to have lost in the western world with our hectic lifestyles.

Adios meu amigos.

Geraldine.

And to quote, Geraldine...

Adios meu amigos.

Alan Thomas...

2008-01-14T03:38:00.000-08:00

BOOK NOW for CARNIVAL - Due to cancellation we have 4 nights bed and breakfast for only 200.00 USD (100 Pound) per person...

4 Nights - From Friday 2nd February through Wednesday Morning 6th February (Carnival period is Saturday 2nd February through Tuesday 5th February)

Olinda stands proudly as an UNESCO World Heritage City...

Authentic, Uncomercialised and Unspoilt! The world famous Carnival of Olinda, in Brazil, is considered to be the most authentic, the most beautiful, and the most spontaneous of its kind.
And considering that over 1 million people take to the streets each day in this UNESCO World Heritage Town, it remains an amazing fact that the WORLDS GREATEST STREET CARNAVAL is not yet comercialised.

Olinda and Recife have many, many delights for the visitor, but the Olinda and Recife Carnavals deserve a very special mention. Of course Brazil is world renowned for its annual Carnaval events, but when Brazilians want to party, when they want to experience an authentic carnaval , they come to Olinda, and Recife.In actual fact, Olinda is considered to be the most authentic, democratic, Carnaval in the whole of Brazil.

Whilst Recife holds pride of place in the Guiness Book Of Records as having the largest street Carnaval group (bloco). It takes a whole year for Brazilians to prepare for Carnaval, and the Olinda and Recife versions are certainly worth waiting for....

Reserve Your Place FOR 2008 - Click Here!

PS: Accommodation is in Recife...

2008-01-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

Porto Alegre (The Joyous City) is in south Brazil, and is the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul.

Porto Alegre is an important economic and cultural city in Brazil which developed mainly through the work of immigrants, especially from; Germany, Italy and Portugal, and this strong European connection is evident today - although there are also strong indigenous and afro-brazilian communities present too.

We have many projects in Porto Alegre, and besides volunteering work the following places and buildings are well worth a visit...

Palácio dos Açorianos” (The Palace of the Azoreans)
Museum of Art of Rio Grande do Sul
Piratini Palace
Ilha da Pintada (Pintada Island)
Chico Mendes Park
Lami Biological Reserve
Guaíba Lake and the archipelago; comprised by 28 islands

Porto Alegre has a very efficient transport system and also boasts a very busy international airport.

Would you like to Volunteer in Porto Alegre? - We have projects in the following areas:

Conservation...
NGO Functions in Porto Alegre...
Teaching English...
Community Work Projects in Porto Alegre...
Teaching Skills to the Youth and Adults of Porto Alegre...

Apply - Volunteer in Porto Alegre...

Brazil Serie A

2008-01-09T04:32:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy New Year...

Just a very quick note to let you know of a very important development...at Volunteer Brazil

We understand that some of you are more independent than others - regarding your lifestyle and travel objectives, particularly volunteer and cultural travel.

With this in mind, we are launching a special volunteering program option for the more independent volunteer traveller.

YOU PAY JUST: (US $325) (170 Great Britain Pounds)(225 Euro)- - - - For your volunteer program with us.

What you get:

Your volunteer program/project work (Brazil only)...
Pre-departure help and advice...
Post placement recognition/reference (if required)...

Please note, does not include; flights, travel insurance, food or accommodation.

We haven't yet put this on our website (but will do so in the coming weeks), so to take advantage of this, please contact us through email , or via our online application; here:

http://volunteerbrazil.com/booknow.html

Please mention independent volunteering when you apply.

Have a great year, kind regards, Alan Thomas.

Volunteer Brazil | Blogs and Blags

2008-01-06T03:29:00.000-08:00

Volunteer Brazil Blogs and Blags

2007-12-27T03:45:00.000-08:00

IMPORTANT ADDITION TO OUR BRAZIL CARNIVAL PROGRAM...

All Carnival bookings have the option to participate in Carnival parades (blocos) - 1st - 6th Feb 2008...

It is rare for non-Brazilians to participate and be a part of Carnival Parades - you can if you wish, help out and be a part of some of the parades in Olinda and Recife - this is exclusive to Volunteer Brazil bookings...

So here's the deal -

5 nights bed and breakfast from 400.00 USD (200 Pound) per person...
5 Nights - From Friday 1st February through Wednesday Morning 6th February (Carnival period is Saturday 2nd February through Tuesday 5th February)
Price includes - 5 nights bed and breakfast in Recife or Olinda & hotel pick-up.

It is reccommended that you book this very, very quickly - it won't be available for very long....

email: alan@volunteerbrazil.com

Or Book here: http://volunteerbrazil.com/booknow.html

2007-12-18T03:46:00.000-08:00

SKILL SWAP

Good Morning (It's morning as I write)...

I have a skill swap proposal:

I am looking for someone who can translate one page (my main page) of one of my travel websites into the fololwing languages; German, Dutch, Italian and French.

IN RETURN:

If you have a website I can do any of the following in return:

i) Analyze and evaluate your website index page (main) and up to 2 other pages of your website.

The evaluation will be solely about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and a brief synopsis on how you may improve your search engine rankings/traffic on the pages evaluated.

ii) Translate one of your webpages from English to Portuguese.

If you can help - please email me: alan@volunteerbrazil.com

2007-12-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

THE LAST CALL FOR CARNIVAL - PROBABLY...

We have reduced our Carnival price to....

BOOK NOW for CARNIVAL - 5 nights bed and breakfast from 400.00 USD (200 Pound) per person...

5 Nights - From Friday 1st February through Wednesday Morning 6th February (Carnival period is Saturday 2nd February through Tuesday 5th February)

2007-11-27T03:07:00.000-08:00

Study English in an English College

If you want to study English, there is no better place to learn the language than in England itself - Quaint, fashionable, historic, with sprawling countryside and very appealing villages. With towns and cities, boasting unrivalled architectural diversity, whereby, history and tradition meets modernity.

This is a wonderful opportunity to study English in the traditional home of the language - Living, studying and working amongst English native speakers, in their own cultural environment will be an invaluable aid in helping you to achieve your objectives.

Your College location

You will be based in Brighton, on the south coast of England, amid beautiful, sprawling Sussex countryside, and as a welcome bonus, your college is less then 50 minutes from London.

Some important points about your English course:

You will be taught by professional teachers.
Class sizes are a maximum of 12 students.
All students are over 16 years old.
Your teachers will offer counselling sessions, and ask about accommodation and your life in England.
The college has a self study centre to help you improve your English outside classes.
Academic and Administration staff will help you apply for a university place - and advise you.
Regency College is acreddited by The British Council.
In addition to your chosen Cambridge English examination qualification (or other) Regency College will present you with a certificate at the end of your course.

Your Accommodation

Your accommodation is going to be an integral part of your English cultural experience, with this in mind, you have a wide-ranging choice of accommodation options.
Your accommodation options:
Homestay with a local English family.
Self catering flat in Regency College.
Local hotel or guest house.
Private rented accommodation in Brighton.
You may choose to have a single or shared room, the choice is yours. You may also decide whether you want to have your meals included in your accommodation choice, or to be more adventurous and take care of your own eating arrangements.

Got a Question?
please don't forget, if you have a question, want advice on the best option(s). Or perhaps you would like to talk to a native English speaker about what its like to live and study in England - Ask us, Here!

You can check it out ; here: http://unitedkingdom.volunteerbrazil.com/

2007-11-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Brazil

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in Recife, Brazil

Are you looking for bed and breakfast accommodation in Recife?

Room RateTariff

R$ 60 per person per night (around US $ 34 – 16 United Kingdom Pounds – 23 Euros)

Airport pick-up is available for US $ 35 (up to 3 people)

Please email: bedandbreakfast@volunteerbrazil.com

Or make your reservation here: Reservation (please let us know your dates, how many nights accommodation you require and if you want airport-pick-up).

Or call us:
0055 81 32692793 (regular line)
005581 88798877 (mobile).

Both English and Portuguese speakers are welcome at our bed and breakfast.

Local information
Your bed and breakfast is only a short bus ride to down town Recife and the beach area of Boa Viagem. The exquisite resort of Porto de Galinhas is less than an hour on local transport and the historic and UNESCO site of Olinda is less than 5 miles away.

Recife has a tropical climate and is a hot sunny city, light clothing and shoes are reccomended. The city is served by Recife Guararapes International Airport, and domestic flights can be easily arranged to the Amazon in the north or Rio de Janeiro in the south. The fourth largest city in Brazil derived its name from the Portuguese word for Reef, and being protected by a long coastal reef you will find some of Brazils best beaches along its coast, in particular, Porto de Galinhas which is considered to be the second most beautiful beach in Brazil.

(in actual fact the beach considered to be the most beautiful is also in Pernambuco - on the island(s) of Fernando de Norohna). Recifes deep cultural roots are notable, and the citys cultural program should not be overlooked. You will find many fine restaurants, a pulsating nightlife, and rich places to explore art, craft, music and dance. Traditional handcrafts to look out for are clay figuerines, wood sculptures, leather goods and woven straw which you will find at markets and shops hidden away in the citys narrow streets.

2007-11-18T04:05:00.000-08:00

Make a difference to a child this Christmas -

Donate Today

Donate to Volunteer Brazil - Brazil Donations

If for whatever reason you are unable to volunteer or come to Brazil - you can still help by making a donation...

Why not make a donation?

There are 2 ways you can make a donation:

By making a regular monthly or annual donation...

A one-off donation...

Either way you will be contributing to a very, very worthwhile, much needed and greatly appreciated cause - moreover, you will recieve initial and regualr information and feedback about your oen and other donations...
You may either make a monetary donation using your American Express card or by sending a contribution direct to our bank account using the SWIFT bank transfer facility.

Some points to consider regarding donations...

You may donate as little as US $50 (50 Euro or 25 GBP)...

You can choose a generic project for your donation...

You will receive an acknowledgement and details of where and on what your donation has been used - with regular updates...

If you choose to donate monthly, you will recieve a monthly donations newsletter - for one-off donations, this will be quarterly...

You may donate clothes, books, school supplies, IT equipment - in fact almost anything which maybe needed or useful to our projects in Brazil - please contact us for our delivery address in Brazil.

If you have a question, want more information or would like to donate, please contact us today! Contact us

To make a donation using your AMEX please call us on 00 55 81 32692793 (Office) or email us @ information@volunteerbrazil.com

We will need your card number; name on card, expiry date and 4 digit security number (on the front of your card), and of course the amount you wish to contribute (and whether it is a one-off contribution or monthly/annual).

For a contribution direct to our bank in Brazil - Please contact us for our banking information - information@volunteerbrazil.com

Thank you for reading and hopefully, donating - see you soon...

2007-11-17T03:40:00.000-08:00

Brazil Carnival 2008 - The Greatest Show on Earth...

Book NOW - 5 nights bed and breakfast from 600.00 USD (295 Pound) per person...

Come and join us for the Worlds Greatest Carnival Party - Early Booking is Strongly Advised!

5 Nights - From Friday 1st February through Wednesday Morning 6th February (Carnival period is Saturday 2nd February through Tuesday 5th February)

Reserve Your Place FOR 2008 - Click Here!

Price includes - 5 nights bed and breakfast in Recife (in a homestay) & hotel pick-up. (hotel accom available @ extra cost - but will only be available until December at the very latest - hotel accom is almost fully booked...

2007-11-13T04:45:00.000-08:00

Brazil hosts web policy forum

More than 2,000 people who oversee the workings of the net around the world are gathering in Brazil

Policy makers, activists and officials are gathering in Rio de Janeiro for the second Internet Governance Forum.

The UN-backed body aims to give those developing policies for the net a place to air problems and hear about others who have succeeded.
Sessions at the four-day forum will debate security, international domains and control of core net functions.

Debating chamber
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) grew out of the World Summit on the Information Society meetings which were held in 2003 and 2005.

The forum is intended to be a debating chamber that, among other things, helps to keep the UN Secretary General up to date with pressing net issues.

The IGF was also created to be a "neutral space" in which policy makers, concerned citizens, lobby groups, educators and companies can debate and swap ideas without the need to produce recommendations or decisions.
But this lack of measurable success has led some critics to decry it as little more than a talking shop.

"Using 'talking shop' as a negative suggests communication is a bad thing," said Emily Taylor, director of legal and policy at UK domain name overseer Nominet, who will be attending the meeting.

She said it was one of the few times that those involved with overseeing the net get a chance to gather.

"I know from working in the industry for a few years that an awful lot can be learned from your peers," she said.

Theresa Swinehart, general manager of global and strategic partnerships at net overseer Icann, said one of the most positive aspects of the IGF was that lack of pressure to produce decisions and policies.

"One of the big issues at the WSIS was the importance of sharing information and addressing issues that may not be under the jurisdiction of one particular organisation," she said.
In some senses, she said, the IGF could already be judged a success because it had put in touch people around the world working on the same thorny net problems.
"It's already demonstrated benefits because people are aware of the issues and have information about how to solve them," she said.

Ad hoc working groups have emerged from the first IGF in Athens and many are expected to report what they had been doing at the 2007 event.

Sessions at the IGF will debate how to improve net security and ways that governments have tackled rising cybercrime. Other sessions will look at linguistic diversity online, the move to IP version 6, the number system for all online devices, and how to protect free speech.
Ms Taylor said the debates typically involved the sharing of success stories, recounting of the mistakes some made and policies that did and did not work.

She said: "Often you learn as much from what went wrong as from what went right."

Report taken and made by the BBC

2007-11-11T01:50:00.000-08:00

Volunteer in Argentina - Travel and Tango!

Argentina is an extremely pleasurable experience, so unexpectedly diverse, yet paradoxically, what you would expect from the second largest country in South America. It has one of the most diverse terrains on the planet - with a variety of climates. From subtropical to subpolar, in fact the highest temperature recorded is 49 Degrees Celcius, whilst the lowest recorded is - 39.

You will be based in Godoy in the region of Sante Fe, 60 kms from Rosario.
You may either Teach English to children and adults or teach or help with sporting activities (all types of sport). You may if you wish combine both activities and can also help the local authority in Godoy plan new programs for now and the future.

You will volunteer 5 days a week ,for a minimum of 4 hours per day. This allows you plenty of time to explore and immerse yourself in Argentinian Culture.

Your accommodation will be with an Argentine family who will serve you 3 meals per day.

Apply to Volunteer in Argentina

2007-11-09T00:52:00.000-08:00

CARNIVAL FEB 2008

What will you be doing between

Feb 2nd through 6th 2008?

6 Nights - From Friday 2nd February through Wednesday 6th February (Carnival period is Saturday 2nd February through Wednesday 6th February)

6 nights of frenzied partying, 6 days of glorious sunshine - the ultimate , the best, the most famous of all Carnival's await's you. Do not delay much longer, as Carnival period in Brazil is booked-up very quickly, and accommodation can be problematic if you leave it too late.

You can book for Carnival in Brazil through Volunteer Brazil - check-out the Carnival Brazil page ;here: http://volunteerbrazil.com/myPictures/carnaval.html

You may choose from the following:

Carnival in Olinda

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Carnival in Recife

Carnival in Bahia

Please state your preference on your application form, you will find it here; http://volunteerbrazil.com/booknow.html

And finally - WHY NOT VOLUNTEER DURING THE CARNIVAL PERIOD - IF EVER THERE IS AN INSTANCE OF KILLING 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE - THIS IS IT!

Go here: http://www.volunteerbrazil.com/

Have a great day......

2007-11-08T04:18:00.000-08:00

20% off all Volunteer Programs in Brazil...

Have I got news for you - Volunteer Brazil are giving a very, very generous 20% discount off all their Volunteer Programs in Brazil - the only stipulation is that you must volunteer in Brazil, Argentina, Peru or Africa before December 31st 2007.

Check out the available volunteer programs;here:

http://volunteerbrazil.com/projects.htm

BRAZIL TESTIMONIAL

Here is a recent (so recent, Chris is still in Brazil) testimonial about Volunteer Brazil's Street Children Project

In Chris' own words....

hey Alan things are amazing!

its amazing here and i would recommend it anyone .the kids are amazing and each of them is so happy and playful. everyday we play and have fun.

im starting to get the launguage aswell being constantly surrounded by it. its okay if someones talking directly to me but if their talking around me it goes over my head. but its okay tho because i know whats going on most of the time.

but like i said everything is amazing, the scenery, the kids and the staff are also really good. they really help me and help explain things if needs be. had a massive futsol tournament last night and im paying for it now. my feet are in pain but it was worth it.

am really enjoying my experience here just cant believe how quick the days are going. hope everything is well with you. and thank you for this, i cant describe how happy i am here.

Chris, Recife, November 2007 (Street Kids Program)

2007-11-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

Why is Brazil Real Estate attracting so Many Overseas Investors?

Overseas property investors are heading to Brazil for a multitude of reasons; even famous move stars and footballers are investing in Brazil real estate.

Here is a 100% themed website BRAZIL REAL ESTATE dedicated to increasing awareness and exposure about the Brazil real estate investment market is receiving a lot of interest and has even been featured in the UK national press.

The site is focused on the North East state of Rio Grande de Norte as being the investment hotspot and they have even produced a free 76 page country and buyers guide with detailed information about the area, tourist attractions, economic growth and other property investment related information.

The site highlights the importance of tourism growth being a key factor for all the investment activity.

Tourism development

The Brazilian government for the North East are and have been actively encouraging tourism growth and inward foreign investment especially in the north-eastern state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The northeast is full of flavours and vibrant colours. Music, dance, folklore, religion and regional culinary delights all abound with as many different delicacies as there are states and accents. It is an all year round paradise for those in search of perfect beaches, equally perfect weather and dramatic landscapes, all seasoned with a large dose of culture, history and folklore.

Exceptional Tourism Growth and Potential: Brazil had 5,358,000 visitors in 2005, an increase of 4% since 2004, placing them as the fourth greatest tourist destinations in the Americas. The amazing and diverse landscapes from Rio de Janerio the tropical city metropolis , the quintessential sandy beaches of the North East, to the Amazon Jungle mean Brazil has a wealth of varies attractions and a wide range of tourist activities.

However the main area for tourism development in Brazil as mentioned earlier is the north east region.This has originated from a large public investment programme which was initiated around 10 years ago: the Tourism Development Programme in the North East, PROSETUR / NE.Over 670 million dollars have been invested through this programme on;
- Transport- The environment- Infrastructures- Tourism management bodies
The success of this has resulted in the implementation of PRODETUR / NE II with an estimated investment of 400 million dollars.

Between 2002 and 2005, the number of international passengers at Brazilian airports increased by 50%. The north east of country, the main leisure destination in Brazil, saw a 160% increase in travellers within the same time period, this trend is predicted to continue.

This investment activity has encouraged international property developers to set up shop and start building a selection of top quality residential tourism resorts in the area.
4 new residential tourist developments worth mentioning are; Grand Natal Golf - Located only 20 minutes north of Natal the capital of Rio Grande do Norte; the sunniest and safest region of Brazil you will find this residential development that is absolutely respectful with the ecosystem, the unspoiled landscape, and the people living in the area.

The development will feature five golf courses, a heliport, a residential complex, tennis and paddle courts, a riding club, spa facilities, a health and aesthetics centre as well as a thriving commercial and recreational complex all surrounded by tropical gardens, pools and perfectly landscaped grounds.

Sol Do Atlantico - Only 150 meters from the shore-line is a beach lover’s paradise – the sophisticated, development has a front line, elevated position ensuring all properties come with exceptionally stunning views. Pipa Paradise - peace and tranquillity; the development is situated directly behind the ‘Chapadão’ a rocky plateau and conservation area located above the ‘Praia do Amor’, the Love Beach with some of the most spectacular sea views available anywhere in the world. Porto Brazil – apartments on a luxury secured gated community located only 12 km from the centre of the city of Natal with superb views over the surrounding area. It is a resort with a complete leisure, relaxation and amusement infrastructure including a range of services from tourist trips to rental management schemesTo view these developments then check out this site which has been designed to specifically showcase these 4 developments in all there glory, with floor-plans and areas and property pictures and investment points.

Here is the BRAZIL PROPERTY INVESTMENT site with all 4 developments.

In summary Brazil is a rising start for both Tourism and because of the massive investment now real estate investment is also growing in popularity.

We would like to point out that if you are looking to buy Brazil property make sure its in the right location including facilities and tourist attractions as well as making sure it’s a quality build and attractive type of property i.e. front line beach. This is just a quick guideline article and
This article is for information purposes only and you should consult independent professional advice before making any decisions or buying Brazil property.

Visit our web site where you can download your free 76 page country and buyers guide which is a must read before you buy Brazil property.

You can download the country and buyers guide which will help inform you with more detailed information about The North East and Tourist attractions and should help you decide on what area and type of property when looking to BUY BRAZIL PROPERTY

2007-09-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

Get involved in Conservation in Bahia, Brazil....

Our conservationpermaculture project in Bahia aims to contribute towards the sustainable development of the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil, disseminating - through politico-environmental education and the strengthening of the local ('Sertanejo') popular culture - practices and alternatives based on the principals of permaculture; aimed at living in harmony with this semi-arid climate.

You will be based in Irecê, in the central part of the State of Bahia.

We want you to help us develop and spread the use of agricultural practices most appropriate to the semi-arid climate of the region founded on the principles of Permaculture. (the creation of an ecological farm based on diversified, year-round agricultural production and the use of natural renewable resources such as solar energy and the capture of rainwater, etc), to combat the rural exodus of young people, students and farmers agricultural labourers through enviro-political education and organisation, and to revitalise traditional regional culture through the study, recording and promotion of cultural groups and the organisation of cultural events.

Are you up for this? Apply Here…

Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building concept which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities. The focus is not on these elements themselves, but rather on the relationships created among them by the way we place them in the landscape. This synergy is further enhanced by mimicking patterns found in nature.

Information about Bahia

Bahia's capital is Salvador, or more correctly, São Salvador da Bahia.
Bahia is the chief locus of the early Brazilian slave trade, and is considered to possess the greatest and most distinctive African imprint in Brazil.

Bahia is the birthplace of many noted Brazilian artists, writers and musicians. There also are indigenous tribes, such as the Pataxo and the Tuxa.

Have a great day......