Is it a good idea to volunteer in a favela? What should I think of before? How can I find a project to volunteer in one of the 1000 Favelas of Rio? FAQ for Favela volunteers.

A lot of people asked us about volunteering options in the Favelas of Rio in the past (many of them don`t speak german so we`ll write this post in English). Here we go.

Do I have to speak Portuguese?
You should in order to have a really great experience – because volunteering is about getting to know a place and its people, the culture, exchanging ideas, expanding your knowledge (if you don`t just want to stick to the “gringo crowd” – foreigners – hanging out in Rio). You`ll find some people in the Favelas of Rio who are excellent English speakers but the majority only speaks Portuguese. Continue reading →