Welcome to volunteerbrazil.com Newsletter - August 2005  

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In this issue:

1)  What volunteers said in July and August!
2)  Competition! Win a Trip To Salvador!
3)  Greatest Show On Earth Special! 
4)  Helping The Kids!

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                        1. What volunteers said in July and August!  
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This is what Doreen said in August 2005 when she volunteered on our Street

Children Project in Recife.

I would class my time with Volunteer Brazil as one of the most practical, spiritual and enriching experiences of my volunteering life.

The entire staff and the teenage mums  were so appreciative of our small

contribution that I felt they were more of an inspiratrion to us than visa versa.

Because of the support we had from Volunteer Brazil the 'culture shock' was

easily overcome and although speaking portuguese isn't essential I would

recommend that some knowledge would be an asset.

I certainly will be much more fluent when I go back early next year.

Thanks again Alan and Mirian for an experience we won't forget.

Doreen, August 15th 2006.

(Doreen volunteered on our Street Children Project, electing to work with teenage mothers, Dorene actually donated 2000 Euros to the project, which was extremely generous - THANK YOU - and of course the project and the girls were delighted and will be eternally grateful for Dorenes generosity). 

Checkout our Street Children Project here:

  http://volunteerbrazil.com/streetkidsproject.html

Although I had completed an M.A. in Archaeology at Queens University Belfast in 2003, I remained working as a Station Officer with the Irish Coastguard. During my degree I had participated in laboratory work and field surveying but had completed very little field digging. Casting around for an opportunity to acquire experience in this field, I sought out a position as a volunteer, which would coincide, with my summer holidays. On the internet I discovered volunteerbrazil.com , a site offering volunteer opportunities in Brazil. I was looking for a project involving Historical/Archaeological conservation. I applied and was readily accepted.

I booked a two-week period, although I would have preferred to stay longer. From the information provided on the internet I completed all the required vaccinations and packed any medical items deemed necessary (Recife is about 8 degrees south of the equator and is a tropical location). I also brushed up on my small knowledge of Portuguese and purchased a good phrase book,  English is not widely spoken, even among the professionals.

I travelled from Belfast/Heathrow/Lisbon to my destination Recife and was met at the airport by staff from the volunteerbrazil organisation and was taken to my hotel. I was in touch with the volunteer hosts all during my stay, which was very reassuring.

The next day I met again with the volunteerbrazil feild staff and began to get my bearings and local travel information in my new surroundings. I also met other volunteers at the hotel from different projects and got an update about local news. The culture and food are different from home as would be expected but nothing too exceptional will be encountered.

On Monday morning I was brought to the Federal University of Pernambuco and introduced to the head archaeologist and shown around the School of Archaeology. I was informed I had a choice of projects, (grateful to know there was competition for my services), either laboratory work (washing, cataloguing, and classifying the different finds) or working on a dig in Recife Antigo docks. I readily chose the dig at the old docks. I was taken there by my hosts (they were very helpful) and introduced to the archaeologist in charge, Professor Anna Catarina, the postgraduate dig managers and the heavy digging team.

The dig involved a search for a mass grave said to exist in the area from the time of the slave trade. There were oral records, some marks on old maps and a large cross  stood there called the, Cruz De Patron, which maybe indicated a burial area. It was also  a navigational aid used by the shipping in the past. The dig was financed by the Prefectura de Recife (City Hall), who hoped to build a monument in memory of the dead slaves landed here during the slave trade era.

Our mission was to dig down as far as possible with limited resources and very little machinery (except a water pump) and find evidence of the mass burial. I was asked to start in the mornings at 08:30 and work until 12:00. I could then have the rest of the day to myself to explore Recife or whatever I preferred. I chose to stay on site and work until 16:30. For this I was given free of charge a fine self-service meal in the dockers cantina at midday and returned to work at 14:00.

Some of the graduates spoke a little English and with my simple Portuguese we managed together very well. I had a choice of jobs on scene. I could do lab work at the small lab on site or work in the trenches or I could work with the heavy diggers removing the soil to the spoil area with buckets and wheel barrows or engage in the fine scraping as we went lower in the trench. Also I could have helped with the surveying or drawing the walls discovered in the trenches. I chose a mixture of heavy work and scraping and easily fitted in with the teams there. My voluntary labour was greatly appreciated by the archaeologists as their resources were running out and the time limit for the dig was fast approaching.

There were many finds in the trenches, smokers pipes, pottery, glass, bones, metals from the 17^th century onwards but, alas, no evidence of a mass grave was discovered by us.

I was readily accepted on site and treated with great respect and maybe a little curiosity.

The Brazilian people are very welcoming and show great interest in our different cultures. Most of the people on site showed an interest in learning English, so we learnt from each other while we worked in the hot sun, especially the graduates, some of whom were taking English classes.

The evenings were spent with the other volunteers, eating out or exploring some of the nightlife on offer there.

Overall I greatly enjoyed my stay and was quite sad when it finished. We exchanged addresses and vowed to stay in touch and I promised to come back again soon for another dig. So with heavy heart I received the complimentary T-shirt with the ,Cruz de Patron, logo and headed home after a well enjoyed but much too short stay in Historical/Archaeological Brazil.

Thanks to volunteerbrazil.com , the Project staff, the Federal University, the other volunteers, and most of all the Brazilian people.

Thanks , I will be back , soon.

John, August 9^th 2005.

(John volunteered on our Historical Preservation Project, you can checkout the Project here:)

http://volunteerbrazil.com/historicalpreservation.html

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2. Competition! Win a Trip To Salvador!
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Fancy a weekend in Salvador, Bahia? 

Salvador is the hotspot of Afro-brazilian culture, this once capital city of Brazil has much to offer the intrepid traveller - the culture, the music, the food......the place where everything happens so slowly - ever so slowly.........

Salavador is a must visit when in Brazil, and in fact most of our volunteers usually spend one of their weekends there when volunteering with us.

To win A RETURN FLIGHT FROM RECIFE TO SALVADOR + 2 NIGHTS ACCOMODATION all you have to do is reserve and book your volunteering placement between 16th August and 16th September 2005.

AND, in not more than 150 words, write a short synopsis/essay on why you would like to volunteer in Brazil!

Please note: You dont necessarily have to VOLUNTEER during the period 16th August to 16th September to qualify, but you have to reserve your place on our program during this time.

Closing date is midnight GMT, and the winner will be notified thereafter and must agree to have their name and submitted essay published on our website.

To reserve your placement, request more details or to submit your piece contact us at information@volunteerbrazil.com

(Competition will be decided and judged by our CEO, Alan Thomas)

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                                3. Greatest Show On Earth Special!

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Our 10 Day Carnaval Special , includes a Packed Carnaval Program, Hotel Accomodation, including Breakfast and Dinner, Tour of Olinda and Recife, and a visit to the most beautiful coastal town of Porto de Galinhas...and much, much more...

Greatest Show On Earth Special!

Brazil Carnaval Program

From February 22nd to March 3rd 2006

DAY 1 (Wednesday)

Airport Welcome and Transport to Hotel

Settle in , welcome and unpack.

DAY 2 (Thursday)

Orientation and presentation of Carnaval, including an interesting talk about Brazilian history and culture.

3 Hour Portuguese Language Class.

Our Orientation Program will last the whole day, and includes a tour of Olinda.

DAY 3  (Friday)

Tour of Recife

Pre-Carnaval group dinner in the evening.

DAY 4 (Saturday)

Playing Carnaval

DAY 5 (Sunday)

Playing Carnaval.

DAY 6 (Monday)

Playing Carnaval.

DAY 7 (Tuesday)

If you have enough energy left, this is the last day to play Carnaval.

DAY 8 (Wednesday)

Visit to the most beautiful resort of Porto de Galinhas . voted the 2^nd best beach in the whole of Brazil!

DAY 9 (Thursday)

Optional visit to some of our Community Projects in Olinda and Recife.

DAY 10 (Friday)

Free day for last minute shopping etc.

DAY 11 (Saturday)

Sorry to see you go , but we will take you to the airport to say goodbye.

Your accomodation will be in a hotel in Olinda, the program cost includes the following: 

• 10 nights accomodation
• Breakfast and dinner
• Airport pick-up
• Orientation program
• 3 hour Portuguese language class
• Tour of Olinda
• Tour of Recife
• 4 Days (and nights) of playing Carnaval
• Day trip to Porto de Galinhas
• A visit to some of our community projects in Olinda and Recife
• Airport departure transfer 

Low Cost

ONLY $1260 (USD) Per Person

For groups of  8 or more 1 person goes FREE

Children 14 years and under go FREE (Maximum of 1 child goes free per couple, all other children pay 33% of total cost , exception is aged 3 or under, where there is no charge. )

Thank you for your interest in our Carnaval Program, please note there are only 100 places on our program. Carnaval in Brazil is extremely popular and early booking is essential.