Above: Favela da Rocinha, the largest slum in Rio de Janeiro and all of South America. Photo by kevin.j. Feature photo by CARF, of Roney, a street child who was murdered in Jan 2006.

What: Casa do Caminho is an orphanage located near Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. It seeks to take orphans out of the violent, drug riddle neighborhoods of Rio and educate them in a healthy, rural setting.

How: Organic farming practices, Information Technology, and social assistance are among the many projects where Caminho needs help.

Who is eligible to volunteer: Anyone over 21, with basic Portuguese language skills need only provide a 6-month commitment and a plane ticket to Rio de Janeiro to begin this adventure.

Amazon Rainforest

Casa Do Caminho is located in the rainforest outside of the village of Xerem, some 30 miles outside Rio de Janeiro.

It’s a different world than the drugs, violence and crime that most of them faced in the city.

The campus includes three separate dorms for children, teenage boys, and teenage girls, and is a safe and nurturing environment for these young people, many of whom who have undergone physical and sexual abuse and often lack basic social skills.

Staff and volunteers feed, clothe, supervise and educate the children in a variety of ways, as well as maintaining the facility.

This provides a unique opportunity for volunteers, giving them the chance to experience firsthand the true flavors of Brazilian culture.

Strong leadership

Casa do Caminho has been in operation for over 20 years. During this time, the orphanage has helped a variety of children and worked on many projects.

In 2006, the orphanage hired Dutch national Bart Bijen to be the new director of the organization.

Volunteers often get discouraged with poorly-run programs. Outright corruption exists throughout many South American NGOs.

Photo by natecull

Bart has taken on the challenge of making the orphanage economically viable and more accessible to volunteers. Within his first few months, he made the difficult decision to fire over 50% of the paid staff.

But such leadership decisions are paving the way for a bright new future for the children and volunteers.

A Day in the Life…

As Bart says of volunteers, “We select hard and expect them to come and work. They have a chance to really do something.”

Volunteers start with the children at 6 a.m. when they have to be ready for breakfast and school. The children are educated in half-day shifts, giving them time to participate in other activities as well as doing chores.

Educators at the orphanage reinforce the learning the children receive at school. Volunteers will also work on one of the orphanages other projects, including the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project and the organic farm.

In the evenings, children are tasked with chores and hygiene. Once they cleaned up themselves and the facility, there evenings are free to play, watch television, or engage in activities set up by volunteers.

How You Can Help?

All volunteers are welcome. Casa do Caminho is engaged in the difficult task of building a team of idealists—people who want to work towards the betterment of the children.

Interaction with the children and other locals is constant, regardless of the specialty for which you have volunteered. A good grasp of Portuguese fundamentals is a must. Casa do Caminho can often secure immersion courses in nearby Rio De Janeiro for a reasonable cost.

Volunteers must be willing to commit six months to Caminho. There are multiple reasons for this, not the least of which is the relatively time and energy it takes to get a volunteer up to speed.

Typically, the 6 months is arranged through a tourist visa which lasts for 3 months and can be renewed on while you’re there. Volunteer visas are trickier and, if not secured, can preclude one from getting a tourist visa.

Photo by anijdam

Since you are working with children, a basic criminal background check must be obtained. This may seem like a hassle, but bear in mind that there are a lot of less-than-professional organizations out there.

What does Casa Do Caminho offer its volunteers, apart from the warm feeling of helping?

Having secured a new vehicle, the organization offers free pickup and drop-off from the Rio airport.

Bart also semi-jokingly refers to “…a daily injection of rice and beans” that is given to volunteers, but food is provided.

Accommodations are also on the list of benefits, with the volunteers having their own shared building.

And as if food, lodging, and transportation wasn’t enough, volunteers are also offered a rare glimpse of Brazilian culture through Capoeira—a blend of martial arts and dance, particularly to the Rio de Janeiro region.

At the end of the day, volunteering is about a wholehearted desire to give back. These children have come from terrible situations and Casa do Caminho is their savior.

As they strive to provide more services and secure more funding, volunteers are put in a unique position to make a difference. Volunteering for Casa Do Caminho is a heavy commitment, but one that will pay back in a cultural and human experience that no money could ever buy.

community connection

Click here for a list of volunteer opportunities, or to find out more about the orphanage, visit Casa do Caminho.

Photo by Julie Schwietert

Rebuilding a city after a natural disaster takes lots of hands and hearts. New Orleans is the perfect voluntourism destination and offers hundreds of opportunities to help.

6. Latino Farmers’ Co-op

Co-op founder Kathia Duran recognizes that part of rebuilding New Orleans involves providing residents with work… and with food. The Latino Farmers’ Co-op will eventually do both.

Planted on what was a rough corner lot in Central City, the Latino Farmers’ Co-op will eventually supply local residents and restaurants with fresh vegetables and fruits. To realize the dream, Duran says, lots of volunteer help is needed. If you’re in New Orleans for a day or more, you can get your hands in the dirt and help directly with some gardening.

If you’re in New Orleans for a longer period of time, the Co-op could use your skills in website development, fundraising, and grant and partnership research. For more information, contact Duran at: kathia@global-trade-network.com.

5. Green Light New Orleans

One of the silver linings in the cloud of Hurricane Katrina is that rebuilding the city from the ground up provided urban planners and residents the opportunity to design a greener city.Green Light New Orleansis playing an important role in greening the new New Orleans by attempting to correct urban poverty and environmental degradation through an energy efficient light bulb distribution program.

Volunteers go directly to residents’ homes to install energy-efficient lightbulbs, so this opportunity is perfect for anyone visiting the city, even if for just a few hours.

To volunteer, e-mail green@greenlightneworleans.org.

Photo by Julie Schwietert

4. Edible Schoolyard New Orleans

Possibly the coolest school in the United States, the Samuel J. Green Charter School for kindergarteners through eighth graders is an urban oasis where classroom lessons are supported and reinforced through hands-on experiences in the school’s organic garden.

The Edible Schoolyard New Orleans is a teaching garden where students learn “the transformative values of nourishment, community, and stewardship of the land.”

Kids are involved in every aspect of the garden’s care: from planning and planting to harvesting and cooking meals. ESYNOLA offers numerous opportunities to volunteers, including helping with gardening and cooking classes, providing support during weekly activities, and performing general garden maintenance.

To inquire about volunteering with the Edible Schoolyard contact Renee Allie at: info@esynola.org

3. Habitat for Humanity

Most people know about Habitat’s volunteer opportunities, which involve building homes, but did you know that Habitat NOLA needs 500 volunteers a week if it hopes to achieve its goal of building 1,500 homes in the next five years?

Click here to learn more about the sign-up process for volunteering with Habitat in New Orleans.

2. New Orleans Adolescent Hospital

The rate of mental health problems skyrocketed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and social service programs have had difficulty responding to the overwhelming need for counseling and psychosocial services. The New Orleans Adolescent Hospital is seeking volunteers who are able to facilitate recreational activities for young people in a hospital setting.

This opportunity is perfect for someone who plans to be in New Orleans for an extended period of time. Contact Allison Dillman at 504-897-4639.

1. The Green Project

The Green Project is a non-profit organization that runs a retail store and warehouse selling recycled building materials to local residents. The Green Project also oversees paint recycling programs and runs a garden, so many different opportunities exist for volunteers with a passion for environmental issues. E-mail lpaul@thegreenproject.org to offer your skills.

community connection

Didn’t find something on our list that matches your interests or skills? Check out Volunteer New Orleans or VolunteerMatch, both of which allow you to plug in your skills, dates of availability, and other data to find a great volunteer experience for you.

In New Orleans for just a short stay or can’t get to New Orleans but still want to help? Drop by Café Reconcile for a delicious lunch. This work and life skills program for at-risk teens funnels your lunch bill into a number of important community-building projects. They also accept donations.

Feature photo by ksbuehler. Photo above by TimS

1. Water pollution

According to the Worldwatch Institute, the water is not safe to drink in many areas of China.

Industrialization has polluted many lakes and streams, resulting in chemical pollution and increased algae blooms. Algae blooms also contribute to fish die off by chocking off the oxygen supply that aquatic life needs to survive.

2. Exacerbated dust storms

China is experiencing an increase in dust storms. Dust storms can spread as far as North America from China and these storms can become deadly when they pick up airborne toxins from factories. Lester R. Brown of the Earth Policy Institute cites over-plowing and overgrazing as contributing causes of the desertification process.

3. Coastline swamped by red tides

Untreated sewage is being dumped into surrounding estuaries, creating a surplus of red phytoplankton. Red tides are becoming a common ocurrence in China, killing off marine life and adversely affecting the surrounding coastal communities. Toxins from this algal growth make seafood unsafe to eat.

4. Thermal insulation rare in Chinese buildings

Because of poor (or no) usage of insulation, Chinese buildings require twice as much energy to heat or cool as those in similar climates in the US or Europe. The World Bank states that 95% of these buildings do not meet meet China’s own codes for energy efficiency.

According to Wang Tiehong, chief engineer of The Ministry of Construction, 30% of China’s total energy consumption is used for building infrastructure, such as new residential or shopping areas.

Photo by pdvos

5. All new buildings require China to build new power plants.

Chinese infrastructure is increasing at an astronomical rate of growth. China added 66 gigawatts of electricity to its power grid in 2005, according to the The New York Times. That’s about as much power as Great Britain generates in an entire year.

6. Heavy industry plants do not operate efficiently or control pollution as adequately as factories in other parts of the world.

On average Chinese steelmakers use one-fifth more energy per ton than the estimated international average. The World Bank says that cement manufacturers need 45% more power and ethylene producers need 70% more power than producers elsewhere.

Another study done by the World Bank in conjunction with the State Environmental Policy Act, or SEPA, the national environmental Agency, concluded that 350,000 to 400,000 premature deaths are a direct result of outdoor air pollution.

7. Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is triggering landslides.

With the degradation of the Yangtze River, entire ecosystems may are altered or destroyed. The Times Online reports that geologists have found banks are weakening as a result of water seeping out of the reservoir and the huge pressure changes that occurs during drawdowns of the dam.

A Chinese official noted that the reservoir shore had collapsed in 91 places, affecting a total area of 22 miles. Algal blooms are accumulating downstream from the Yangtze.

Photo by hleung

8. China’s emissions growth is 2-4 times greater than expected

The International Energy Agency predicted that China’s carbon emissions would not reach those of the United States until 2020.

The agency now states that China overtook the US in emissions growth in 2007. China is the world’s second-largest consumer of oil after the US, and uses more coal than the US, the European Union, and Japan combined.

9. Extinction of Yangtze river dolphin is confirmed.

After an extensive six week survey of the mammal’s habitat, scientists now believe that the 20 million year old Yangtze river dolphin is now extinct. The BBC News stated that the team of scientists thinks that unregulated fishing was the main reason for its extinction.

10. US firms are driving pollution in China.

According to Jane Spencer of the Wall Street Journal, US firms are helping to drive the current environmental degradation in China. By demanding lower prices on products, manufacturers are forced to reduce environmental safeguards in order to compete internationally.

As an example, she states that prices on fabrics and clothing imported from China to the US have fallen 25% since 1995.

What You Can Do/ Community Connection

Support local and international organizations promoting awareness of and remedies for the current industrial environmental degradation of China. Matador is affiliated with The Green Camel Bell, a non-profit located in Lanzhou, China, which focuses its efforts on environmental conservation, activism, youth development, and education. On an international level, Oxfam International works to fight poverty and injustice.

Feature photo by technicolorcavalry Photo by AsianInsights

The chance to give something back, an opportunity to share your skills and knowledge, to meet other travellers or simply to meet the locals…

There are many reasons to volunteer while you’re travelling and there are literally thousands of charities and organisations that look for help from passing travellers.

Many ask for donations or fees to cover costs, others operate as profitable businesses but the list below is just a few that cost little or nothing to become involved and help out:

1. WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), Worldwide

Board and lodging is offered in exchange for a days’ work on the farm. Stays available from one week to many years, and with thousands of hosts available in 53 countries there is an opportunity suitable for everyone. Contact: WWOOF.

For more information, check out A First-Timer’s Guide to WWOOF-ing.

2. Turtle Teams, Worldwide

A generic name for the thousands of small groups that help threatened sea turtles. Most groups are based on one or two nesting beaches–which are typically at risk from over exploitation-and appreciate help for even just one night.

Search for groups at the local tourist office close to any tropical beach and help a species come off the endangered list. More information can be found at these larger organisations: www.seaturtles.org and www.cccturtle.org.

Photo by aimabroad

Conservation Volunteers, Australia and New Zealand

- www.conservationvolunteers.com.au - Short-term project in Australia, New Zealand and a few international locations. Working in teams to protect habitats and promote eco tourism.

A small fee (usually around AUS$100 for a week) is usually required to participate, but covers all food and lodging. British based BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) also has similar opportunities. www.btcv.org.uk

Sudan Volunteer Programme, Sudan

– www.svp-uk.com - Teach English in one of the world’s most impoverished countries. Placements are at schools or universities but many volunteers help with community projects in additional to their teaching.

Volunteers must pay for their airfare but all other costs are covered, including a small monthly stipend.

Appalachian Trail Conference, USA

- www.appalachiantrail.org - At over 2,000 miles long the Appalachian Trail is the classic long trail in the Eastern US an home to almost 2,000 endangered or threatened species.

Volunteers help with trail building and maintenance in return for food and (usually very basic) accommodation

Photo by law_keven

Trip Leader for HF Holidays, Europe

- www.hfholidays.co.uk - One of Europe’s most popular walking holiday operators is searching for volunteers to lead their hiking and coach holidays. Leaders are provided with accommodation, meals and the chance to explore Europe in return for sharing their passion and knowledge with groups they accompany.

Help Exchange, Worldwide

- www.helpx.net - A website that lists worldwide hosts that are looking for an extra pair of hands; whether it be in their farm or garden, working in schools or on religious projects, building houses or community centres to simply helping a family take the kids to school.

A small memberships fee is required to access the details of hosts but board and lodging is provided in exchange for your work.

Photo by jonrawlinson

Peace Corps, Worldwide

- www.peacecorps.gov – A unique chance to live and work in another country; working on a variety of projects from healthcare and the environment to business development.

A real commitment to 27 months on placement is required, but for those that are willing, this is a life-changing position. Open only to US residents but similar projects are available for other nationals with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) www.vso.org.uk

United Nations Volunteers, Worldwide

- www.unv.org - From health care and economic development to assisting after natural disasters, the UN offers positions for those that are dedicated to making a difference abroad.

While many positions are open only to experienced professions, the UN has links to hundreds of international NGOs and QANGOS that are looking for help in similar fields on a less formal basis.

Photo by aripeskoe

Kibbutz Volunteer, Israel - www.kibbutzvolunteer.com - An area that is rarely out of the news, Israel offers superb community but complicated politics.

Being a volunteer gives you the opportunity to experience this region first hand while living as part of a socialist community where everything is provided. The region also serves as a good base from which to explore the Middle East and North Africa

This is just a small sample of what’s on offer; be sure to thoroughly research any options before undertaking a project. And remember, while it’s always nice to get something for free, if a project is requesting money, it is usually going to a good cause.