As a small, community-based organization supported by a part-time volunteer field coordinator, our current situation presents many challenges to perspective volunteers. While it is our goal to offer as much as possible with the limited resources at our disposal, the successful volunteers will be able to function with minimal support while still be able to carry out all of his or her responsibilities as a member of our team.
One of the advantages of our relatively bare-bones structure in terms of the volunteer experience is that it affords volunteers opportunities to take a greater role in helping shape the growth and direction of the organization. In any case, if you are the sort of volunteer who requires a high degree of orientation and infrastructure, we suggest that you collaborate with another organization with more resources, such as those that charge volunteers program fees, housing costs, etc.
Formal volunteers who commit to work with 2bros for at least 3 months during the Brazilian academic year. These volunteers will be in charge of teaching their own class. They will prepare lesson plans, take attendance, give exams (if appropriate), plan field trips, etc. Resident volunteers also supervise voluntourists. Resident volunteers accept, guide and lead voluntourists in Rocinha.
Voluntourists will do whatever volunteer residents need on the field. Without resident volunteers, there are no voluntourists. There are many advantages of being a resident volunteer; besides living in the community (being immersed in the Brazilian culture and advancing Brazilian Portuguese language skills), resident volunteers receive a certificate at the end of their service with Two Brothers. Additionally, resident volunteers have received college credit from various universities in the past.
No Program Cost
Thankfully, it has never been necessary for us to charge volunteers for their participation in our organization. We offer no stipends or salaries to volunteers, interns, or researchers, who should be financially self-supporting through their own private funds, grants, or scholarships.
