If you’re a sports aficionado and enjoy working with youths, look no further! This project brings together people who love sports. Sports have become a fundamental part of Brazil, as apparent in the lively soccer scene, the emergence of sports stadiums, and the hosting international sports events. More importantly, sports provide the youths in the favelas with positive, recreational outlets. With a lack of entertainment and job options in the favelas, the youths are susceptible to illegal vices to pass the time. This project partners up with a local organization that manages sports programs for disadvantaged communities. Volunteer in Brazil and inspire the youths by encouraging them to stay away from harmful activities and lead a healthy life. While in Rio, take the opportunity to explore the many attractions in the largest country in South America and practice Portuguese!

By volunteering in Brazil in the Youth Athletic project, you will be working with a local NGO that organizes sports programs to engage the youths of the favelas. Depending on your individual interests and skills, and on the needs of the local staff, your daily activities involve, but are not limited to:

• Teaching sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, skateboarding, etc.
• Work with the local NGO on community outreach projects
• Emphasize on the importance of healthy living and a balance lifestyle
• Have fun with the youths and share your culture with them
• Empower the youths and encourage them to stay off the streets.
• Be a positive mentor to the youths
• Be a friend to the youths and keep them off the wrong track
• Highly encouraged to introduce lesser-known sports in order to stimulate the interests of the young.

You don’t have to be a professional in sports to participate in this program, although a little talent and sports knowledge can go a long way. Sports play a huge role in developing the physical, social and emotional skills of the young, and it helps to keep them away from illegal activities. This sports program comes as a necessity for the youths, as it provides them friendly competition in a safe and fun environment. It also keeps the youth focused, and gives them the motivation to want to do better in life. Have fun with the youths, while helping to renew the love and passion of sports in them, encouraging them to want to take part in the sports program. The local NGO also greatly appreciates volunteers helping to lighten the work load, while keeping the youths engaged in the programs.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. There are no specific qualifications needed to volunteer in the sports project, although a little talent and skill can go a long way. Volunteers without any knowledge of the Portugese language can still contribute effectively to the project. You should have a passion to teach and aspire to help your students. Volunteers should be good role models, flexible, patient, caring, creative, responsible and open-minded. Volunteers must also respect the locals and the host organizations, along with their rules and projects.

Rio de Janerio is blessed with panoramic landscapes including the spectacular mountains and pristine beaches, but it's the energetic people and the pulsating culture that best epitomizes the city. Rio is also hosting the Soccer World Cup 2014 and the Summer Olympic games of 2016. In preparation of this, the city has seen vast improvement in communications facilities, transportation infrastructure, and even the crime rate has gone down substantially. Another phenomenon that Rio is very famous for is the Carnival, which draws over 2 million visitors to the city. During the festival, the streets come alive with incredible song, dance and merry-making! Our project takes place in Rocinha, the largest and one of the most developed favelas (shantytowns) in Brazil. Today, most of the houses in Rocinha have developed into an urbanized slum, with basic sanitation, plumbing and electricity in place. Facilities such as banks, pharmacies, bus lines and cable television in place.