Escola Casa do Mar

NOTE ON RESPONSE RATE:
It is temporarily low because we missed some applications last week. Please still send your application. We respond to everyone and are actively looking for volunteers.

We accept 95% of volunteer applications :)

Trailer (2024):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ssWXqHEZH4

Trailer (2023):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZCGImgB8jk

Share a beautiful bilingual home with a dozen fellow travellers,

As you Teach, Paint, Make or Climb around Rio de Janeiro.

It is no problem if you speak no English or no Portuguese, but best that you speak at least a little of one!

OUR FOUR PROGRAMS:

1. The Escola Casa do Mar English Teaching Program: Assist at our English School & Gain an TEFL Certificate (Optional)

Read Full Program Details Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PvaA07wlfPokQf6zOpDD6YLWCXMk3JW1OOl1xR3_T4Y/edit?usp=sharing

We teach 120 students, 100% free of charge, at 4 sites across Vidigal, Rocinha and Mandela 1 (Zona Norte). Classes are conducted in small groups, with an average teacher:student ratio of 1:3. No experience is necessary, and no Portuguese is necessary.

2. The Escola Casa do Mar Social Entrepreneurship Program

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Amoe24DWWVpg1lXaIu1KBVCOCGhsNc_lhv9ajZS3GJs/edit?usp=sharing

3. The Escola Casa do Mar Street Art Program

4. The Escola Casa do Mar Adventure Sports Program (Climbing and Bouldering)

5. If you do not speak English and have a specific skill, please get in touch, we are always open to motivated volunteers who would like to share their passions with our students.

OUR HOUSES:

Our Vidigal house: https://www.airbnb.com.br/rooms/48282753
Our house in Santa Teresa: https://www.airbnb.com.br/rooms/27428250

(Please ignore the prices here, the airbnb links are just to check out the photos of the houses).

Sharing one of our beautiful houses with a dozen of your fellow volunteers, you’ll live in community, with everyone united in a shared act of creation at the school, and eager to enjoy the beach, go out to dance, and embrace life in Rio de Janeiro. You can choose to live at our charming 19th-century house in Santa Teresa, Rio's bohemian, hilltop neighbourhood, and spend your evenings and weekends lounging by the house pool and running wild and free. Or choose to live inside Vidigal, Rio’s safest favela, at Casa do Mar, a glass-fronted house opening out directory onto the rainforest, with uninterrupted views of the ocean, and monkeys playing in the canopy.

Outside of the school, we build community using weekly churrascos, weekly trips into nature (Parque Nacional do Tijuca; surfing at the beach; hikes) and regular trips to the Teatro Municipal, along with favela parties. Everyone is invited to everything, there are no cliques. And just being you is enough.

The Escola Casa do Mar team is made up of a group of Brazilians and foreigners living in Rio de Janeiro. We are deeply passionate about our projects, and grateful to be able to make a contribution to this wonderful city. You'll most likely find us at Posto 12 "in the process of getting into surfing".

Top Host
This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.

Reviews

5.0
(100 reviews)100

Staff & Host

5.0

Hours & Tasks

4.5

Hostel

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

United Kingdom

5

I had a really great time volunteering with Escola Casa do Mar. The time spent teaching English to the kids and adults was very enjoyable and fulfilling, allowing for relationships to be built organically. It was very easy to make friends with the other volunteers staying there, and we had so much fun spending time in Rio together. Vidigal itself was also great to live in — safe and comfortable whilst also being authentic and gritty, with a strong sense of community. There are great views from the hostel itself and tonnes of social things to do (like the regular churrasco nights). Come visit!!

2 months ago

Switzerland

4

Thank you for the opportunity to volunteer at Casa do Mar! Its an amazing chance to get to know the life in Vidigal and in Rio. The team and volunteers I met were just lovely 🥰
The only thing to keep in mind: there is a lot of parties going on all the time in the Alzira house so its difficult to sleep if you’re a light sleeper like me. Also the price for the private room is too high for the value (bathroom very small and cant walk around in the room).
However I liked the project and I was able to give a boxing workshop!

2 months ago

Ecuador

5

Este proyecto es maravilloso! You get to meet so many people from all over the world and you can create strong friendships. The churrascos, the classes, the people, the pagodes, the beach and vidigal is just so amazing and memorable. The kids and the adults that come to the English classes and are so kind and they love learning English.
Thank you for this amazing experience!

3 months ago

Italy

5

La mia esperienza di un mese qui a Escola Casa Do Mar é stata incredibile. Il progetto di portare l’inglese nella comunità di Vidigal é importantissimo per riuscire a dare una prospettiva di futuro migliore a chiunque viva qui. Ho conosciuto persone meravigliose nella comunità e durante le mie lezioni, ma sopratutto quella che é stata la mia casa per un mese mi ha dato l’opportunità di creare dei legami e delle amicizie che porterò per sempre con me ❤️
Grazie per questa opportunità! Ci vediamo presto :)

3 months ago

United States

5

I had a great time during my stay in Rio. I applied to stay at Casa Do Mar, but ended up staying in Alzira house which I preferred anyways. Kat was so nice and welcoming. She was very attentive to all our needs and responsive as well. I never once felt unsafe living in Vidigal and felt perfectly safe going outside by myself at night. Everyone at the hostel was super friendly and inclusive, there was always something going on, and everyone was always invited. Teaching the kids and adults was very rewarding as well, and you get to learn some Portuguese as well! I definitely hope to come back 🫶

4 months ago


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