Brazil

Brazil: Beyond the Classroom

The information below is for 2007-08.

Community Service in Rio

There are several departments at PUC-Rio that sponsor ongoing social service projects. The nature of these projects and the contact information will be discussed during the PUC orientation and printed in the PUC Orientation Manual that you receive when you arrive. An existing sociology course in Community Development includes student involvement in the community and may be fruitfully combined with other volunteer work. There are additional service projects, some in the Rocinha favela, that are organized by other community service organizations that have offices on the PUC campus. Most of these projects may be carried out as an independent study for academic credit by arrangement with the Study Center Director. It is best to get involved in the organization and then approach the Director about what needs to be done in order to register with UC for the independent study. You may only undertake community service work in Rocinha under the auspices of the University and not on your own.

Community Service in Salvador

Several of the excursions or guest speakers for the program are connected with social service organizations, and students who choose to volunteer their time for these or other service opportunities gain insights into Brazilian language and culture that would be very difficult to obtain in other ways. Past students have tutored math or English in low-income communities in Salvador; taught art using recycled materials in an NGO called Projeto Arte; worked in an NGO that opposes sexual tourism and the exploitation of women; and volunteered in an orphanage. Projects vary from year to year. Final information will be available only after arrival in Brazil. A student’s language level will affect his or her ability to participate in such activities.

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