Share Your Energy. Build Confidence Through Sports.
Join our community in Vidigal and discover how sports can create connections that go beyond language. We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to play, teach, and learn alongside local children. No professional experience needed—just a willingness to participate and share positive energy through climbing, soccer, volleyball, and general fitness activities.
You'll be part of a supportive team led by our experienced local coordinators, Daniel and Guto. They plan and guide every session—your role is to help bring these activities to life.
In Practice:
Think of yourself as an assistant coach. You'll demonstrate exercises, encourage the kids, join the games, and use simple English within the context of play. We maintain small groups (about 1 volunteer for every 4 children) to ensure everyone gets attention and support.
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The classes
what we offer
COMUNIDADE RIO FLOW
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Community Soccer: More than just a match, this is the heart of our connection with Vidigal. Join our weekly open game—a vibrant space to share the universal language of football, meet new friends, and strengthen bonds with students, staff, and local community members. It’s the perfect warm-up for our weekly barbecue, where we share food, stories, and cultures.
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Girls' Soccer & English Development: Led by experienced coaches focused on discovering and nurturing talent, this program goes beyond the pitch. Girls develop technical skills while practicing English through immersive, action-based fun. The focus is on holistic well-being: building confidence, leadership, and teamwork (soft skills) in a supportive environment that promotes health, opportunity, and personal growth.
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Climbing & Personal Growth: This is where we face challenges together. On Vidigal's mountain, children learn to manage fear, push their limits, and celebrate every small victory. The sessions integrate lessons on breath control, emotional regulation, and respecting nature, empowering them to overcome both physical and personal mountains.
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General Sports & Fitness: Dynamic sessions focused on overall movement, coordination, and fun through different sport activities and team games.
The Language Element:
This is an English immersion opportunity for the children. You don't need to speak Portuguese—the activities themselves provide clear context for communication. Use simple, encouraging English; our coordinators and bilingual volunteers are always available to help if translation is needed.
is this program for you
This program is a great fit if you:
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Enjoy sports and working with children
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Have a positive, patient, and adaptable attitude
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Are committed to showing up and being present
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Want to contribute to a meaningful community project
No special qualifications required. We value enthusiasm and consistency over any specific skill set.
Weekly Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday (2/3 hours per day): Sports & English sessions. This includes general Fitness, girls' Soccer, and community football.
Community Activities (Optional but encouraged):
Wednesday: Community football match in Vidigal.
Thursday Morning: Group Action Day. Starts with a shared vegan breakfast (bring some fruit!).
Followed by mountain climbing with the kids on afternoon.
Weekly Commitment: 12 hours per week.
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks to ensure consistency for the children.
Flexibility: We understand many volunteers have other commitments. We just ask for clear communication—please inform the sports coordinator at least 2 days in advance if you cannot attend a session.
The Impact You'll Make
You won't just be teaching sports. You'll be:
Helping children develop teamwork, resilience, and self-esteem. Creating a natural environment for them to practice English, Supporting a local initiative that values inclusion and active living. As philosophy we believe that here, we see sports as a tool for holistic growth—it's about physical health, mental well-being, and building a supportive community.
a truly volunteer
This is truly a volunteering experience, as opposed to a work exchange, with plenty of time to explore the city and shift into vacation-mode. You will not be expected to do any class prep or admin work outside of class hours. We employ two long-term coordinators, who know all our students well, providing much needed continuity to our classes. By assisting in our classes, you allow us to bring down student:teacher ratios (1:3 is our goal), speeding up our students' progress by making the lesson more student-focused. While there is no pressure to design classes yourself, we greatly value the ideas that come from the 10-15 volunteers who stay with us each month from all over the world, and we are always excited to improve our curriculum. Our classes are 100% free for everyone to attend and are held in (safe) favelas, where paying for a class would not otherwise be an option.
life in Vidigal
Is it safe?
Vidigal is considered one of the safest areas in Rio. Unlike in other neighborhoods, petty crime is rare, and the community is welcoming and used to tourists. Since its pacification in 2011, there’s been strong cooperation between the police and local groups. Located just 5 minutes from Ipanema and Leblon, Vidigal offers stunning views, vibrant cultural life, and a strong sense of community.
partners
