Join the community of the favela Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Details

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  Description

  This is much more than a hostel.
  
  Located in the heart of Vidigal, Rio de Janeiro, this is a creative hostel and social project founded by Léo, a French entrepreneur who fell in love with Brazil and the incredible community of Vidigal.
  
  Part of the hostel is already open and welcoming guests, while the rest is still under construction. Every week, this place continues to grow with the ambition of becoming a place where hospitality, art, culture and social impact come together.
  If you're simply looking for free accommodation while travelling, we are probably not the right place for you.
  We are looking for motivated people who genuinely want to become part of an ambitious project and contribute their skills to building something meaningful.
  
  You can discover more about us on Instagram - ask us for more details
  
  This place is built by a small but passionate team.
  Léo, the founder, is responsible for the overall vision and development of the project.
  Vinicius coordinates communication, partnerships, guest experience and the development of our social initiatives. He is always looking for creative ideas and people who want to make a real impact.
  Thaynara is part of the daily operations of the hostel and helps ensure that guests feel welcomed while supporting the ongoing development of the project.
  Together, we believe that every volunteer can leave a lasting mark on the project.
  
  Who are we looking for?
  We are currently looking for volunteers with real experience in one or more of the following areas:
  - Video production
  - Filmmaking and video editing
  - Photography and social media content creation
  - Communication and digital marketing
  - Carpentry and woodworking
  - Masonry and construction
  - Professional painters and mural artists
  - Interior decoration and artistic design
  - Social project development and community initiatives
  
  If you have a portfolio, previous projects or professional experience, please include them in your application.
  We especially appreciate volunteers who are proactive, independent, creative and enjoy solving problems instead of waiting for instructions.
  
  Our Social Project
  
  This place is deeply connected to the Vidigal community.
  Our goal is not only to welcome travelers but also to create a positive impact for local residents through long-term community projects.
  Together with local people, we are developing initiatives such as:
  - Collecting donated clothes throughout Rio de Janeiro and redistributing them to families in need.
  - Organizing community clean-up days in the streets of Vidigal.
  - Planting flowers and greenery to make public spaces more welcoming.
  - Creating large mural paintings with talented artists.
  - Supporting local artists and encouraging cultural exchanges between residents and travelers.
  - Developing new educational, artistic and environmental initiatives with the community.
  We believe tourism can create real change when visitors become active contributors rather than simple spectators.
  What you'll experience
  Working at this place means joining a real community.
  You'll wake up surrounded by nature, with monkeys sometimes visiting the property, breathtaking ocean views and one of the most authentic neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro.
  You'll collaborate with local residents, artists, entrepreneurs and travelers who all share the same vision: building something unique together.
  Every day is different, and every volunteer has the opportunity to leave a lasting contribution to this place.
  
  Languages
  Our team speaks Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
  Before applying
  Please tell us:
  What are your professional skills?
  What experience do you have?
  Why would you like to join this place?
  How long can you stay?
  Please include your Instagram, website or portfolio if you have one.
  We receive many applications, so we prioritize volunteers whose experience matches the current needs of the project.
  If you're passionate about filmmaking, communication, construction, woodworking, art or community development, we'd love to hear from you and build this place together.
  
  *Please note that we give priority to volunteers staying at least 3 or 4 weeks, as it takes time to integrate into our team and contribute meaningfully to the project.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Creative DIY projects
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  Interests

  

  Events & social

  

  Culture

  

  Art & design

  

  Photography

  

  Music

  

  Languages

  

  Architecture

  

  Nature

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Mountain

  

  Beach
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  At the Casa and Vidigal, you’ll dive into a blend of languages, arts, and human connections.
  
  Language exchange: You’ll get to practice your Portuguese with locals, switch to English or French with fellow travelers.
  
  Artistic exchange: Vidigal is a hub of creativity, and you’ll have a chance to soak up that artistic vibe. Whether you’re joining street art projects, sharing your own creative skills…. It’s about art as an exchange.
  
  Meeting and sharing: This is also a human adventure between the host, volunteers, and guests. Think of it as themed evenings, shared conversations, and living moments together. Basically, we’re creating a space where everyone adds their own little piece to the cultural and human mosaic.
  
  And moreover, it’s also about discovering the real daily life of a true favela in Rio de Janeiro. You’ll see the authentic rhythm of the neighborhood and understand what makes it unique, beyond the clichés.

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  Help

  At the Casa, our social project is all about weaving stronger ties between our place and the Vidigal community. Here, you have the opportunity to create and dive into artistic, eco-friendly, and cultural activities in the Casa, and the streets around.
  
  We are looking for volunteers who want to actively contribute to the development of this place. This is not a routine hostel job—we are building a creative, artistic and social project, and every volunteer becomes part of that adventure.
  
  Depending on your skills, your tasks may include:
  
  * Producing videos, reels and documentaries about this place and the Vidigal community.
  * Filming, editing and creating professional content for our social media.
  * Photography and visual storytelling.
  * Communication, digital marketing and community engagement.
  * Carpentry, woodworking and furniture creation.
  * Masonry, construction and renovation work.
  * Painting walls, murals and artistic decorations.
  * Helping develop our social projects and community initiatives.
  * Participating in neighbourhood clean-up actions, planting flowers and improving public spaces.
  * Helping organize clothing collection and redistribution campaigns for families in need.
  
  We are looking for people who are proactive, creative, reliable and willing to take initiative. If you have professional experience or a portfolio, please include it in your application.
  
  We receive many requests, so we give priority to volunteers whose skills match our current needs and who are genuinely motivated to contribute to the project rather than simply looking for free accommodation.
  
  If you think you can bring your talent, creativity and positive energy to this project, we'd love to meet you!

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  We offer space for one volunteers at a time, and you’ll have your own beds in a shared dorm-style room that can host up to six people. It’s a friendly, communal setup, so you’ll get to know fellow travelers and volunteers easily.
  
  You’ll have access to a shared bathroom and all the common areas of the house — including a fully equipped kitchen, a terrace with a nice view, a swimming pool and even a co-working space ! It’s a great spot if you want to work on your own projects or just have a comfortable place to chill and connect.
  
  In short, it’s a cozy and welcoming environment where you can feel at home while also meeting new people and sharing experiences and enjoy the connections with the nature.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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