Casa Do Caminho: Getting Orphans Off the Streets

Amazon Rainforest

Casa Do Caminho is located in the rainforest outside of the village of Xerem, some 30 miles outside Rio de Janeiro.

It’s a different world than the drugs, violence and crime that most of them faced in the city.

The campus includes three separate dorms for children, teenage boys, and teenage girls, and is a safe and nurturing environment for these young people, many of whom who have undergone physical and sexual abuse and often lack basic social skills.

Staff and volunteers feed, clothe, supervise and educate the children in a variety of ways, as well as maintaining the facility.

This provides a unique opportunity for volunteers, giving them the chance to experience firsthand the true flavors of Brazilian culture.

Strong leadership

Casa do Caminho has been in operation for over 20 years. During this time, the orphanage has helped a variety of children and worked on many projects.

In 2006, the orphanage hired Dutch national Bart Bijen to be the new director of the organization.

Volunteers often get discouraged with poorly-run programs. Outright corruption exists throughout many South American NGOs.

Bart has taken on the challenge of making the orphanage economically viable and more accessible to volunteers. Within his first few months, he made the difficult decision to fire over 50% of the paid staff.

But such leadership decisions are paving the way for a bright new future for the children and volunteers.

A Day in the Life…

As Bart says of volunteers, “We select hard and expect them to come and work. They have a chance to really do something.”

Volunteers start with the children at 6 a.m. when they have to be ready for breakfast and school. The children are educated in half-day shifts, giving them time to participate in other activities as well as doing chores.

Educators at the orphanage reinforce the learning the children receive at school. Volunteers will also work on one of the orphanages other projects, including the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project and the organic farm.

In the evenings, children are tasked with chores and hygiene. Once they cleaned up themselves and the facility, there evenings are free to play, watch television, or engage in activities set up by volunteers.

How You Can Help?

All volunteers are welcome. Casa do Caminho is engaged in the difficult task of building a team of idealists—people who want to work towards the betterment of the children.

Interaction with the children and other locals is constant, regardless of the specialty for which you have volunteered. A good grasp of Portuguese fundamentals is a must. Casa do Caminho can often secure immersion courses in nearby Rio De Janeiro for a reasonable cost.

Volunteers must be willing to commit six months to Caminho. There are multiple reasons for this, not the least of which is the relatively time and energy it takes to get a volunteer up to speed.

Typically, the 6 months is arranged through a tourist visa which lasts for 3 months and can be renewed on while you’re there. Volunteer visas are trickier and, if not secured, can preclude one from getting a tourist visa.

Since you are working with children, a basic criminal background check must be obtained. This may seem like a hassle, but bear in mind that there are a lot of less-than-professional organizations out there.

What does Casa Do Caminho offer its volunteers, apart from the warm feeling of helping?

Having secured a new vehicle, the organization offers free pickup and drop-off from the Rio airport.

Bart also semi-jokingly refers to “…a daily injection of rice and beans” that is given to volunteers, but food is provided.

Accommodations are also on the list of benefits, with the volunteers having their own shared building.

And as if food, lodging, and transportation wasn’t enough, volunteers are also offered a rare glimpse of Brazilian culture through Capoeira—a blend of martial arts and dance, particularly to the Rio de Janeiro region.

At the end of the day, volunteering is about a wholehearted desire to give back. These children have come from terrible situations and Casa do Caminho is their savior.

As they strive to provide more services and secure more funding, volunteers are put in a unique position to make a difference. Volunteering for Casa Do Caminho is a heavy commitment, but one that will pay back in a cultural and human experience that no money could ever buy.

community connection

Click here for a list of volunteer opportunities, or to find out more about the orphanage, visit Casa do Caminho.