No programme fee
Get involved with Comunidade Rio Flow
Volunteer, intern or research alongside local teachers and coordinators in Vidigal and Rocinha — and share a home with an international community. Stays from 2 weeks to 6 months, year-round.
Ways to get involved
Choose the way that fits you.
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Volunteer
Join our programmes for around 12 hours of project work a week, alongside local teachers and coordinators. Stays from 2 weeks to 6 months, year-round.
Apply to volunteer -
Intern
Internships, field studies and independent research, built around your academic objectives and university requirements.
Apply to intern About internships & research
How to apply
Volunteer, intern or research with us. There is no programme fee.
Apply or enquire
Email us, or message us on WhatsApp or Instagram, with your dates and what you would like to work on.
Shape your experience
We work closely with students to develop experiences around academic learning objectives, professional interests, internship requirements, research questions and community needs.
Prepare
We provide information about programmes, accommodation, practical arrangements, safeguarding and expectations, and practical guidance around arrival and transport.
A typical volunteer week
12 hoursof project work a week, with the option to contribute more
Project hours
Work generally takes place in the afternoons or evenings, except in Rocinha on Saturday afternoons. At Monday meetings, the whole team plans the week ahead and reflects on the previous one.
Community
Everyone contributes to the projects, and volunteers quickly get to know each other well. The environment is inclusive and collaborative.
Living together
Sharing the house with 15–20 fellow volunteers, you live in community — and there is always someone going to the beach, a waterfall, a churrasco or a games night. Life in the co-living space
Weekly activities
Churrasco nights bring together volunteers, students and friends. Once a week we head out on a group hike.
Exploring Rio
Outside project hours, volunteers explore Rio together — sports on the beach, surfing at Arpoador, or hiking in what is often called the world's urban climbing capital.
No programme fee
We do not charge students a programme fee. Instead, we ask participants to make a donation equivalent to the cost of affordable hostel accommodation in Rio de Janeiro.
We use the local affordable-hostel market as a reference point and review it periodically against local accommodation costs.
2026 reference donation
R$75approximately US$15 per night
Approximate operational allocation
- 62.5%Housing costs
- 25%Staff salaries & accommodation
- 12.5%Educational materials, supplies & programme promotion
Participant contributions support the accommodation, staffing and programme infrastructure required to operate Comunidade Rio Flow.
We do not present Rio as risk-free.
We approach safety through local presence, safeguarding procedures, clear communication and participant choice.
Local knowledge
Our core team lives and works in Vidigal and has long-standing relationships in the community.
Safeguarding
Designated safeguarding responsibility within the team, with procedures for participant and student welfare.
Professional oversight
Qualified teachers and experienced programme coordinators provide continuity and supervision.
Practical support
Guidance on arrival, transport, accommodation and participation.
Choice
You can take part fully without living in Vidigal.
Funding opportunities
Depending on your country, university, course and eligibility, additional funding may be available through university funding, scholarships, student mobility programmes, government funding or institutional support. Check with your university's international office or the relevant funding body — we can provide programme information and supporting documentation where required.
