Volunteer Management Assistant

Overview of Role

IPBio is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to support in the expansion of our volunteer program that is willing to stay for a minimum period of 3 months. IPBio currently has 2 full-time staff member dedicated to the management of the volunteer program, however, with the increasing numbers of volunteers interested in participating in our programs we are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator who can support the Volunteer Manager in organizing the daily tasks of volunteers.

Role Description:

• Coordinating volunteers in their diverse daily activities
  
• Ensuring the well-being of the volunteers
  
• Supervising the organization and cleanliness of the volunteer house
  
• Organizing weekend activities for the volunteers
  
• Hosting events/dinners and providing entertainment for volunteers
  
• Administrating the volunteer program
  
• Reporting concerns and intermediating requests to management
  
• Coordinating group activities like Garden Day´s
  
• Supporting in the preparation of material that provides exposure to the program such as volunteer videos, ads and updates on social media
  

Living at IPBio

Every day you will wake up to the sound of birds, monkeys and frogs and can explore the reserves grounds. Our town is called the Cave Capital of Brazil so volunteers often visit our state parks to explore the caves.  Hike into the dense forest and visits to waterfalls are also common activities. Bouy cross, big balloons, are used to drift down the rivers, some of the river route are 3 hours long! After work volunteers can swim on the reserve deck, organize dinners, watch movies, read and go wildlife watching. On the weekend we often have a barbecue or organize dinner at a restaurant. Often there are social events or parties in the community that volunteers can go to.

Location

The Atlantic Forest stretches from the northeastern to the southern regions of Brazil and northern Argentina and southeastern Paraguay. Five hundred years ago, the Atlantic Forest of Brazil covered approximately 330 million acres, but today only 7% remains. In the Ribeira Valley, our region of the Atlantic Forest, we are at the footsteps of 21% of the 7% that is left, it being largest contiguous section of the Atlantic Forest. Despite the forests diminished state it still ranks as a global conservation priority. Although it is now just a small fraction of the size of the Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Forest still harbors a range of biological diversity similar to that of the Amazon. 

The Atlantic Forest harbors around 2,200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians – 5% of the vertebrates on Earth. This includes nearly 200 bird species found nowhere else. The Betary Reserve is located next to one of the most famous Brazilian State Parks named PETAR. The region is called the Cave Capital as it known for containing over 300 spectacular caves, some which are accessible to tourists.

A typical work day starts at 8:30 am . While other volunteers are expected to start at 9am, we ask the volunteer coordinator to meet the volunteer manager half an hour before the other volunteers arrive to plan/prepare for the days activities. Work ends at 4:00 pm along with the other volunteers. 

A typical day is difficult to describe as a volunteer coordinators role is very much influenced by the projects and volunteers roles that are occuring at the time. This could be support a volunteer in the field conduct the tree inventory or hiking with volunteers to search for frogs in the amphibian project. 

In addition the volunteer coordinator will make sure people are taking the correct equipment into the field like the volunteer phone. When not actively accompanying a volunteer, the coordinator will support with communications work such as posting volunteer ads, creating promotional photos or videos but this will also vary depending on the specific coordinators skills.

Caves: Iporanga is called “The Cave Capital of Brazil” with over 400 caves in the town. Below are just the highlights.

• Casa da Pedra is the world’s largest cave entrance of 215 meters. The trip involves a 2-hour hike to the opening where there is a place to sit down and have a picnic and swim and then a hike back.
  
• Temimina Cave has a large opening in the ceiling illuminating its oddly shaped diagonal garden. Then you enter into a dark cave where at the end you find a natural shower hole.
  
• Nucleo Santana is a group of caves and is the most commonly visited as it has a wide range of different types of caves. In some caves you can swim.
  

Tubing/Boia Cross: is a sport where by you get on a big balloon and float down the river. There are various waterways you can do in Iporanga, some more radical and some in the big river which is very relaxing and can last 3 hours.

Cananeia: has various islands with dolphins swimming in between which are very easy to visualize. It is also known for its stunning beaches, awesome boat tours, great restaurants and the mangrove reserve where there are many crabs.

Waterfalls: Iporanga has many waterfalls. “Sem Fim” is a small waterfall walking distance from the reserve. “Vale das Ostras” has 12 large waterfalls in a row.

Quilombos: during the era of slavery many slaves would run away from the plantations and create settlements hidden in the forest. These communities live in relative isolation and you can visit their small towns. For some of the Quilombos the tours include travelling their by boat and having a traditional lunch at one of the families homes.

Social Events:

• Dinners: there are many nice restaurants were volunteers can have dinner, some more classy like Casarao and some with traditional Brazilian food. There is also a great fish restaurant. Often volunteer will eat out on the weekends.
  
• Town Parties: the are a couple of bars in town, some have pool tables and some have dancing areas. On holidays, there are usually town festivals on the streets.
  
• BBQ: it is very common to have a BBQ on the weekend which is often accompanied with the traditional Brazilian drink called Caipirinha.