Sítio Çarakura

The Sítio Çarakura is an environment that values quality of life, environmental sustainability, and harmonious coexistence. Our aim is to promote an environment rich in learning opportunities, which provides the development of new skills, altruism, community, and inner peace in an environment free from illicit substances, smoking and alcohol. We seek to welcome people who are seeking tranquility, who enjoy waking up early, who deeply appreciate and respect nature, vegetarian food, who are open to living communally and to learning and practicing day-to-day tasks of life on the farm. Volunteers will participate in the daily routine, collaborating with all necessary tasks in this phase of renovation of the site’s structures, including cleaning, organizing and maintaining the spaces, food preparation, care of the animals, and tasks related to agriculture such as gardening, the vegetable garden, and maintenance of agroforestry beds. Regarding time and working hours, we suggest on average 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon, adjustable according to the daily task dynamics. In cases where these hours need to be changed, it is important that these adjustments be made together with the hosts before your arrival. Meals are prepared collectively, by volunteers and hosts in the five days of volunteering, being prepared and provided by the hosts. For days of rest and personal activities (twice a week, usually Saturdays and Sundays), meals should be funded and prepared by the volunteers (meat preparation is not allowed) and they may use the kitchen of the main house, the stove, the refrigerator and utensils, leaving everything clean and organized after use. Volunteers will have the opportunity to contribute to the environmental cause by improving a permacultural and educational space that hosts children and young people from public and private schools for environmental education activities, in addition to enjoying the tranquility and beauty of one of the most biodiverse regions of Ilha da Magia.

The Sítio Çarakura is the headquarters of the environmental NGO Instituto Çarakura, where since 2002 we develop environmental education, Permaculture and activities related to the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as practices of gardening, horticulture, management and forest restoration, agroforestry; bioconstruction, ecological sanitation... In 2019, we entered a period of activity hiatus to dedicate ourselves to the renovation and maintenance of the site, including all structures. Volunteers will have the opportunity to contribute to this revolution, experiencing day-to-day life in contact with nature, with the river, the forest, and with the new friends they will make throughout their time here.