SHORT TERM MISSIONS

Come and volunteer

Volunteer at Horses for Orphans

Several times a year we welcome volunteers from around the world who express a desire to help with a Horses for Orphans project. If you have a heart to serve, there is currently an opportunity for you to visit our Brazil project. No horse experience is required.

For projects in the US, please keep checking this page.

About your time with us

  • For your initial visit to the Horses for Orphan project in Brazil, it is best to come for a 2-3 week period.
  • Please come first and foremost with a heart to serve. There are countless opportunities to help in many different areas in the project, and a wealth of opportunities to minister the heart of Jesus. Ministry here can look like anything from helping the children with the horses, teaching horsemanship, teaching English, hugging children and teenagers, cooking, cleaning, restoring houses and replacing roofs, playing soccer, building or repairing fences, taking photos and videos or helping the team leaders with administration. Please come ready to be flexible.
  • Our number one priority is to do everything we do out of love. People who can be like mothers and fathers are a real blessing to the children who have lost their own parents or come from challenging backgrounds.
  • Be open to what God may do with you. We regularly see that God does an amazing work in each visitor. You will not leave the same as you came.
  • Please be prepared; you will have very little “recreational” time to yourself. Expect that your days will be rewarding, but very full with activity.
  • Please plan on being as self-reliant as possible. During your time in Brazil, it will not be possible for you to have the full attention of Richard and Ingela, the translators, or the leadership and staff members on the base, as they will be busy with the everyday administration of the ministry.

Thank you again for your interest in Horses for Orphans. If you have further question, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Important Note: Horses for Orphans cannot and does not guarantee, or accept any liability for your safety, health, or comfort. We are serving in underdeveloped countries, in unpredictable conditions. You will be joining us in trusting God as provider.

Requirements

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Those volunteering with us should have a desire to serve and a willingness to lend a hand wherever help is needed. You should have a heart for children/youth and like horses, even if you have no experience with horses. It is great if you have a personal commitment to Christ Jesus and a hunger for more of God, but it’s not a requirement.

Unless travelling with a parent or team, visitors must be a minimum age of 18. An initial/short-term visit is generally 2-3 weeks.

To visit, you must have made personal contact with us, and you must receive an invitation. As part of the screening process, you will be asked to supply a clear statement of your vision and hopes and goals for working with Horses for Orphans.

We will read your information and pray about how God may plan to use you here. Thank you for your patience in waiting to finalize any plans to come until you have received an official invitation from us.

Health Requirements

Emergency Medical Insurance for Foreign Travel:

We require that you come with emergency medical insurance in place (no exceptions). This is mandatory for all who visit the Horses for Orphans project in Brazil. You must present documentation showing your premiums are paid up, and make sure you have enough money available to cover any deductible amounts. Most domestic insurance plans do not cover foreign travel, so check with your plan administrator to verify your coverage. If you need additional coverage, you can talk to a travel agent, or travel insurance company.

Vaccinations for Brazil:

Please visit http://www.brasembottawa.org/en/consular/visas/vaccination_req.html or check with your local health unit for up to date information about required or recommended vaccinations. Children aged from three months through six years will have to present a vaccination certificate proving they have been immunized against polio.

Travel

Travel to Brazil:

The final flight destination in Brazil is the city of Goiania, in the state of Goias, airport code GYN. This is followed by a half an hour car drive to the Wild Horse Farm, located 15km from the city of Anapolis. When clearing immigration you will be required to give the address of where you are staying, so have it ready for presentation. Arrange your flight arrival and departure times according to airport pick up times given to you by Horses for Orphans.

Visa

Visa Requirements for Brazil:

US residents are no longer required to obtain a Visa to enter Brazil. Please check a Brazilian embassy website for a full list of the countries requiring visas.

Reason for entry: Visiting the Horses for Orphans project.

What to Pack

Dress Code

Please dress in a way that is appropriate for being around children. Women may wear pants/trousers, shorts, skirts or dresses below the knee. Most tops are acceptable, except thin strapped tank tops and those baring the midriff.

Men may wear pants/trousers, shorts and T-shirts or button-up shirts. Generally the nationals wear their best for church.

The temperature is warm-hot year round, but evenings will get cool (especially during the winter months – June through August), so bring a light jacket and a sweater.

Compulsory:

  • Sunscreen/Sunblock cream. minimum factor 30 SPF, better 50 SPF
  • Hat that casts shade onto your face
  • Mosquito Repellant
  • Mosquito Net
  • Bedding (one fitted bedsheet for a single bed, one topsheet, one pillow case, one blanket or sleeping bag)
  • Towel and Toiletries
  • Flip Flops or Sandals
  • Summer Pants long
  • T-Shirts
  • Torch/Flashlight/Headtorch
  • Boots to play/work with horses or be in the arena
  • One pair of jeans to work in
  • One pair of jeans to go out in or travel
  • One pair of long summer pants
  • Two to three thin Long Sleeved Shirts for when the bugs are out and to work with out in the sun
  • Long sleeved sweater for when it’s cool
  • Full Waterproof Clothing/Raingear (lightweight pants and jackets)
  • Empty water bottle
  • Brazilian money (Reis) for your personal.
  • Brazilian Visa
  • Journal and a pen
  • Bible
  • One long sleeved shirt and trousers to paint in

Optional:

  • Lightweight Pyjamas
  • Shorts
  • Anti itch cream
  • Running Shoes
  • Photo Camera, battery charger and USB cable
  • iPod and headphones
  • Laptop and charger
  • External Hard drive
  • Memory stick
  • 2 Adapters (Brazil to your home country)
  • If you are bringing electronics you must also bring at least one adapter.

Notes: electrical outlets are Brasilian two prong round 220 volts and the outlets are set into the wall, so not all adapters will work.

Please do not bring expensive watches or jewellery on a visit to a Horses for Orphans project.

Currency & Expense

Brazil Expenses

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided each day on the base. Each person prepares their own breakfast in the shared kitchen. Extra groceries can be bought in a local supermarket as well. There is a small daily amount charged to help offset the cost of food and living provided and pick up from the airport. Email [email protected] for more information.

Currency

The currency in Brazil is Brazilian Reais. Check online for current exchange rates. Cash can be withdrawn from ATM machines in the airport upon arrival and in most other places. We discourage the use of travelers’ checks. Visa and Mastercard can be used almost everywhere.

Contact

Short-Term Visit

We do not have a general application form for visiting a Horses for Orphans project. We employ a screening process by which you tell us about yourself and your interest in visiting, and may invite you to do so after prayerful evaluation of your information.

Initial contact: Send us a simple email expressing your interest in visiting a Horses for Orphans project and which country you are most interested in – Brazil or India. We will then email you back with the information you will need to send to us. We will ask you for your personal details, an emergency contact, your experiences with horses, children and traveling abroad. We will also ask you to share your vision/goals/hopes for a visit to a Horses for Orphans project.

We will get back to you as quickly as possible once we have received your information.

Contact email: [email protected]

Scroll to Top