You will share a room with another volunteer in a ‘pousada’ – this is a local guest house attached to the new catering school.

The accommodation is basic but adequate. You will have access to toilet and shower. There will be a cupboard for you to lock away your personal belongings.

There is a night watchman who lives at the centre to offer you further confidence.

The pousada is a short walk from the town centre and the shops, banks and post office. We do suggest you purchase a bike on arrival as this will give you plenty of flexibility to get around town – after all do as the locals do. Only the rich people own cars in Canavieiras so there are only few around.

A simple breakfast will be provided. You will enjoy lunch with the children at the crèche. You will need to buy your own supper – there are plenty of places to eat in town and plenty of choice too! Do try the ‘moqueka’ and ‘churasco’ for starters.

The cost of a supper (and general living) is around £12 per day so you will need to budget for this yourself.

Living in Canavieiras will be slightly more difficult for vegetarians (an odd concept to Brazilians!) but if you are happy to live on a diet of rice, eggs, beans, pasta and vegetables then you will not starve. Being a coastal town there is fish and shellfish in abundance.

There is a simple fruit and vegetable market in town as well if you wanted to cook for yourself. Living in the catering school means you can use the local ovens should you wish – but the food is cheap and Brazilians generally eat out anyway rather than cook for themselves.

The local banks are open Monday to Friday 10 until 3 in the afternoon. However the ATMs are open from 8 until 10 at night seven days a week. Take a visa or cirrus or MasterCard with PIN number and you should be fine for cash. Money does go a long way in Canavieiras. Do not take cash as there is nowhere to change it in town.

Canavieiras is a safe town – you can walk or cycle around town at anytime night or day but if you are out after dark it is worth taking precautions.

You do need to be prepared to learn basic Portuguese before you leave home – this will really help in the first few weeks as you settle in. The locals will be only too keen to teach you more in return for English!