All they need is love! - Volunteering in Rio de Janeiro: Orphanage Romão de Mattos Duarte

In 2006 I went for the first time in an Orphanage in Rio de Janeiro called Romão de Mattos Duarte. The place where is located the orphanage nowadays, in the past – XVIII century - was the 1^st place in Rio de Janeiro where indigent and guilty mother could abandon their babies to the nuns – from 1738 to 1938. Currently, Romão de Mattos Duarte is no longer a convent. The nuns left the place and what remained are a chapel and a huge building from the XVIII century where the Orphanage is. They take care of children from 0 to 7 years old.

On Saturdays and Sundays the orphanage is opened from 14:00 to 16:00 for volunteering. Everyone that wants to visit the orphans is more than welcome. You can play with them, tell histories and give to them a lot of affection and love.

The most incredible thing that I discovered visiting the orphanage is that you go there to give your affection and love for these little pieces of God and you surprise because you is the person that leaves the place full of love. There is no price and nothing compared to receive a beautiful smile and an affectionate hug from one of them.

In only 2 hours of your weekend you can feel that you make something for this world, for these children needed of at least your presence.

All they need is love!

Contacts:

Educandário Romão de Mattos Duarte
Website: http://www.romaoduarte.com.br/
Telephone: +55 21 2558-7961/+55 21 2205-8725
Address: Rua Paulo VI, 60 – Flamengo – Rio de Janeiro – RJ - Brasil
To visit the children: Saturday-Sunday from 14:00 to 16:00