ABIPE - Associação Brasileira de Intercâmbio Profissional e Estudantil is a non-governmental association that manages several exchange programs in Brazil. In partnership with CI (Central de Intercâmbios), ABIPE offers Work Experiences in companies and universities, Environmental and Social Volunteer Work, Portuguese classes for foreigns, High School year or semester in brazilian private schools, Footbal Training program, Diving, Capoeira and Surfing classes and much more. Please visit CI Experience Brazil website for further details: www.cibrazil.travel.
ABIPE also manages the IAESTE Program in Brazil. IAESTE, founded in 1948 at the Imperial College in London, is a non-political, independent, non-governmental association maintaining a consultative relationship with several agencies of the UN.
IAESTE Brazil has been founded in 1982.
During the last 30 years IAESTE Brazil has sent more then 5.700 students abroad and had received a similar number of foreign students. Every year we exchange an average of 350 offers with our IAESTE colleagues, from more than 84 countries. Our goal is to increase the number of sent and received students and we count on you to reach this target!
This year we hope to host international students from almost 50 different countries in Brazil.
Our aims:
- To provide students at institutions of higher education with technical experience abroad related to their studies in the broadest sense.
- To promote international understanding and goodwill amongst students of all nations.
These objectives are fulfilled through a reciprocal exchange of students for paid training in foreign enterprises and institutions during a certain period of time (8-52 weeks).
The reason why we work for IAESTE is that we deeply believe that education is the most valuable inheritance we can leave towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren. An experience far away from our home countries is part of an important background that a human being can build. IAESTE is making this dream come true for thousands of students during the last 60 years.
The IAESTE program is based on reciprocity basis. It means that in order to exchange offers with other IAESTE countries we have to get one internship in Brazil for a foreign student. Then we get one possibility of internship abroad for a Brazilian student.
ABIPE raises offers of technical traineeships with Employers in Industry, Research Institutes and Universities, Consulting firms, Labs and other work environments. These offers are physically exchanged at the IAESTE Annual Conference each year in January.
Once the offers are exchanged, students then apply in their home countries where the most qualified candidate for each offer is selected and their nomination is sent to the receiving country which then forwards it to the Employer, who has the opportunity to accept the candidate.
Once the candidate is accepted, the receiving country works with the sending country to ensure that the student has all the necessary permits and/or visas to go abroad and undergo the traineeship.
To apply for an IAESTE traineeship you should fulfil the following criteria:
- Enrollment: You must be currently enrolled full-time in a Bachelor's or Master's degree at the time of application. You must be a full-time student in Higher Education.
- Age: You must be between the ages of 19 and 32.
- Language: You do not have to speak Portuguese, but if you do of course it helps! You must speak good English or Spanish.
- IAESTE must be represented in the country in which you are studying your degree course. Please check the Country list at www.iaeste.org
- Please note that each country has its own set of application criteria that must be met. Please contact IAESTE in your home country for details.
- Your subject studied must be within the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture or Applied Arts. Please check the Disciplines section at www.iaeste.org
- You must apply through IAESTE in your home country.
- Each IAESTE country has its own application deadlines to be accomplished.
- Please note that you will only be able to apply for specific traineeships which your country has available. You will generally not be able to specify your preferred destination or Employer.
- Please do not send CVs to either IAESTE International or to your National Office unless you are asked to do so.
- ABIPE has several local partners in Brazil - representatives of recognized universities and companies who open their doors every year to receive hundreds of IAESTE foreign students and make real their dream of working abroad for a while providing an extraordinary and unforgettable experience.
- We are more than happy to provide international mobility for hundreds of students every year. Hope we can count on you next season! f you are interested in coming to Brazil, please contact the IAESTE office in your home country.
Meredith Mayo, student from USA
High School in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo- 1 year (2010)
Hello, my name is Meredith Mayo from Comfort, TX, USA and I spent one year in the beautiful country, Brazil as an exchange student.When I first got here I was more that lost. Everything was so new to me, with the language, customs, and being away from home in general. Here I was, a small town girl coming to live with a family I have never met and was expected to adapt and be apart of customs and tradtions that was very different from what im used to. Although very scary at times I think the one big thing that helped me was that I kept my head wide oped. Sometimes, it would have been easier to stick to my "American way" and tell them that what they´re doing is wrong or just "not what we do," like eating a big lunch instead of dinner, or having maids and cooks to help out around the house, but in reality, its not wrong, just different. You must be able to let go of some of your old ways of thinking and always be excepting to the new ones that will be presented to you. That way, you will really become apart of the culture, and not just a tourist on the outside.
Throughout my exchange, I have met some amazing people that will always be in my life. The relationships that you make are life long and all the things that lessons that you learn, mold you into a better person. This challenged me in ways I could not have imagined becaus of the things I had to over come. I saw myself in the core, and learned a lot about who I am. I not only became a lot more independent, but I now speak in another language, (and with that learned a whole new way of thinking) and have friends from all over the world, and thats just the begining.
One thing I could not stress enough is that you must not be shy. If you are going to a country with a different language than your own, know that you will say funny things and there will probably be a lot of laughing, but know that they are not laughing at you. Learn to laugh at yourself and the language process will be a lot easier. You will probably become frustrated and tired ar times but always be patient and never stop trying and before you know it, youll have people mistaking you as a true commoner. 
In many ways, going on exchange is hard to explain. You will grow so much with all of your adventures that no one but you will truly understand. It can be frustrating, with everything from learning a new language, gaining weight, and not being understood but all of this is well worth it. You will make amazing friends, (and family) have an amazing experience, do things you never thought you would do, and probably have the time of your life.
There will be times of heart ace, happiness, and everything in between but you must always keep in mind that this is your one year 
for this amazing adventure and the time goes by very fast, so go out, try new things, talk to new people, and really become one with the culture to get everything you can out if this once in a life time experience. This really has blessed my life in more ways than i can count and i hope it does to you as well.
Good luck with your travels,
your half brazilian friend, Meredith <3
Adrian Diaz, student from USA
Volunteer in Salvador, Bahia - Sports Management - 3 months (2010)
I am glad to say that Brazil has been great to me so far. I have met more people than I imagined I would in my first month and a half of being out here. My host Family is great and Vinicius has been a big help to me specially in my first couple of weeks. The language barrier at first was a little hard but with a few weeks of Portuguese classes and studying at home on my own, I have picked up on the language and after the first month I was able to ask and have small conversations with people. I felt like I had to pick up on the language as soon as possible because it wasn't fun not being able to communicate with anybody especially the kids in the basketball program that I was volunteering with 3-4 days a week. I plan on being fluent in Portuguese by the time I leave Brazil even if it means staying for additional months!
At first I was a little concerned about my safety just because of all of my friends and family telling me how dangerous Brazil was before I left for my trip. I told everybody I was aware of that when I submitted my application to Cultural Embrace. Yes, certain areas everywhere in Brazil can be dangerous but at the same time anywhere in the world including the United States can be as well, so those were my thoughts on the whole situation. Future study abroad students or interns shouldn't be discouraged on traveling to South America especially not Brazil because your safety lies in the hands of yourself. So if you trust the program in which you are working with and of course yourself then you shouldn't have a problem. I am not out here wearing expensive jewelry or my nice Michael Jordan basketball shoes everywhere I go but I am simply wearing the locals and majority of the people or younger aged kids wear, which are slippers. Adapting to their culture was mandatory for me regardless of who u are or what you like to do I think trying to fit in with their lifestyle is important.
The kids basketball program I work with is fun and I love it. Calabar district isn't the greatest and safest area to live or grow up in but Paulo who is the basketball program coach and coordinator is a really great person for doing what he does for these kids. He doesn't have a funding source for equipment and physical resources to help get these kidsbetter at the game of basketball but he works simply with a few basketballs and a whistle. From what I have been told he doesn't even get paid for the work he does with these kids but he does it simply because he cares about the youth of this community and loves the game of basketball. The kids are great and fun to be around, I enjoy it a lot and they are constantly asking me questions about anything and everything. I can tell they look up to me wether it's because I am older, from the United States, have cool Nike basketball shoes, I am a decent player who can dunk the basketball, because I am just goofy and love to laugh with them, or if it's because I have told them that I found an organization in the United States that is willing to buy them all new pairs of basketball shoes since the majority of them don't have any when we practice. Whatever the reason may be, I recognize I am a role model to them and I am there to help them get better not only as a basketball player but also as an individual.
Travelling abroad is probably the second best decision I have made in my life and my first decision was moving away from home for college. It is important to test out different environments and cultures growing up. My thoughts on it were what other better way to do so by going to college in a different state and then upon graduation travelling to a different country to experience your field of choice with people worldwide! If anybody were ever asks me if I thought travelling or interning abroad was a good idea I wouldn't have on good reason to tell them no. I recommend it for a numerous amount of reasons and I am already looking in to planning my next trip for the future or potentially going to graduate school overseas. Salvador Brazil is a great place and I definetely look forward to coming back in the future and for sure in 2014 for the next World Cup!
Sincerely,
Adrian Diaz.
Angela Tenney, student from USA
Internship in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia - Chemistry - 2 months (2009)
"My name is Angela Tenney and I spent two months working for ZAB Comolimpa Industria Quimica in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. I worked in the laboratory of their main factory, where I ran quality control tests on samples of each product before it was packaged and sold. Because the company was relatively small, I was able to learn the entire process of production, from making the bottles to loading the delivery trucks, and I also got to see how the different departments of the company worked with each other.
Without a doubt my favorite part of the experience were the people I met, including my boss who arranged fun trips for me to other factories, his daughters who loved practicing their English with me, and, most importantly, the people I lived with, who welcomed me as a member of their family from the very minute I arrived and took such good care of me that I never felt lonely or homesick for my own family. I had an absolutely amazing time in Brazil and have no doubt that I will be returning many times in the future."
I am a student from Tourism and I have 20 years. I wanted to do an internship in a foreign country but I have never thought about Brazil. I did an internship as bar assistent, in the bar-restaurant "BARNALDO-LUCRECIA" SP, SAO PAULO. I loved the city in all ways. Sao Paulo is an incredible place and it doesn't stops!!! Sao has everything: "good food, nice night clubs, friendly and smiling people".
Internship in São Paulo, São Paulo - Architecture - 4 months (2009)
"I am Callie Starkey and my internship has been incredible. I chose Brazil because it is somewhere that not a lot of English people know too much about. I wanted to discover a totally new environment to force myself to face theunknown to build my confidence in new situations.
Now I realise there is nothing too difficult or scary in this world to face. São Paulo is fun and full of life and not as dangerous as my research suggested. Though my lungs arefinding it difficult to get used to the smoke and pollution.
My biggest love is the food here. "Por kilo" especially is so fresh and healthy,my body is thanking me for not eating English junk food. Learning about 35% of portuguese, a language I never heard before was at first very difficult, but in only 2 months and a half and a lot of effort I can´t believe how much I understand and can speak! It is a big reward to join in with a conversation. The people are some of the friendliest people I have ever met and I would gladly live here. I have never felt lonely here. I will be taking back the warmth of "Gringa" to England with me.
My company "Mauro Munhoz Arquitectura" is brilliant. I have been on 2 site visits, getting a peek into the Pacembu museum de futebol and Estudios Quantos(television studios) in construction. After working in only a small company in England, this is a big leap up the ladder. I have also visited Foz de Iguaçu, São Sebastion, Praia Guaica, Paraty and Ouro Preto. To me these are places in paradise and saving all my money has been so worth it now that I can keep these memories of a lifetime."
Internship in São Paulo, São Paulo - Architecture - 3 months (2009)
"I am a recent graduated Argentinean architect and I did my experience with IAESTE in the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil). I was working and living there for three months and I get to know the city pretty well, despite the size of it. For a small town girl like me, arrived to Sao Paulo was a little terrifying at the first time, but really exciting at last.
My working experience was really good. I did my internship in an architecture’s Studio where, in the first period, were other three Brazilian interns and we all worked coordinated by the main architect of the Studio. The place was very nice and comfortable and people were nice too.
In the second period a student from Montenegro join us and it was cool because we get to share a lot of different experiences about architecture in our own countries.
Basically I worked in every activity of the Studio: I drawn blueprints, made 3D models, worked with images in photoshop. I also did research about themes that we worked on such as urbanism and history of cities and I collaborated in two International architecture contest presentation which was really fascinating because that is an interesting experience in the first place, and it is even better when you share it with people from other country.
In the other hand, I had a lot of contact with foreigner architecture. My boss encouraged me to visit the most important cities in Brazil, and he also took us to important events, conferences and presentations, things that I couldn’t have done by myself. As my boss was also a professor I went to Mackenzie University and meet other architects that teach classes there and got to know the type of work that Brazilian students do during college.
I also get to know a lot of students from other countries, which is one of the most important things about IAESTE program, besides the working part which was really significant for me. We share a trip to Rio de Janeiro which was very funny and we met every Wednesday in a bar near the office. That is important to start making friendship with the other students and share experiences.
Personally, I travelled to Curitiba, Brasilia, Ouro Preto and some beaches near Sao Paulo and it was really important for me as an architect to get to know cities so different and with so many interesting sites to see. The three months were very exciting because I met a lot of a people, get to know a lot of new places, I shre most of the time with great co-workers and experienced a big city as Sao Paulo which is more than interesting….is exciting.
I will miss that but I know I will go back there someday. I hope IAESTE developed its programs in my country and my city so I can be in contact with them."
Internship in São Paulo, São Paulo - Architecture - 3 months (2009)
”I'm Diego Magri. I come from Italy and this is my first experience as an intern. Three weeks ago I started my work in Sao Paulo in a "Gabinete de projecao arquitetonica Mario Biselli and Artur Katchborian" and I'll finish this less or more in a middle of October.
The work is very interesting because I'll have the opportunity to meet new people (how my colleagues that have less or more my age) and very important I can view a different point to see architecture.
In Sao Paulo I live in an apartment with two fantastic guys, Gabriel and Thiago, they are very friendly and kind. With them I go to visit the city, to the beach, to disco and a lot of fun. I'm very happy of this opportunity because I think that this experience will be able to improve me how architect but particulary how man.”
Internship in São Paulo, São Paulo - Midia Design - 3 months (2009)
"My internship had been one of the best experiences in my live. I have known lot of really kind and nice people (of lots of different countries), lots of incredible places and in my opinion one of the kindest and happiest culture in the world, the Brazilian.
Brazilians are very kind and open people and they make you feel very good when you arrive in their country. Also the country have some incredible natural places (I have visited Iguassu falls, Paraty, some cities and villages of the interior of Sao Paulo and I will go to Rio and Bahia now, and obviously the city of Sao Paulo), and the only thing I can say about it is you must see it with your own eyes!!
Also my work have been good. I have worked in Midia Designers (an internet company) and I have learned some very good things. It have been good to see other points of view of some concepts and also learn things that I didn´t know. All without forget long and beautiful parties!
One thing you must not be worried about is the security. Before came I was a bit afraid because everybody told that Brazil is a very dangerous country (especially Sao Paulo and Rio the Janeiro). When you are here you can see the things different. I have walked alone in lots of different places and different hours and I have never been attacked and robbed. You must be careful but not afraid! I recommend everybody an internhip experience, and Brazil is a really really good destination!!"
Internship in Viçosa, Minas Gerais - Mechanical Engineering - 2 months (2009)
”My internship in Brazil started in the end of July 2008. I first arrived to Rio de Janeiro and after many phone calls and conversations with mimics I got myself into a bus and headed towards Viçosa, MG. Already on my first night in Viçosa I found out that Brazilian people are absolutely wonderful. During all my stay I have had many friends and they have helped me alot. Because I arrived to Viçosa in the end of the semester I was sent to work in a factory in Caratinga during the vacations. I was working with five other students from UFV and we lived in the same house. Working in the factory was very interesting because our job was trying to figure out improvements for the process of the factory. In fact we came up with quite a few good ideas and suggestions. The administration of the factory was happy with us, I think. In addition to the work we had a great time going out together and getting familiar with the night life of the city. After spending one month in Caratinga, I arrived back to Viçosa and started working in a project to improve a planting machine. At this moment I am here and I still have one month left in my internship (I actually extended my stay because I fell in love with this country). I must say that I never imagined that this internship would be this awesome.”
Internship in São Paulo, São Paulo - Industrial Engineering - 1 month (2009)
"I am back in Montreal. I just wanted to thank all of you for the wonderful experience that I had in Brasil. It was simply awesome. I really enjoyed my stay in Brasil and I think that it was one of the best experience of my life. Thank you, Vikram"
Internship in Maringá, Paraná - Architecture and Civil Engineering - 2 months (2009)
“I always wanted to visit Brazil, to see if the story about people dancing in the street is true! To see country that samba is coming from, to meet carnival people. I was in Brazil for a short time, but two months seem to be a nice period to learn and experience enough. I visited south and north and saw differences between them. For the whole first month I was living and working in Maringa, south Brazilian town in a Parana state.
I was working in ArqMais Planejamento, Projetos e Obras LTDA, architectural office. It was great professional experience. I was excited and surprised whenever I found some difference between making project in my country and in Brazil.Differences that climate and way of life are causing. The most surprising thing was a place for barbecue in every house project. But very soon I realized why â?¦ With Brazilian people I had barbecued every weekend. They spend a lot of time outside the house, enjoying the sun, eating meat, dancing and having fun. The other thing that I liked a lot was dancing all the time.
In Brazil, everybody is dancing- older, younger, boys and girls, grandmothers and fathers. When the music starts, they just grab the first person next to them, and dance in couples. Everybody dances, and knows to dance very well. It is great country to get old... to get old dancing. I was constantly surrounded by happy, excited and friendly people. Everybody wanted to talk with me, to help me. I found the people of Brazil to be so kind, so patient and joyful to be around me. My overall experience was life changing. I am still the same, but I look at the things in a different way. I am more relaxed, confident, and more friendly and patient with people... I am trying to be and act like Brazilian.
The only problem that I had was the fact that I was the only foreign student in Maringa, during my trainee period. For the first few days, until I met some Brazilian friends that speak English, I was little bit lonely. And, my trips, to Brasilia and Rio I had to organize alone. It was difficult, but now when all ended, I realized - it was advantage. I spent time only with Brazilian people, doing things that Brazilians are doing. I actually lived real Brazilian life. I, probably, learned more about Brazilian culture and habits, than other foreign students that hang with each other. Regarding the trips, I saw Brasilia, Foz de Iguaçu and Rio. Brasilia was great architectural experience, city, totally different, than any other. Foz de Iguaçu is a miracle of nature. I was looking its waterfalls with my mouth wide open. And Rio... Rio was something special. This city is so rich and alive that you even don't want to sleep. And sometimes you really don't. And wherever I went, I had such luck to meet good people that offered me place to stay and a lot of their time. Maybe it was luck, or it was just Brazil. I got so much love from Brazil. I will try to spread that love further.”
Beatriz Medina, student from Mexico
Internship in São Paulo, São Paulo - Tourism Business - 3 months (2010)
At the Bar, I learned a lot of things, the people from Barnaldo are wonderful and bar has an environment that makes you feel always happy, besides its unique and quality service. 
In my internship, ABIPE got an accommodation for me to live and I had the luck to know a family that always helped me in every moment.
Actually most of the people I met so far are a true inspiration to me, they all have always a lot of energy and the best attitude to do everything. Here in Sao Paulo everybody lives from their passion.
I think Brasil is a great country to do any kind of thing, specially an exchange. I believe that you will fall in love with everything.
During my internship I participated in an interview of a television program. I loved it, it was very interesting because it was live, we talked about cultural internship and the point of discussion was to know wether it is better to work or to studysaber se é melhor estudar ou trabalstudy. I believe both are very good because you gain a personal experience and a lot of knowledge but you also share and simultaneously create new life experiences and friendships for a lifetime.
Callie Starkey, student from UK
Camila Costa, student from Argentina
Diego Magri, student from Italy
Marcel Valles Perpinya, student from Spain
Oskari Jaakkola, student from Finland
Vikram Chopra, student from Canada
I was in Sao Paulo for a month and I was doing an internship at FEI university. I was there during the month of August 2009.
Brasil is an excellent place and my experience was superb. I had one of the best times and really enjoyed living there. I am extremely gratefully to all people involved in that experience (host family , teacher who supervised my internship, new colleagues...) for giving me this experience and I know that I shall return to Brasil in the near future (if not, in the future for sure!). The people are friendly and nice, you must try to live like a local and enjoy everything (small and big) that the place has to offer. I wish I was there longer too as it would have been even more enjoyable. I made some very special friends who I know I will be in touch for a long time.
Zeljka Grgic, student from Bosnia
Postal and visiting address:
ABIPE (IAESTE Brazil)
Av Paulista 726 / 6th floor room 601
Sao Paulo Brazil (close to the Subway Station "Brigadeiro")
phone: +55 11 3262 4012
fax: +55 11 3141 1277
e-mail: brazil@iaeste.org
