Guilherme

Brazil
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Profile information

Reply rate
88.9 %
Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
I love exploring new cultures and stepping out of my comfort zone to experience life from different perspectives. Learning is one of my biggest passions—I’m always curious to discover new skills, ideas, and ways of living.

After working non-stop for over 12 years in engineering, I decided to take a break to travel, immerse myself in different communities, and contribute in meaningful ways. This is my first Workaway experience, and I’m looking forward to learning from new cultures, deepening my English practice, and getting involved in sustainability-focused projects.

I enjoy connecting with people, exchanging knowledge, and finding ways to make a positive impact wherever I go. I’m also passionate about nature, staying active, and being around animals—I have a dog back home! Whether it’s helping with daily tasks, technology, creative projects, teaching, or hands-on work, I’m happy to contribute while embracing new experiences.

Currently, I’m looking for a medium to long-term opportunity (1-2 months) where I can engage in a cultural exchange, learn new skills, and contribute to a meaningful project.
Interests
Drawing & painting
Languages
Self development
Events & social
Technology
LGBTQ
Culture
Fashion or beauty
Pets
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Van life
Charity work
Plant care
Photography
Cooking & food
Blogging
Architecture
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Fitness
Camping
Winter sports
Mountain
Dancing
Beach
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Adventure sports
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
I am very interested in improving my English and always looking for opportunities to practice and learn. While I don’t have formal experience teaching languages, I enjoy explaining things and helping others understand, so teaching wouldn’t be a problem for me.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Charity Work
Art Projects
Eco Projects
Life at a Farmstay
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Hospitality/Tourism
Being an elderly companion
Able to teach about:
Languages
Teaching
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
I am a communicative and adaptable person who enjoys solving problems, uplifting the energy of those around me, and teaching with patience and clarity. I thrive in different environments, whether working independently or in a team, and I’m always eager to contribute with a proactive mindset. Always open to learning and adapting.
Age
32
What else ...
I enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle, including running, working out, and practicing yoga. I love being in nature—going to the beach, hiking, and camping are some of my favorite activities. Traveling and experiencing new cultures inspire me, and I also have a deep appreciation for music. I value organization and take a genuine interest in healthy eating, sustainability, and cultivation. Most importantly, I’m a strong supporter of animal welfare.
I believe every interaction is an opportunity to grow, learn, and contribute. I’m open to new experiences, excited to embrace different cultures, and looking forward to making meaningful connections along the way.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  No, I eat everything, but I strongly appreciate vegetarian and vegan food. Although I don’t follow this diet in my daily life, I really enjoy plant-based meals and I’m very open to this lifestyle.

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Feedback

4 Jul 2025

Left by host (Meet the locals and enjoy ...) for Workawayer ()

Thanks Guilherme for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. We’re glad you found meaning in your experience — from cultural exchange to practicing English and building lasting friendships. That’s exactly what we hope to offer to every volunteer who joins our team.

Regarding your feedback on the expectations, we’re grateful for your… read more honesty. We’d like to kindly clarify that all core responsibilities — including alternating shifts, reception presence, social events, breakfast shopping, and social media posts — are shared upfront during the application process and the first video call with Iris (together with a checklist document you received which is the same one our volunteers use at reception). That said, we’d like to take this opportunity to clarify a few points and reflect on how we can continue to improve the volunteer experience.

We realized during your stay that a significant language barrier made communication more challenging than expected. While we were happy to support your goal of improving your English, it did lead to some misunderstandings and a longer training period. Our team worked hard to stay patient and encouraging, as we truly value cultural exchange. However, this experience has also made us reconsider how suitable our volunteer program is for people whose primary focus is language learning.

On the social side, we’re glad to hear you valued interactions with others. At the same time, it surprised us since you rarely joined the events and team hangouts we organized for both guests and volunteers. For many volunteers, these social moments are among the highlights of their time here. There is expectation to join since for our 'admin & social host' volunteer position we assume our volunteers want to enjoy the travellers company and engage with them, and naturally would do so. Indeed this part for most volunteers comes naturally and is not viewed as an obligation.

Regarding shift duration, the schedule shared in your initial video call already included grocery shopping for breakfast. Occasionally (on days with a large number of departures/arrivals) it may take a little longer, but we didn’t expect this to feel burdensome given the relaxed pace of most shifts, which are often spent enjoying breakfast or socializing in the common areas. When all tasks required during a shift are compressed and done back to back they should never take more than 4 to 5 hours - however we let the person decide themselves how to manage their time as long as everything gets done without leaving it for the next person to sort out.

The international dinner is meant to be a fun, community-building activity — not a stressful obligation. Volunteers are encouraged to share responsibility for this weekly event. In your six weeks here, you prepared one dinner, and the reimbursement process simply aims to avoid awkward moments asking guests for payment immediately after their meal. Instead guests pay all extras on checkout.

Although we typically require a two-month commitment from volunteers, we accommodated your shorter timeframe as it was your first volunteering experience abroad. When you informed us of changes to your availability on short notice, it did create scheduling challenges, but we still did our best to make things work for everyone.

As for surfing: during your stay there were 25 beginner lessons, with multiple opportunities that fit around shifts and days off. It’s possible some opportunities didn’t align perfectly with your personal schedule or weather you would have preferred but many volunteers do manage to join sessions regularly (3-4 times per week), especially when the Surf School is busy.

Finally, regarding management: the owners Iris and Olli balance many responsibilities. During the timeframe our surf camp hosted you the owners had planned a family trip around Namibia, while also trying to launch a new accommodation in Swakopmund and carry out their usual work in the background. That’s why our manager, who lives at the surf camp is the main contact person for all staff and can support the team on day-to-day matters.

We truly appreciate your feedback and your time as part of the team. At the moment we have reconsidered the social hosts tasks and have made drastic changes, with volunteers involved in afternoons only and mainly on hosting social events, helping out with social media, check-ins and house tours and basic housekeeping. We’re committed to making sure all future volunteers know exactly what to expect, and we’ll continue working hard to keep our surf camp a place where people connect, grow, and have unforgettable experiences.

Thank you again for all your energy during your 1.5 months here — from helping with guests to being part of our surf camp community. We wish you the best on your future travels. 🏄‍♀️

(Very good )

10 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Meet the locals and enjoy ...)

Staying here was a meaningful experience. The interaction with guests and other volunteers was definitely the best part. The place has a very unique vibe, like a surf camp, which naturally attracts people with a lifestyle similar to mine. I made friendships that I’ll carry with me and had some truly amazing moments because of that.

Another very… read more positive point was the opportunity to practice English, which was one of my main goals. Even without being fluent, I always felt respected, with the freedom to learn and improve. I’m grateful for the trust they gave me in that sense.

When you arrive, they explain that the routine works in alternating shifts: one day from 6:45 am to 1:00 pm and the next from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm and the third day is your day off (post five Instagram stories for their account). But in practice, it doesn’t really work like that. Whoever is on the morning shift needs to go to the market every day after their shift to buy the next day’s ingredients. This usually takes about an hour, sometimes more, so the shift ends up being longer than what was originally communicated.

Every Tuesday there is an international dinner, and the volunteer who’s off that day is responsible for it. That person needs to buy the ingredients with their own money, prepare the meal, and be present in the evening. The money is reimbursed, but only a few days later, after the guests have paid. If there’s a guest who purchased a special package, there might also be an extra dinner under the same conditions, which could fall on your day off as well.

There are evening activities organized for the guests, like going to bars or local events. Volunteers are not officially required to join, but in practice, there’s an expectation to be involved. Sometimes there’s a set time to go out with the guests or a suggestion that the volunteer should at least stay for about an hour to socialize, even on their day off. If there’s only one guest participating, it’s often expected that someone keeps them company. It’s not exactly forced, but your free time is not always fully respected, and that can weigh on you depending on what kind of time off you’re hoping for.

Iris was very friendly and helpful at the beginning of the experience, but when I mentioned that I’d like to give some feedback, she didn’t show interest in listening and simply redirected me to the manager.

All of these extra responsibilities are only explained after the volunteer has already signed a commitment agreement with the dates of their stay. At that point, you’re also asked to pay a 500 NAD deposit. I don’t have a problem with the existence of these tasks, but I believe they should be explained clearly before any formal commitment is made.

Surfing is one of the highlights of the place, especially for people with previous experience. During my one-and-a-half-month stay, I joined every single opportunity for beginner lessons and still only managed to surf three times. Lessons only happen if there are at least two people interested at the same level, and the timing doesn’t always match with volunteers’ shifts or days off. Intermediate or advanced surfers definitely get a lot more out of it, as there are frequent sessions at times that fit well with the schedule.

Overall, I loved the environment, the people I met, and everything I experienced with the guests and other volunteers. It’s a rich experience, full of exchange and great energy. I just believe it’s important for everything to be communicated more transparently from the start, so each person can make an informed decision about whether this kind of routine really matches what they’re looking for.

(Very good )