Tropical Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) lies about 20 miles off the southern coast of India and shares many of its neighbours colourful and exotic traits.
Dubbed ‘the Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ due to its sweeping golden sand beaches fringed with lush green rainforest Sri Lanka’s appeal is obvious. Spectacular national parks abundant with outlandish scenery; waterfalls and wildlife add to its allure.
Not without its struggles Sri Lanka is recovering well since the tsunami in 2004 and from many years of civil war and political unrest, it is therefore a great place to volunteer.
Best Volunteer Programs in Sri Lanka
Elephant Conservation
• 1-12 weeks
• Price from £1180
How You Can Help
Volunteering programs in Sri Lanka will help you experience Sri Lanka in a very personal and rewarding way.
Projects offer you the unique experience to live and work together with the locals for a certain period. During a program you will work with staff strive to enrich each participant’s experience through language and culture orientation, which embodies all ingredients of the local culture.
Some organisations have an obligatory introduction which arms you with the basics in the local language, culture, know-how of local transport and social dos and don’ts, after which you’ll be ready to start your volunteering responsibilities.
You can find placements in schools, orphanages, national parks, zoos, hospitals and many more locations! Most projects serve a dual purpose; to serve the local community and gain valuable experience in return. Creativity and flexibility is essential.
For educational projects, you can get a TEFL qualification, which should be completed before departure. You get full support and resources included which will help you not only on community placements, but also moving forward in life. Win, win!
Location of Projects
You can join placements all over Sri Lanka, with a lot locations being on the outskirts of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
Some organisations offer programs in two specific parts of Sri Lanka, both of which were badly affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster. The main area is in the southwest, between the towns of Galle and Tangalla. This is the easy-going, Buddhist area inhabited by the Sinhalese. The second area is in the east around Arugam Bay, inhabited by the Tamil people who are predominantly Hindu. These stretches of coastline are festooned with long, golden beaches backed with palm trees. The ocean is breathtaking but the beauty of the area masks the poverty and deprivation.
However, we are not there to provide disaster relief. Instead, we are looking at long term projects where volunteers can make a significant impact through sustained support. Like our projects in other countries we work with small, local, grassroot initiatives. Your energies and skills are always needed but you would also enjoy the experience of becoming immersed in the warm, welcoming communities that host the projects.
Volunteering in Sri Lanka FAQ
Accommodation
There are hotels, guest houses and homestays available.
Working Hours
Monday-Friday: You will have the opportunity to participate actively in one of our community projects. Most projects are located in the Hill Country, the province of Kandy. Most of our projects deal with children and youth. You will start work at about 8.30am till the school finishes at 3pm; lunch will be provided at the school premises. We will provide all teaching materials and curriculum needed, and any creative ideas to improve or make teaching more fun are welcome.
Language
The two main languages spoken in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, and whilst some people do speak English (a little, perhaps) it’s definitely recommended to try to learn some of the local lingo before arriving.
Time Off and Volunteer Interaction
There are no rules about time off, but in most cases weekends are free and many volunteers choose to travel in Sri Lanka or beyond after their projects have finished. You are, however, expected to be completely committed to your project and only take time off with the permission of your manager.
Most projects are linked to initiatives involving Sri Lankan staff, so you will quickly adapt to the local style of working. The key here is to be flexible and to use initiative. Organisations demand a serious commitment from all volunteers, but at the same time recognises that the nature of voluntary work demands a flexible approach, and we definitely want you to have an enjoyable and rewarding time.