Description

Sri Lanka is an enchanting and beautiful place to spend time volunteering with orphans and disadvantaged children. Located in Southern Asia, off the tip of India, Sri Lanka is a country of great beauty whose people are still coming to terms with the devastation of the tsunami in late 2004. There is a real need for assistance on fundamentally basic levels, which is why the Care work our Sri Lanka volunteers provide is so important.

We do not require you to have previous experience when you volunteer on a Care project in Sri Lanka, provided you have a passion and commitment to the job and to the people you are trying to help. Whether you are on a gap year or coming to development work as an older volunteer on a career break or even during your retirement, you will have a role to play and your contribution will be valued.

Based in many small towns along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, from Negombo to Galle, and in the pretty hill town of Kandy, care work in Sri Lanka is a full and rich experience offering an enormous variety of choice.

All the work here involves a great deal of commitment; working with orphans and mentally or physically disabled children can be challenging, but very fulfilling.

Conditions are often basic and the staff heavily overworked, so the support of the volunteers is always greatly appreciated. Please let us know if you have any specific preferences of where you wish to work.

Care volunteers in some locations can also choose to help in Tsunami Relief camps from 3pm to 5pm each afternoon. Volunteers help with homework and organize games and sports activities for the children.

Most children at the orphanages and care centers still attend school in the mornings, sometimes at the same site, or at a school nearby. Volunteers therefore often help with basic education for a few hours in the mornings, usually teaching conversational English in government schools. Some volunteers also work with very young children during this time, helping four years olds learn the alphabet or doing coloring and art activities, for example. In the afternoons volunteers assist in numerous areas with the children, from helping with homework to organizing and playing sports and games, or reading to a child individually.

Highlights

Some of the orphanages where we work are home to children with severe disabilities and volunteers are needed to help feed, wash, dress and do physical exercises with these children. These placements are not for everyone; one volunteer described her placement as 'shocking but the most rewarding month of my life'. Volunteers here are greatly needed but it won't all be fun and games.

We also have a placement at a boy's home, where volunteers can help with laundry, cooking and work on the site's farm in the mornings, then playing, teaching and helping in the home's computer room, where they have nine personal computers and just one over-worked member of staff, in the afternoons! If you have a particular interest in this project you may also like to consider volunteering on our IT Projects in Sri Lanka placement.

English at most of the placements is basic, but the enthusiasm of both the staff and children ensures that you will be able to make yourself understood. Our Projects Abroad staff and the supervisor at your placement will always be on hand to ensure you make the most of your time in Sri Lanka.

When you apply for a Care placement in Sri Lanka, you will be contacted to discuss the various options and find the best placement for you. We try to take advantage of all of our individual volunteers' talents and skills, putting you to work where you are needed the most.

Qualifications

None.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The price of each placement includes all your food and accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, full travel and medical insurance plus support and 24 hour back-up from our staff based around the world.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-70

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992