Description

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with many wonderful volunteer projects and internships available for volunteers interested in exploring this island in South Asia. Sri Lanka is the teardrop off the tip of Southern India. This tropical island is famed for its palm-fringed beaches, tea plantations and rickshaws.

This beautiful country has been run by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, gaining independence in 1948. It is now a democracy that continues to make economic progress, despite tensions in the far north east of the island and the devastation inflicted on the south by the 2004 Tsunami.

Sri Lanka's population is multi-religious and multi-ethnic, and its cultural heritage is equally as rich and diverse. Its countryside is lovely and teeming with varied and exotic wildlife species. There are more than ten national parks in Sri Lanka, and the Sinharaja Rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The food in Sri Lanka is a real pleasure. Enjoy the delights of sampling a jackfruit curry accompanied by the sweetest mango juice you have ever tasted. You will be amazed at the range of fresh fruit and vegetables available and don't forget to try some of the fresh fish, straight out of the boat.

Another Sri Lankan passion is cricket. Whether you are talking to an orange-robed Buddhist monk or a young school student they will want to find out what you think of their heroes and which team you support.

Our projects in Sri Lanka are available for anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world, including those on a college summer break, gap year, career break or volunteer vacation.

Projects Abroad Sri Lanka has an office based in the capital city of Colombo. We offer overseas voluntary work placements in Teaching, Care, and Medicine and Helathcare.

Most of our volunteer placements are located along the coast between Negombo, about an hour north of Colombo and Galle in the south-west of the island. We also have projects in and around the beautiful hill town of Kandy, or in the gem town of Ratnapura.

As with most of the overseas voluntary work placements that we offer, you will normally stay with a local host family, which will give you a rounded insight into Sri Lankan culture and lifestyle.

Sri Lanka provides many opportunities in a small space. Like most capitals, Colombo can be hectic, but its full of heritage. You may want to visit the mass of Hindu temples across the city, but equally you'll get a taste of Sri Lankan life simply by strolling through its modern avenues and narrow, crooked streets. You can people-watch in the Pettah bazaar, or take in the sunset from Galle Face Green.

Highlights

Sri Lanka, Emerald Isle of the Indian Ocean, is home to heavy warm air, sweet fruit scents and incense and bright colors pouring out of every nook and cranny. From the extraordinarily lush foliage and bright offerings of flowers outside temples, to orange robed monks under their umbrellas and glamorous Sari's whizzing past on the back of motorbikes (normally with the limbs of their child peeping out between the mother and the driver!), there are many fascinating and beautiful sights to be enjoyed.

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Sri Lanka.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications

For our journalism placements in Sri Lanka you must have some previous journalism experience or have studied it in school.

Intern Types

• Medicine
• Journalism
• Social Work
• Sports

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

16-80

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• 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