Volunteer Programs in Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka

I spent 9 weeks at the turtle conservation in Ambalangoda and 2 weeks at the special needs program in Kandy. My experience was truly amazing, working with the turtles was a fun experience, and the special needs program was such a rewarding program for me. Everything went smoothly from the pick up at the airport to concerning any problems to the staff. The staff were very friendly, always helpful and tried to do their best. They did all they could to make everything as comfortable as possible for you. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget. A big thanks to the organisation, as well as the staff. Would definitely recommend doing voluntary work.

Working with GoEco’s Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation program in Sri Lanka was absolutely amazing—every moment felt meaningful. From feeding, cleaning, and rehabilitating injured turtles, to the magical release of baby turtles into the Indian Ocean, the experience was hands‑on, heartwarming, and deeply rewarding. The local team was supportive, the accommodations were lovely, and it was a privilege to contribute to real turtle conservation in a beautiful community setting!!! Highly recommend!!

The best part of the experience was tree planting at the school. The students were so much fun, and it was great to be able to talk with them and do the different activities. I also liked the fact that we got to engage in meaningful work with the community and that it is something that will be there for years to come. The community engagement part is what I was most looking forward to on the project, and this was the best experience.

Other than the two half days we spent with the Turtles, the work we did with the children at the community center was the highlight of my trip. Both of those programs are so well run and we learned a lot during our time.

My favorite part was cleaning the turtles. We were allowed to hold them and brush them with toothbrushes and it was very cute. I also really enjoyed just carrying the turtles or holding them in my hand.

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions

Hice 5 años en haiti, me se su idioma, se toda su cultura, me gustaría volver y apoyarlos en todas las dificultades que tienen, ya que ameritan mucha ayuda de todos nosotros, para ellos poder sobrevivir

I would really like to volunteer. I am passionate about charity and showing kindness to the world. Please, give me a chance. Kindly provide Certificate of sponsorship too since I'm not able to provide for myself at the moment. Kindly put my request into consideration.

This an increasingly popular way for individuals to make a meaningful impact in communities around the world. With numerous organizations offering volunteer programs, it's essential to review and research these opportunities to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. *Pros:* 1. *Cultural Immersion*: Living and working with local communities provides an immersive cultural experience. 2. *Skill Development*: Volunteers can develop new skills and gain experience in areas such as teaching, conservation, and community development. 3. *Networking Opportunities*: Volunteers can connect with like-minded individuals from around the world. 4. *Personal Growth*: Volunteering abroad can be a transformative experience, fostering personal growth and self-awareness. *Cons:* 1. *Cost*: Many volunteer programs come with a hefty price tag, which can be a barrier for some. 2. *Safety Concerns*: Volunteers may face safety risks, such as health concerns or political instability, depending on the destination. 3. *Cultural Differences*: Adapting to local customs and way of life can be challenging for some volunteers. 4. *Quality of Programs*: Some volunteer programs may lack structure, support, or meaningful work, leading to a disappointing experience. *Recommendations:* 1. *Research Thoroughly*: Investigate the organization, program, and destination to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. 2. *Read Reviews*: Look for reviews from past volunteers to gain insight into the program's quality and challenges. 3. *Choose a Reputable Organization*: Select an organization with a proven track record, transparent policies, and adequate support for volunteers. 4. *Prepare Yourself*: Culturally, emotionally, and physically prepare yourself for the experience to ensure a smooth transition. By being aware of the pros and cons, doing thorough research, and choosing a reputable organization, volunteers can have a safe, rewarding, and life-changing experience abroad.

As a Social worker i often meet with clients to assess their needs, provide counseling, and develop individualized plans to address their challenges. This could involve sessions with individuals, families, or groups.

I very much enjoyed burying the turtle eggs into new pits, protecting them from predators and promoting the growth of male turtles through keeping them within a cool temperature and as part of a monitoring process. I also loved feeding the turtles, it's was a very pleasurable experience.

The greatest part was the volunteering itself and being able to interact and closely take care of the sea turtles. The team and staff were amazing and together with other volunteers we made every work fun and super enjoyable. :)

I was very anxious to do any voluntary work, but as I had a short break from work to recover from life I thought this is the moment to embrace some hands on experience outside of the UK. Everyone essentially is travelling alone or with an academic institution. The age range can be from 16 to 60 years, it all depends on who attends what projects and when. I was so nervous and GoEco were the only programme out of a couple that I had contacted globally who provided consistent communication and spoke to me at my time UK time within reasonable hours, irrespective for the time on their side. Elinor was great she really helped me select the right programme to reflect my objectives at this time and the duration I was available for. I honestly could not decide. However, that said I decided to go on the Turtle Rehabilitation Programme in Sri Lanka. It was the best decision of my life. Zoe then jumped in to ensure my documents were all up to date and I was happy with what was going to happen next, just a phone call away. Don't get me wrong it is hard work and the night patrol was hard, but looking back after completing the experience is was an absolute blessing to be part of such a project. GoEco team are contactable from beginning to the end. They message on WhatsApp and are there if you need them. The project you select also add you to a group chat and are always there to answer questions. You will get picked up and from that point are taken care of, security is excellent at the volunteer house (Aasha House). I stayed in a separate room near the house in a guest house as I needed AC to keep the mosquitos off me during the night, there are plenty of ceiling fans at the house. My guest house was very spacious and cool, only issue I had loud walkers upstairs so I didn't really sleep well so hopefully this aspect will improve moving forward. That said, I was always at the house with then other volunteers. Citronella pure oil is just amazing and works fabulously as a repellent, which can be bought across the road outside of the house. My location was in Unawatuna Beach. We were literally walking distance to the beach restaurants and the main road where you can make purchases and also go to the infamous coffee house 'Wild & Sage'. Here you can grab a latte, read a book or crack on, on your laptop. Some you time. There are also plenty of Spa places to go to, my recommendation would be Kahuna Spa on Beach Road. Time really does fly and the programme is very structured as soon as you arrive. This helps to integrate volunteers quickly. You will feel nervous at first but I promise you after a day or so you will settle in and get to know other people. Not everyone clicks but this is normal, just give people time as you have to remember this is a global programme everyone is from different backgrounds and cultures. I have actually made contacts who I plan to meet up later this year. I love the group I have made friends with and they are so much younger than me, but here age is no concern as the objective and mindset are the same. You need to embrace and be open minded. I had warm water for my shower after 2 days and I was so grateful. The Team Leaders fitted this in for me and ensured I was happy with my facilities. Do not expect 5 star luxury, you are staying in the heart of a residential village and this is real Sri Lanka. We can all have holidays but sometimes you need to kick back and appreciate where everything comes from and what people do for us outside of the UK. The turtles are just beautiful creatures, but watch your hands because they are ratty when they are hungry We cleaned their tanks, filled the tanks with clean water with labour intensive water bucket filling from the sea and carrying it back to the tanks. Clean water from the ocean is a must, you have to wash your hands all the time. We gutted sardines with our fingers, fed the turtles one at a time, washed them off with clean water after removing them from the feeding tank, cared for their eggs and eventually released a baby into the ocean if you are lucky to do this when you are there. This was just a beautiful moment, we hope they survive but at least this egg was saved from poachers and has a chance to be free in the ocean. Food wise there is plenty to eat at the house, the cooks work so hard to prepare the food. Breakfast is toast and jam with salad/ coconut rice sometimes eggs. I am gluten free so brought my own bread from the UK and I was more than happy to do this. There are plenty of restaurants outside of the house if you want to top up on food and it really is inexpensive. Great seafood and veg options. I just want to say thank you so much to Aasha House for taking care of me and keeping me going in the 33 degrees heat. We had fresh juice and water is filtered. There is also a pool at the house but you will just go to the beach every day, not to mention the beach club parties, amazing ! Beware of the Tuk Tuk drivers they can be aggressive. You have to haggle as they seriously overcharge and think you are millionaires when actually you are working for free to help their country, you just need to be savvy. Also do not travel alone if you are female and new to the area, certainly not at night. Just not safe in the sense of female security. Aasha house is cleaned regularly. Falik, Amjad, Rishad and Viduni (other staff in the house) are all there for you at the site. All your questions can be answered and they can also exchange money for you with no issues. They are a fabulous management team and seriously have to manage so many programmes and volunteers it is not easy. I really do miss the Turtles, especially George. She can never go back into the ocean as she has gas in her shell. She also has one less flipper. We all really bonded with George, and I think she did too! She loved us stroking her shell. Thank you very much for helping me through this project and I look forward to my next adventure, I had better start saving

The most memorable experience for me during the program was having the opportunity release baby turtles back into the ocean. This truly made me so happy. I’ve never felt more joy in my life. I’m so sad it is over.

I probably had one of the best experiences of my life in Natuwa for a month, feeding the many animals that live there, taking care of them, discovering a different way of life than mine, more minimalist and peaceful. Rodolfo is an extremely understanding man who cares about the well-being of his voluntarios. We had the chance to do several extra activities outside the centre, such as snorkeling near to Isla Tortuga, or swimming at night with bioluminescent planktons, which were dazzling. The workteam is really friendly and allows you to feel integrated quickly and easily. However, you have to expect to work hard sometimes, for example planting trees, doing work to maintain the infrastructure, but this is only a part of the day. outside the centre

We were really happy with this project and the way it turned out. It has taught us a lot and we hope to do something like this again. The accommodation was great, very comfortable stay. For future however, there is leakage in bathroom in sink, water hose and the sink is clogged. The cleaning though was very well done. The food was really good and the transportation was very well organized. The staff support was excellent; thank you all very much.

I was very satisfied with the project and loved teaching the kids. I liked the first school better (kindergarten) as there were more kids to teach. There was a 2 hour gap between the two classes which I felt was too long however. I loved the accommodation and the staff- Ceetha, Radhi, Sheetal, Aishwanya etc. were all helpful and made changes if we need to. I liked the food as it was freshly made and it was local keralan food which is the best. There was always fresh fruit being served with the meals which was nice. The rickshaws were nearby so transport wasn't a problem. Sakeer was also very helpful and was very kind and introduced us to Kochi on the first day. I felt the rooms were cleaned regularly, however the laundry was a bit expensive and they didn't always wash my clothes properly and left some stains. The staff here was great and always helped us with anything and recommended the best places to go for tours. The tours were well planned and e.g. with train tickets, things got booked quickly however some could only book 4 tickets a day which was a problem. For activities, I went to yoga, the Kathakal; centre which was great.

Very satisfied with the project. House staff were friendly, helpful and welcoming. I found that perhaps the morning classes were too long for the kids? Their attention span is generally 1 hour - 1 hour and a half; but otherwise it as an amazing experience. The accommodation, literally no complaints! House is so comfortable, sad and welcoming. I love it here. The food was absolutely outstanding!! The breakfast portions were maybe a little small, maybe need to stick milk and the food could be spicier but otherwise it was bloody incredible. 100/10. The driver was so lovely! Made all of us girls feel safe, comfortable and happy. Would recommend using him again! Thank you all so much for everything. You have all made me feel warm and welcome. You are all so sweet and I'll for sure miss your smiling faces and good banter.

I was very satisfied with the project. It was a rewarding experience to teach the kids and they were very eager to learn. I wish I had more time to teach them, as it was so rewarding. The accommodation was very clean, only complaint is there is no A/C. The room as cleaned frequently as well. The food was very good local food. I appreciate how extra care was taken for hygiene. The transport was very convenient especially the airport pickup. The staff was excellent, all of them were very friendly and helpful. The staff also helped organize the tours.