Community Development Volunteering in Sri Lanka

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 155,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back; it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Join a meaningful restoration and renovation initiative in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital. Volunteers support the revitalization of ancient temples, schools, kindergartens, and community centers. This hands-on program is ideal for anyone eager to contribute to community development while experiencing one of the country’s most historic and culturally rich regions. Important Update – Volunteers Needed for Flood Recovery in Kandy: Following the severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwa, many homes, temples, schools, and community spaces in Kandy have suffered damage and are now in urgent need of restoration. This program offers volunteers the opportunity to support local recovery efforts directly, helping repair cultural sites and create safe, welcoming spaces for families and children.

Build your own experience in Sri Lanka with flexible start dates (any Sunday) and program lengths of 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Your journey begins with arrival in Colombo and transfer to Kandy, the island’s cultural capital, where Week 1 focuses on immersive discovery. Highlights include language lessons, guided tours, traditional dance, temple visits, meditation, Batik art, cooking classes, tea and herb garden visits, a boat ride on a lake, and an Ayurvedic massage. You’ll also share meals with locals and enjoy free time to explore sites such as Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, or Kitulgala. Week 2 transitions into a meaningful project tailored to your interests. Choose Turtle Conservation in Ambalagoda, where you’ll help care for injured turtles, clean beaches, maintain tanks, and possibly assist with hatchling releases, or join a Restoration program in Kandy supporting temples, schools, and community spaces through painting, construction, and creative work. Whichever path you choose, you’ll gain hands-on experience, cultural insight, and the chance to make a lasting local impact.

Empower, educate, and uplift — join our Women Empowerment Volunteer Program in India and be part of a powerful movement helping women gain confidence, skills, and independence. Through this meaningful volunteer experience with Volunteering Journeys, you’ll work closely with women and girls from underprivileged backgrounds to promote gender equality, education, and self-sufficiency. India is a country of incredible diversity and deep traditions, but many women, especially in rural and low-income urban areas, still face barriers to education, employment, and leadership opportunities. As a women empowerment volunteer in India, you’ll play an important role in helping local women build brighter, independent futures for themselves and their families. By volunteering with Volunteering Journeys, you’ll join initiatives that address these inequalities directly — helping local NGOs and women’s groups create safe spaces where women can learn, grow, and lead. These programs focus on practical skills training, language development, income-generation workshops, and confidence-building activities that empower women to become change-makers in their own communities.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

This program goes beyond ordinary high school travel programs and build cross-cultural community service summer trips perfectly geared to your interests and curiosities. Whether you’re looking to contribute to authentic service projects, experience exhilarating adventure, or develop your language skills, GoBeyond will immerse you in a new culture where you can make a meaningful difference while on the journey of a lifetime. Our high school community service summer programs proudly serve in many under-resourced communities and environments throughout the world. Explore our journeys in the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Galapagos & Ecuador, Peru, Iceland, Spain, China, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Beyond experiencing the adventure of a lifetime and creating lasting memories, we believe our community service summer trips enable lasting positive change in the world. For over forty years, we’ve been transforming communities, environments, and students’ lives through meaningful, collaborative adventures and service that develop skills and a more sophisticated worldly outlook—ultimately shaping the person you become.

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Volunteers For Peace (a Vermont-based nonprofit) can place you on a team of international volunteers who contribute to a meaningful community service project designed, planned, and hosted by local partners. We offer the most affordable projects and the best way to meet people from all over the world. Work project types vary by country but may include environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation, educational and language learning, archaeology, organic farming, and arts and festivals. We also have social services projects, which could involve working with children, the elderly, or refugees. Projects are designed to combine service with recreational activities and cultural exchange – whether by visiting local beaches, learning local dances, meeting local officials, or volunteering with residents at the place you’re visiting. Each project is unique, but all bring people together for the most meaningful travel experience imaginable. Please note that VFP can only place US Citizens. This is due to our agreements with our international partners.

Join the 6-month Gap Year, an extraordinary six-month journey of learning, adventure, and making a difference. This gap year program is the perfect blend of excitement and enrichment, offering a language and culture study course in Spain, environmental initiatives, and addressing social and economic issues in South Africa, turtle conservation in Sri Lanka, and a community preservation, building and gardening volunteering in Cambodia. Eligibility requirements: - Must be in good physical and mental health - At least 18 years old during travel - Have a fluent understanding of English - Have a clean background check if working with minors Broaden your horizons and nurture a deep sense of cultural appreciation that will extend beyond the end of the program. Visit our website and inquire today to get specific details about this program.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, complete with tranquil beaches, surfing, mountains, wildlife parks, tea plantations, temples, and plenty of culture. Prices are very cheap, the locals are friendly, and it’s also easy to get around. Being a small island, most things are never too far away. Sri Lanka is also known for its scenic train rides, particularly around the Kandy area. Get involved in Sri Lanka… Test yourself and expand your awareness… Do something you’ll never forget. We have three destinations in Sri Lanka, although most projects are situated in the Kandy area. Kandy is known as the cultural capital, with incredible hillside scenery, warm hospitality, dance shows, tea plantations, and green rolling hills. Ambalangoda has a relaxed beach vibe and is close to the pretty town of Galle, in the South, where the turtle conservation project lives. Hanguranketha is about 1 hour from Kandy and even deeper into the hill country.

Developing World Connections (DWC) invites you to join one of our Fall 2025 volunteer trips—transformative experiences where you’ll give back, connect deeply with local communities, and leave a lasting impact. These hands-on projects span six incredible countries, each offering unique cultural insights and meaningful work. Whether you're building an e-lab in Kenya, improving school facilities in Costa Rica and the Philippines, expanding learning space in Peru, supporting women’s empowerment in Nepal, or constructing homes in Sri Lanka, your contribution will help drive long-term change. Each trip includes accommodations, meals, in-country transportation, program costs, and eligibility for a charity tax receipt. No special skills are required—just a willingness to help and a sense of adventure. Whether you're traveling solo or with friends, you’ll gain unforgettable memories, form lasting connections, and contribute to something greater than yourself.

Looking for a place to feel at home in Sri Lanka while contributing to a meaningful NGO project? Make our BASECAMP your base in Sri Lanka—your home away from home. A place to return to when you're tired of travelling, to soak up the local vibe away from tourist crowds. If you love forest gazing or want your travels to give back to the environment, this is the place for you. This particular volunteering project is an ecosystem restoration (reforestation) effort on a 50-acre degraded hill, with the potential to expand to 250 acres. We're literally growing a rainforest from scratch. What was once a burnt, barren slope is already transforming into a thriving, green landscape. We need passionate volunteers to plant trees during the rainy season, remove invasive species, and water young plants during the dry months. Our plant nurseries also need regular care and maintenance. Beyond fieldwork, we welcome anyone with skills in tech, research, video creation, or promotional content to help spread our message and strengthen our mission. Become a guardian and ambassador of the rainforests we’ve permanently protected.