Colombo Volunteer Project

  • Sri Lanka

Overview

Although the island of Sri Lanka is graced with natural beauty, fascinating wildlife, & a variety of ethnic groups, it is also stricken with poverty & undesirable living conditions for some of its residents. This unfortunate reality brings the need for hope & assistance. Volunteers can make efforts to help residents of Colombo, the largest populated city in Sri Lanka, & other areas nearby through a variety of specialized projects. A life-changing opportunity awaits you, whether it’s participating in activities to boost women’s self-esteem, teaching English, or helping to preserve the natural beauty & wildlife of the country.
Note: We have grouped available projects into a broad category based on the scope of their work. However, many of these programs overlap in their overall goals & objectives or go beyond the work listed here. So, if you are interested in a particular projects or tasks, please inquire more about specific projects & itineraries.

Specialized Project: Education

Help create a brighter future for the children of Sri Lanka. Volunteer to teach at a local school, helping students to learn & improve their skills in communication, the English language, & math. Alongside school-aged children, volunteers can also help teach a range of ages at a Monk school. While Monk’s receive religious training, schools need more help creating a well-rounded education, particularly global studies. 
Among some of the volunteer responsibilities are:
  • Tutoring;
  • Preparing teaching materials;
  • Teaching basic subjects, like mathematics & literacy, with creative lessons;
  • Teaching foreign languages, primarily English;
  • Participating in cultural exchange activities;
  • Providing additional support to those students who have fallen behind;
  • Organizing recreational activities;
  • Maintenance of institutional facilities.

Specialized Project: Orphan & Early Child Care

Volunteer at a child care facility for less fortunate & orphaned children. Help make an impact on the very first few years of their lives, as the children are only five years old or younger. There are a variety of activities in which volunteers can participate in to bring compassion & impart education.
Some of the most common volunteer activities include:
  • Help the staff with their daily routines (i.e. lunch time);
  • Assist the children in developing good communication skills;
  • Lead children in exercise routines to encourage an active & healthy lifestyle;
  • Work alongside teachers during pre-school classes;
  • Lead & assist with fun & educational activities (i.e. games, arts & crafts, sports, music);
  • Teach basic computer skills;
  • Assist children with their homework;
  • Assist the children in developing good communication skills & good manners;
  • Teach English.

Specialized Project: Wildlife Conservation

Sri Lanka is composed of a number of unique ecosystems, each of which serves as home for a wide range of animal species. To help protect & sustain this diversity, volunteers can help in wildlife conservation projects designed to serve Sri Lanka’s sea turtle & elephant populations. 
The volunteer activities tend to focus on one of three main tasks: care & rehabilitation for the animals, environmental maintenance & advocacy & awareness. Below are some of responsibilities of these projects’ volunteers:
  • Create awareness about the importance of species protection;
  • Organizing workshops about conservation efforts;
  • Assisting with routine duties (i.e. cleaning habits, feeding, grooming, etc.);
  • Helping with ecosystem preservation projects.

Includes

  • International flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Half day orientation on the work involved & important cultural considerations
  • All relevant materials for improvement of community facilities as per the need assessment
  • All meals during the working days
  • English speaking translator/guide for the entire duration of the program