Travel to visit this beautiful island country located in the Indian Ocean, surrounded by beautiful beaches and exotic Buddhist temples! Travel around this amazing country to experience and get introduced to in-depth knowledge of the ancient traditions, culture, language, temples, and Buddhist Monasteries. Witness an ancient dance concert, taste amazing food, experience yoga, and much more!

The best way to embrace Sri Lanka in its rich history, culture and traditions, is to go through the “Culture Week” held in Kandy. During this week we will describe the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” regarding safety, transportation, and females traveling alone. Get acquainted with Buddhism, the mysterious mythology behind the culture and visit a few temples including the most sacred ‘temple of the tooth’, a small forest and a holy Hindu temple.

Enrich your experience with language sessions and be able to talk to the locals, get to know how a traditional Ayurvedic massage feels like, witness an ancient Kandyan dance performance and last but not least, get to look, smell, and taste the Sri Lankan cuisine during the cooking sessions.

Finally, challenge your creative side into producing an original Batik design of your own, or to try to master the details of a traditional one.

This week will introduce you to Sri Lanka’s diverse geographical and cultural environment by fostering a deeper understanding of cultural similarities and differences through experiential learning in Sri Lanka and to help you develop awareness and a deeper understanding of cultural differences.

Schedule

Monday
We start off the day with a welcome and introduction program and the collection of the necessary documents. A basic Language Lesson will be held thereafter. After lunch, we shall attend a cultural lesson and head out on the Kandy City tour followed by a cultural show and dinner thereafter.

Tuesday
After a good Srilankan breakfast, learn about the famous Srilankan Spices and Ayurvedic herbs in a herbal garden. Do you know what the acronym TEA stands for? And what is the national gemstone in Sri Lanka? Let’s find out when we visit a tea factory and the Gem Museum in Kandy. A soothing boat ride awaits at the beautiful Kandy lake later on.

Wednesday
A traditional Sri Lankan cooking experience awaits followed by a visit to a temple and learning a few of the Buddhist religious rituals practiced by Srilankans and practicing meditation to soothe and calm your spirit and soul.

Thursday
We start off early today with an early morning visit to a family practicing traditional Batik painting. Have a fun-filled, creative workshop/lesson, challenge your creative side to produce an original Batik design of your own, or to try to master the detail of a traditional one. Work with vibrant colours, techniques, tools and dyes. Followed by lunch with the family, thereafter we will visit the sacred ‘Temple of the tooth’.

Friday
Today we will visit a sacred temple in a small forest and a holy Hindu temple thereafter. Lunch awaits you in the city followed by a relaxing Ayurvedic massage later on.

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Education is everyone’s right and we aspire to ensure this regardless of their age, status and disposition! You will have the opportunity to work at various kindergarten schools in and around Kandy, teach at a special needs school in the mornings and also teach kids or adults in the evenings. They are always glad to meet you and interact with you. This is your opportunity to join hands with us to ensure no one is left behind and has access to education in formal as well as informal means.

Preschool/Kindergarten
Your project is to work as an assistant teacher at one of our many Kindergarten schools. This program helps children in the villages improve their English language skills. You will primarily be teaching English. You may be called upon to help teach drama, music and foreign languages. You would also assist other teachers and staff and may have to create teaching plans, etc. All the institutions are well managed and are supervised by officers from government and private institutions. All the institutions are over 5 years old. They all share common values and aim to create a better future for the kids. Some of them provide free education too.

Teaching English to Adults
Teaching English to adults program is aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of English of adults. The aim of this program is to enhance their confidence and knowledge of English. Proficiency in English is one of the essential requirements in acquiring a suitable employment in Sri Lanka. Yet formal school education has not been successful in producing individuals who are competent in using English. Therefore, we strive to teach individuals who are in need of assistance to learn English.

Village Kids
In Sri Lanka, obtaining an English education is quite expensive and most of the children in villages are not able to attend private tuition classes to improve their English knowledge. Therefore, under this project, you will be teaching English for children in villages after their school hours. The classes will take place either at a community center or at a home of a parent who would like to provide space to conduct the classes. Since this project will be carried out only for 1 to 2 hours in the afternoon, it is suggested that you combine this with another project, which takes place in the morning. You will have time for lesson planning after lunch.

During school holidays only the following options will be available and the durations are as follows:
Teaching Village Kids & Adults – This can be a full-day project during the holidays based on the requests from the villagers.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Preschool Teaching
Primarily teach English, but also teach drama, games, music, art and foreign languages
Encourage children in academic work and promote all-round development of the child
Assist teachers and other staff
Create teaching plans

Teaching English to Adults
Teaching to write and speak English
Improving communication skills in English

Village Kids
Preparing lesson plans
Teaching English to children
Organizing cultural sharing activities
Engaging in games and other interactive activities to improve their spoken and written English abilities

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Contribute with your time and effort to improve the quality of life of the local communities of Sri Lanka. Use this opportunity to work with less privileged families. You would be taking care of children, and of children whom you could teach basic values and education and also be spending time with the differently abled people. This program lets you come closer to the culture and people of Sri Lanka while this is your opportunity to help the needy with your time, attention, love and care.

Under the community project, we support various communities in and around Kandy. At the moment, the following placements are available for the participants to join and support.

Childcare
In this program, you will be assisting the staff at a local daycare center for poor people. You will look after the children and engage in educational activities and games. Their duties involve helping the staff in cleaning beds, changing nappies, bed sheets, and pillows, and keeping the area clean and sterile. You would also help to prepare food and feed the children.

Home for Children and Persons with Disabilities
This home for children and persons with disabilities is run by the Mother Teresa Foundation under the supervision of the Department of Probation and Childcare, Sri Lanka. The home accommodates more than 120 children, women, and men with disabilities between the ages of 1 to 60 years.

By joining this project, you can extend your love, support, and care to all these people in need. The typical hours of working would be between 8.30 to 15.30. However, if you take part in this project, Thursdays would be project holidays. On Thursdays, you may relax or you can join with another project if available.

Women Empowerment
This placement provides underprivileged and unemployed women with skill development programs. You can conduct skills workshops and programs that can help women in the local community.

The project aims to give the local communities a good education and basic knowledge of good health and care in order for them to gain a better and secure future.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

After breakfast, you will directly go to your placement. Your typical or daily activities to be performed will be as follows:

Childcare Placement
Help the staff in cleaning beds, changing nappies, bed sheets and pillows.
Keep the area clean and sterile.
Play games with the children
Engage in educational activities

Home for the Children and Persons with Disabilities
Cleaning the surroundings
Supporting staff with the available activities
Engaging in recreational activities with children
Treating all the residents with love and care
Feeding the residents

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Contribute to renovating and restoring ancient temples, revitalizing their former glory. Additionally, participate in renovating educational institutions, schools, and community centers. This project in Kandy offers the chance to be part of efforts to restore these sites to their former splendor, sparking creativity and capturing the imagination of local communities. Join us in preserving cultural heritage and making a lasting impact on the city’s landmarks and educational facilities.

Numerous temples, schools, and community centers in and around Kandy require renovation and restoration. Our project aims to bring life back to these sites. Your work will involve basic renovation, painting, and restoring artwork in the temples during the afternoons.

These projects are located in the tranquil yet vibrant city of Kandy, taking you deep into the rural parts of Sri Lanka, away from noisy and overcrowded cities. Kandy, once the main Sri Lankan kingdom, remains a significant cultural hub with important temples attracting both locals and tourists who offer prayers and flowers. Despite past invasions that destroyed many palaces and temples, a wealth of historical sites still await discovery.

Besides restoring temples, you will engage in various other activities such as beautifying parks, schools (painting classrooms with educational posters to inspire children), creating captivating playground activities, and enhancing the town through various creative approaches.

To bring back the lost glory of these ancient temples such that more and more people come to visit these forgotten temples and to create an aesthetically educative ambiance for children at schools.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Breakfast
Working at the placement. Do Light renovation and Construction efforts.
Lunch
Working at the placement. Do Light renovation and Construction efforts.
Dinner

Your daily tasks may include the following:
Cleaning the surroundings of the identified sites.
Painting buildings.
Engaging in mural work if available.
Engaging in artwork if the temple makes requests.

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Join the Medical Project in Kandy for an immersive experience that blends medical learning with the cultural beauty of Sri Lanka. By joining the medical project in Kandy, you will have the opportunity to observe patients at one of the oldest and largest hospitals in the region.

Are you a medical student or a medical professional looking for a unique and meaningful experience? Our medical internship in Kandy, Sri Lanka offers an extraordinary opportunity to gain experience and broaden your perspective.

You’ll have the unique chance to observe patients and procedures at one of the oldest and largest hospitals in the region, Teaching Hospital Kandy, known for its rich history and advanced medical practices.

While you expand your knowledge of healthcare systems, medical techniques, and patient care by working closely with experienced hospital staff, you’ll also get the opportunity to explore Sri Lanka’s stunning highlands, home to famous tea plantations.

As a participant, you’ll primarily observe patient treatments and procedures, shadowing local medical staff in departments that may include everything from general medicine to highly specialized fields like neurology, oncology, or neonatal care. You’ll gain invaluable exposure to tropical diseases, surgical techniques, and various medical practices in a setting that emphasizes real-world learning.

Available departments may include:

Autism
Blind
Brain injury
Cancer
Cardiology
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
Dentist
Dental nurse
Dialysis
Dietician/dietetics
Electro-therapy
ENT
Gastroenterology
General medicine
Gynaecology
HIV/AIDs
Immunisations
Lab techs
Maternity/family planning
Medical assistant
Mental health
Midwifery
Neonatal
Neurology and neurosurgery
Nutritionist
Occupational therapy
Ophthalmology
Oncology
Optometry
Orthopaedics
Outpatient department (OPD)
Paramedics
PediatricsPharmacy
Physiotherapy
Phlebotomist
Prosthetics
Radiology, X-ray techs
Respiratory therapy
Sonography
Speech therapy
Surgery
Transplant surgery
Ultrasound
Urology

A program will be designed for you based upon your preferences and experience.

This program is for minimum 4 weeks.

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Explore the pristine blue waters and white sands of Ambalangoda and take part in conserving sea turtles! We are located a few steps away from the Indian Ocean which is famous for its sea turtle nesting grounds. Many of the species are becoming extinct due to various environmental factors. You will be a part of the community involved in the conservation of marine life and its habitat.

Our program is certified by the Sri Lankan government as the only disabled turtle conservation project in the country.

Our program focuses on the rehabilitation of wounded sea turtles by humans, garbage, or trash. Sea turtles are found hurt on the beaches in Sri Lanka and are not able to survive on their own in the ocean. Our project rescues these turtles and takes them to the care of our centre under special supervision.

There are 7 species of turtles that live in the world and out of that 5 species of turtles live in the Indian Ocean. Our program breeds and cares for 4 different species of turtles that live in the Indian Ocean: Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green, and Olive Ridley.

There are 42 disabled turtles living in the centre and in a separate centre we hatch hundreds of turtle eggs to be released to the ocean when they hatch. The purpose of this organization is not for commercial interest but to allow these marine animals to survive in a safe and healthy environment.

This project aims to conserve turtles by directly taking care of the turtles, enhancing awareness among fishermen and the communities regarding turtle conservation, and increasing the number of turtles in the ocean by releasing baby hatchlings to the sea.

Participants with open injuries in their hands should not work with turtles as infections may occur. The coordinators have a lot of experience in caring for these animals, so we ask to follow every instruction knowing it is in the turtle’s best interest.

Mandatory Culture Week

Sri Lanka Culture Week is mandatory for all participants joining the Turtle Conservation program. Culture Week will be held in Kandy in your first week. After completing the culture week, you will transfer to Ambalangoda to start your turtle conservation project. Please note the transfer from Kandy to Ambalangoda is not included in the program. Affordable public transportation options are available in the country. If you need a taxi, please consult your local team to arrange it locally.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

The activities change according to the beach weather conditions and the number of participants but spending time with these marvelous creatures is the main aim of our participants’ involvement.

This program requires your dedication and support. Cleaning the turtles and their tanks at the turtle conservation center is the main thing you have to do. That is because it is vital to have a clean and hygienic center for these animals.

Typical activities during the week would include,

Feeding the turtles (every other day)
Cleaning the tanks
Cleaning the turtles
Cleaning the beach
Helping with the weekly release of over 100 newborn turtles into the ocean (depending on the weather and season).

Be ready to get hands-on and dedicate your time to keeping the turtles’ environment clean and healthy.

This is more than just a volunteer project—it’s a chance to make a difference and enjoy an incredible beach adventure while you’re at it!

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

It is best to apply as early as possible as we have limited placements available in our programs, especially during summer. You can apply up to 1 year in the future to guarantee your placement. We do however accept late applications up to 2 weeks before the start date, let us know and we will check the availability for you!

Very fast with us! You fill out the application form, and we go to work for you within hours! For most placements, you will get an answer within 1-2 days.

Our family volunteer programs are available year-round and most programs can start every Monday, so you have the flexibility to travel at any time of year that best suits your family’s schedule. You can volunteer for anywhere between 1 week and 8 weeks.