Community Projects – Sri Lanka

 

Help fight poverty and child labour in Sri Lanka by providing educational and emotional support to children and adolescents from low income families

Build self-esteem through helping plan and execute personal and emotional development workshops, crafts, and sports

Experience the rich Srilankan culture and enjoy superb mountain scenery and plenty of outdoor activities.

 

LocationColombo: Galle, Matara, Kandy,Kilinochchi

Start dates: Every week on a Sunday (this is flexible)

Duration: 2 - 12 weeks, possible to extend (max. 6 months)

Availability : Spaces available

 

How will I make a difference?

 

By volunteering at this project you will be helping make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka, enabling them to have a better start in life. Education is an integral part of breaking the poverty cycle and so with the support of the community school, children at risk from dropping out of the education system are given an opportunity to succeed.

Sri Lanka has become famous for its amazing historic sites and stunning landscapes, but unfortunately, even with all of these advantages, it is still a very poor country and the majority of the population has very little opportunity to make a better life for themselves.

 

Community education volunteering in Sri Lanka: What will I be doing?

The objective is to provide the children within extra support in their studies. Volunteers act as mentors offering help with homework, education on health and wellbeing and emotional support for students from difficult backgrounds.

 

Entry Requirements : 

 

• 18 + years of age

• Native English Speakers/Near Native English Speakers

• Good health

• Being open-minded,

• adaptable and flexible

• Respecting the local culture, religion and customs

• Completion of high school/secondary school is required

• You must hold a full police check from your home country

 

Children Home Duties and Responsibilities:

 

• Helping with homework; English, Maths and other subjects

• One-on-one tuition with children who are struggling

• Informal lessons

• Creative activities; music, arts and crafts

• Active games and sports

• Help on the nutrition awareness program, healthy living and hygiene education

• Parental engagement

• Taking children on group excursions/trips

• Building and maintenance at the school

• Gardening and carrying out improvements to the school's front and back yard areas

• Assisting with resource development initiatives including donor communication and marketing

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Elderly Home Duties and Responsibilities :

 

• Assist with walking and light exercise

• Plan and prepare meals, followed by clean-up

• Monitor food expiration dates, make future meals

• Make beds and change linens, as needed

• Light housekeeping to include dusting and vacuuming

• Assist with bathing, dressing and grooming

• Laundry and ironing

• Take out garbage

• Run errands (pickup prescriptions, dry cleaning)

• Engage in physical and mental exercises

• Provide medication reminders

• Escort on appointments (hair salon, physical therapy, etc.)

• Escort to religious services or events

• Engage in activities (games, memory books)Companionship​

 

Sports Coaching Duties and Responsibilities::

 

• Communicate effectively with performers to ascertain their needs and ambitions relay information and provide constructive feedback.

• Plan and organize sessions and programmes to meet performer’s needs and guide their development.

• Analyse and evaluate performance ( their own and that their performers ) to gauge and direct progress.

• Create a safe environment in which the well - being of performer is paramount

• Be open - minded in their coaching skills and knowledge.

 

Buidling and Engineering Duties and Resposibilities:

 

• Building or renovating a school or local library

• Building a water harvesting unit or building a toilet block.

• Your volunteer role may involve digging foundations,

• Laying cement, building walls, plastering or painting.

 

If you have any specific skills or interests then the community education project are always eager to involve this in the volunteer work. Especially if you have an interest or experience in social work, psychology, art, environmental sustainability, literacy & numeracy intervention, health education, fundraising or languages and translation. For example a recent volunteer with a background in social work developed and implemented a weekly program focused on building student self-esteem and motivation, goal setting and overcoming difficult circumstances.

 

Location and free time:

 

You will be able to explore the city, get to know the place and its people, shop in local markets and experience everyday life in a Sri Lanka.

 

The area is popular for outdoor activities; trekking, mountain climbing and mountain biking.

 

Volunteers normally work 5 days a week with most weekends off so there is plenty of time to explore the area.

 

Volunteer accommodation:

 

You will be accommodate in Host Family or in Hostel of the premises or elsewhere close to the project, within walking distance or use a foot cycle ( will be provided ),Three times meals will available in Host Family as well as in the Hostel, tea and snack is provided in sometime. Your will have to share a room with other volunteers or you will have your own room according the availability. Basic bathroom facilities in good condition, pipe borne water or well water, in some areas you will be advised to drink bottled mineral water for your safety, most part of Sri Lanka well water is very good for drinking as well as the pipe water, Electricity, Internet are widely available in Sri Lanka,

 

Hospital, Banks (ATM), Hotels, Restaurant are available in every corner of Sri Lanka, western Union money transfer facility is in each and every bank in Island wide.Big shopping malls with western type food items, good condition of road for you to travel, most of people can communicate in English, you can visit surrounding touristic places when you have a free time to visit.

 

Please avoid travelling in the dark or in the night, always use public transport, it is cheap and safe, do not travel with un known person or vehicle, if you travel by Trishaw(tuk tuk)Get onto metered Taxi, Please take of yourself, please always get our assistance and advice before you do need to travel anywhere in Sri Lanka, if you feel or suspicious of anything , please call us immediately , we will take necessary action within seconds, as your safety is our priority.

 

Skills Requirements :

 

• Have experience of informal and community education

• Be able demonstrate an ability to work independently

• Be able demonstrate a passion for using education for development

• Have the ability to successfully manage their time and prioritise tasks

• Be fluent in English.

• Be capable and comfortable adapting to life in a least developed country with sometimes basic living conditions

• Be able to adjust to life in another culture and a foreign language, and be able to work at all times with cultural sensitivity

• Ideally have previous experience living, working or travelling in a developing country, though is not essential

• Be able to financially support themselves.

 

Project Fees Include:

 

• All entrance ticket to the tourist hot spots 

• Airport pick up 

• Accommodation during orientation and entire project time •

• Breakfast every morning 

• Lunch & Dinner every work day 

• One day Orientation 

• Onsite Coordinator 

• 24 hour emergency assistance 

• Written record of service completion (for volunteers that successfully complete their project).

 

Project Fees not Include:

 

• Travel to/from Home to suburbs.

• Sri Lanka visa costs (if applicable)Visa extensions

• International Medical Insurance

• Cost of criminal police background check (required for this project)

• Cost of transportation to and from Project site and accommodation (roughly $2 per day)Meals on weekends.