When you’re traveling abroad, differences in culture, language, climate and overall atmosphere can compound what would otherwise be a relatively small problem. Along these lines, one of the biggest safety concerns that international travelers encounter is finding themselves in a situation where they don’t know how to respond.

 

At Swarnabhoomi Volunteers , we’re sensitive to international travellers’ uncertainties. Safety is a priority at all of our project sites, and we work hard to make sure that our volunteers receive all the support they need to make the most of their assignment.

 

The locations in which we operate may a reputation for being safe and hospitable, but this hasn’t stopped us from going the extra mile to protect the people under our care. Every volunteer assignment begins with a weekend orientation that includes a briefing by a local registered nurse. This gives volunteers a head start on staying safe and healthy during their time in Sri Lanka.

 

These are some of the other measures we take to ensure volunteer safety:

 

Twenty-four-hour Emergency Support:

Most of our volunteers complete their assignments without hitch, but it’s still reassuring to know that you’ve got a support network to fall back on. No matter the hour, our volunteer coordinators are ready to intervene in case of an emergency. So, for this reason, Swarnabhoomi Volunteers offers accident insurance to all volunteers during their entire volunteer and internship project.

 

Volunteer Insurance:

Accidents are more than rare. However, just for an added benefit, we request you to get International Accident Insurance for all of our Swarnabhoomi Volunteers while on assignment.

 

Safe Volunteer Accommodation:

Our volunteer housing has been selected both for its convenience and safety. When we expand or move into a new property, we take time to make sure that everything is up to code, with this in mind, you’ll be much safer staying with us than you would with many of the budget guesthouses in town. All of our volunteer accommodation is outfitted with the following:

 

 

Well-vetted Volunteer Project Sites:

 

Many international operations send their volunteers on assignment to project sites that they aren’t very familiar with. We take a more personal approach to selecting potential projects. We have established professional and, in most cases, personal relationships with all of the sites to which we send volunteers. If a problem arises, we take it up directly with the site’s management and work toward a solution. If we deem a particular site to be in any way dangerous, we’ll remove it from our list of projects.

 

World-class medical infrastructure:

 

Sri Lanka has a strong international reputation for its high-quality, affordable medical infrastructure. In fact, a strong contingent of ‘medical tourists’ travels to Sri Lanka for everything from dental work to open-heart surgery. In Colombo, we send our volunteers to Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, known for modern infrastructure and doctors with international credentials.