Care Volunteer Projects in Sri Lanka

• Placement locations: Coastal towns within 2 hours of Colombo
• Types of care projects: Day care centres, kindergartens, orphanages, community centres
• Age of children: 0 - 18
• Number of people cared for:
  15 - 90
• Role: Assisting with local staff including playing with children, basic teaching and giving general help
• Accommodation: Host families
• Price: From
• What’s included? Food, accommodation, transfers, insurance, personal webpage, induction and orientation, 24/7 support
• What’s not included? Flights, visa costs, spending money
• Length of placement: From two weeks
• Start dates: Flexible

We do not require you to have previous experience when you volunteer on a Care project in Sri Lanka; provided you have a passion and commitment to the job and to the people you are trying to help. Whether you are on a gap year or coming to development work as an older volunteer on a career break or even during your retirement you will have a role to play and your contribution will be valued.

The Projects Abroad team in Sri Lanka organise regular workshops for our care volunteers. The workshops will provide you with a valuable insight into the care system in Sri Lanka and the background of the placement where you’re working. You will also receive advice and suggestions regarding activities to carry out at your care placement.

Voluntary Special Needs and Orphanage work with Projects Abroad

Based in several towns along the coast of Sri Lanka, within a couple of hours drive from Colombo, care work in Sri Lanka is a full and rich experience offering an enormous variety of choice.

Conditions at our placements are often basic and the staff are sometimes overworked, so the support of volunteers is always greatly appreciated. The majority of our volunteers work at kindergartens and community centres, however there are also opportunities to work at orphanages and at centres for children with learning disabilities. Please let us know if you have any specific preferences when you apply.

Volunteering Abroad on a Care Project in Sri Lanka

Most children at the orphanages and care centres still attend school in the mornings, sometimes at the same site, or at a school nearby. Volunteers therefore often help with basic education for a few hours in the mornings, usually assisting in a local kindergarten, for example helping four years olds learn the alphabet or doing colouring and art activities. In the afternoons volunteers assist in numerous areas with the children, from helping with homework to organising and playing sports and games, or reading to a child individually.

Volunteers working at orphanages or centres for children with disabilities may also be needed to help feed, wash, dress and do physical exercises with the children. There may also be the opportunity to assist with cooking! Volunteers here are greatly needed, but these placements are not for everyone, one volunteer described her placement as 'shocking, but the most rewarding month of my life'.

English at most of the placements is basic, but the enthusiasm of both the staff and children ensures that you will be able to make yourself understood. Our Projects Abroad staff and the supervisor at your placement will always be on hand to ensure you make the most of your time in Sri Lanka.

When you apply for a Care placement in Sri Lanka, you will be contacted to discuss the various options and find the best placement for you. We try to take advantage of all of our individual volunteers' talents and skills; putting you to work where you are needed the most.

All the work here involves a great deal of commitment; it can be challenging, but very fulfilling.