Located off the southern tip of India, the beautiful island of Sri Lanka is known as “the jewel of the Indian Ocean”. Sri Lanka has a rich cultural and religious history dating back thousands of years. Today, Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination renowned for its beautiful natural landscape of pristine beaches, lush national parks, botanic gardens and unique wildlife.
PROJECT WORK
Students are based in the historic Royal city of Kandy. Kandy is located in Sri Lanka’s beautiful hill district and is one of the most scenic cities in the country.
Health and Medical Work
If you are studying a health related discipline, you have the chance to volunteer in a Hospital in Kandy where you work closely with local medical staff. Sri Lankan policy stipulates that students have observer status only. Students are not allowed to perform procedures on patients and students will be supervised at all times by local staff.
However, the health and medical placement in Sri Lanka offers invaluable experience and insight into health practice in a resource-poor setting. To profit from this experience, health students must be flexible, self-sufficient and able to direct their own learning. Depending on experience, students may have a chance to get involved in more hands-on medical work. Interested applicants need to provide a copy of their resume, a letter of recommendation and proof of student status.
Disabled Centre and School
Female students studying a health-related discipline can assist in providing health care to over 200 patients in a local health and disability centre. Depending on your experience, work may involve rehabilitation, physiotherapy and general care work. You will be encouraged to initiate activities and programs to improve the living standards of patients and residents of the centre.
Volunteer work is also available at a Women’s Shelter/School that provides care and therapy sessions for disabled students and members of the community. Volunteers choosing to work at the Women’s Shelter follow a work roster and must also draw on their own initiative to identify and respond to current needs. Work in the disabled centre and women’s shelter is only available to female students studying physio or occupational therapy for a minimum of four weeks.
Care Work
Provide assistance at an orphanage in Kandy. Volunteers can use their knowledge and experience to improve living conditions at the orphanage and help the children with supplementary education.
Teaching
There is a great need for volunteers who are willing and able to teach English, special education, French, German, IT skills and other subjects in local Sri Lankan schools. You will teach from Monday to Friday, teaching two to three 45-minute classes per day.
The goal of the teaching is to help children in the villages improve their English language and general life skills. You should have a good level of English and prior experience in teaching is highly appreciated but not necessary. The most important thing is that you enjoy spending time with children!
Accommodation and Meals
You will stay in homestay accommodation with another Antipodeans student in Kandy. All food is included and will be provided at your homestay.
Free time suggestions
There are many things to see and do in your free time in and around Kandy. Sitting at an altitude of 465 metres above sea level, Kandy is the natural gateway to the stirring peaks of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Visiting Kandy’s famous Temple of the tooth is a also must and will allow you to gain some great insight into Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious history. You can also make the most of their free time by taking a stroll down to Kandy lake or visiting Peradeniya’s Botanical Gardens, elephants bathing in the river, or trekking in the magnificent Knuckles mountain range.