Volunteer with Children in Sri Lanka

Support early childhood development in disadvantaged care centres while experiencing life in Sri Lanka

Destination

Sri Lanka

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s included

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Meals

All breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and always fresh drinking water.

Socials & Fun

Regularly organized social events with other participants.

Pre-departure Support

Everything you need to prepare for your trip, including visa advice, cultural awareness training, access to your dedicated pre-departure portal, and more.

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Starting at €1,895 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments
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Trip Overview

Support local professionals

Assist teachers and caregivers at kindergartens, daycare centers, or special needs schools in providing engaging, valuable, and inclusive lessons.

Promote learning through play

Nurture young minds and help children develop essential skills like literacy, numeracy, and social interaction through fun and engaging activities.

Provide individual assistance

Offer specific support to children in group settings or those with special needs, helping them reach their developmental milestones.

Explore Sri Lankan heritage

Hike through diverse ecosystems like rainforests, visit important culture or historic landmarks, or visit a wildlife sanctuary during your free time.

Challenge and surprise yourself

Push your boundaries, experience something completely new, and grow as a person while in a safe and supportive environment.

What you need to know

Overview

If you’re enthusiastic and energetic and enjoy working with children, this project is a perfect fit for you.

Thinking about a career involving childcare work or teaching? This project is a great way to gain experience and learn from local caregivers. You’ll also learn about early childhood development and put it into practice at your placement.

There are no requirements in order to join this project. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a comprehensive induction which will introduce you to everything you need to know. Your role is to support the local caregivers and teachers, who will guide you for the duration of your placement. Projects Abroad staff are also available 24/7 and check in with all our volunteers regularly.

You’ll have access to a resource database stocked with ideas for different activities and educational games. Furthermore, we also organise regular workshops with our Childcare and Teaching volunteers. You can share advice and learn more about early childcare in Sri Lanka.

Childcare volunteering in Sri Lanka runs year-round, and you can join at any time. We encourage you to stay as long as possible so you can have a bigger impact on the children.

A Day in the Life

A standard workday will run from 8.30 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday. There will be a morning session from 8.30 am – 11.30 am, where you’ll work at one of our partner placements. The afternoon session, from 3 pm -5 pm, will be spent with older children.

You can choose to work at a kindergarten, day care centre, special needs school, or a community centre. Consequently, your daily activities will vary according to which placement you choose.

Children at day care centres and community centres usually still attend school in the morning. As a result, you’ll spend your morning volunteering at a school. In the afternoon, you’ll help with homework, organise physical activities, and work with children who need extra assistance with things like reading.

Once you’re done for the day, the evening is yours. Spend time socialising with your fellow volunteers while reminiscing about your day. Explore the nearby attractions or simply relax back at home, getting to know your host family.

Aims & Impact

The main aim of this project is to promote and invest in early childhood development.

The early childhood years are the most crucial development stage in one’s life, forming the foundation for children’s future learning, wellbeing, and success. Preschools in disadvantaged communities are often overcrowded and understaffed. This means that children do not receive the level of attention and stimulation that they need.

You provide children with the support and interaction they need to thrive. By tracking their progress through our database, we can immediately identify areas where a child is struggling. You’ll then work with them to improve their skills so that they are better prepared for school.

Projects Abroad has elected not to work with children in orphanages in Sri Lanka, but rather to focus on community-based programmes that allow children to remain within their families. To promote the education and development of these children, we have identified three major goals to guide our work:

Improve children’s English
Increase literacy
Improve the quality of life for those living with disabilities

Join us in Sri Lanka and contribute to positive, long-term change in the lives of local children.

Activities

Childcare Projects have a wide scope for you to get involved. Here are just some of the activities you can do as a volunteer working with children in Sri Lanka:

Promote early childhood development through fun activities
Provide specialised care to children with special needs
Create educational resources for learning

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Promote early childhood development through fun activities

Help children master basic educational skills such as counting and the alphabet. This forms the basis of their future learning and will ensure that they are prepared for formal schooling. You can really be creative, finding ways to teach through games, songs, dance, or art.

Provide care to children with special needs

Children with special needs often require additional support so that they can learn basic skills and reach developmental milestones. You’ll provide them with individual attention, playing games, teaching them to do certain tasks, and simply interacting. You might also need to assist with more practical needs, such as getting children ready for the day.

Create educational resources for learning

Make visual aids that can be used for lessons and games, such as flashcards, alphabet cards, and more. These handmade resources are ideal, as they can still be used at the placement after you’ve left.

Map & Location

Ayubowan! That’s “may you live long” in Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka, a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean. Experience a culture and tradition dating back thousands of years and try the exotic flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine.

Did you know Sri Lanka is thought to have world’s oldest wildlife sanctuary? While exploring, you’ll find ancient cities with distinct architectural styles, vast tea plantations in mist-covered hills, and the warm hospitality of its people.

Kalutara

Kalutara City is over an hour south of the capital, Colombo. More than 100,000 people call it home, with more than a million in the wider Kalutara district. Its stunning coastal location makes it the perfect place to experience both city life and natural beauty.

Like much of Sri Lanka, Kalutara has a tropical climate. Nearby you’ll find waterfalls, caves, and colonial architecture. You’ll be welcomed into the community and experience some of the best traditional cuisine on the island.

Colombo

Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, sits on the west coast of the island where history, culture, and modern life intertwine. This city of over 750,000 residents experiences a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round.

With a mix of architectural styles, Buddhist temples, cultivated parks, and winding canals, the city is varied and interesting to explore. You’ll find floating markets, beautiful waterfronts, and incredible people as you do!

Food & Accommodation

Experience the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality and settle into your home away from home. We provide everything you need for a comfortable and enriching stay, including a cosy bed, three delicious meals a day filled with local flavors, and access to clean drinking water.

You’ll be welcomed into the home of a carefully vetted Sri Lankan family, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture. We’ll take care of your daily transport to and from your placement, making your experience even smoother.

Your host family home will be a safe and comfortable space, and if you share a room, it will be with someone of the same gender and similar age. This allows you to connect with fellow travellers, share your experiences, and create lasting memories.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Sri Lanka Arrival Procedures page.