Care & Community - SRI LANKA Project Information for Care & Community in Sri Lanka

Our Care & Community Placements in Sri Lanka

Our Care & Community placements in Sri Lanka are divided amongst various small towns along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka from Negombo to Galle and in the hill town of Kandy. Volunteers mainly work in orphanages and care centres, some of which are for children with mental or physical disabilities such as Down's syndrome, blindness and dumbness.

During school term time most of the children from the orphanages and day care centres attend school in the morning where volunteers can assist with the classes. In the afternoon volunteers work from 3pm to 5pm.This afternoon period has no fixed structure so it is up to volunteer to determine which activities happen each day. Previous volunteers have taught basic conversational English, played with the children doing activities such as drawing and colouring, cricket or helping them build kites. Often they work with individuals, teaching them the alphabet or how to read. In some placements, volunteers are involved in helping with the preparing and cooking of food, laundry and cleaning, helping with farm-work, or teaching computer skills.

Volunteers who are placed with disabled children have various tasks. In some centres they are needed to help feed, wash, dress and do physical exercises with the children. In others they assist a teacher to prepare materials for the days classes, and then help during the classes. Volunteers always play with the children, teach them how to draw, paint, and so on. The work is often found to be mentally and physically very challenging, but invariably rewarding. Volunteers are always very much needed and appreciated.

The thing all the care placements have in common is that they are designed to help children who have precious few other people to whom they can turn. This work can be challenging, but it is also fun and enjoyable, and greatly appreciated by the children and staff. Probably the greatest value of a volunteer is to bring some fun into the lives of these children. Simply by being there, playing games, showing affection and providing some much needed love and attention you will be making an important contribution.