At a glance
- Work in kindergartens and day-care centres, and support the work of local teachers and caregivers.
- The Care Centres are overcrowded and the teachers need a helping hand. You’ll provide educational support and carry out small renovations to the building and playground.
- You’ll live and work with teenagers your age in one of several small towns along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. You’ll be taken out on amazing weekend adventure to see the surrounding area and beyond.
Is volunteer work in Sri Lanka for teenagers right for me?
If you’re a teenager with a healthy dose of wanderlust, this project is the perfect opportunity to travel safely. It’s also a great way to gain childcare experience, which could help your future career.
You’ll assist local teachers and caregivers at daycare centers along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. Here the main goal is to help children learn through play while their parents go to work.
Are you playful, curious about other cultures and enjoy the antics of little ones? Then you will have the time of your life as a Childcare & Community volunteer in Sri Lanka!
During the weekend we will take you to visit one of the famous palm fringed beaches or to one of the spectacular ancient cities. All of these activities take place in a group and under supervision of local Projects Abroad staff members.
What will I do as a high school childcare volunteer in Sri Lanka?
This project is all about helping children learn through play at daycare centres and kindergartens in Sri Lanka. Your tasks will include:
- Help teachers arrange and execute educational activities
- Make sure children practise good hygiene every day
- Create resources like educational murals that the school can use for many years to come
- Explore Sri Lanka and learn more about the culture with your fellow volunteers
Your work will mainly focus on:
Educational activities
Because many of these daycare centres are overcrowded, caregivers often aren’t able to pay attention to each child equally. You will be an extra pair of hands and eyes, helping them reach more children throughout the day.
You will also do activities like:
- Help children learn the English alphabet through songs, games and flashcards
- Organise arts and crafts to encourage their creativity
- Play sports to get kids active and working on hand-eye coordination
- Read to children to help improve literacy
Your Projects Abroad supervisor will have loads of activity ideas to share with you. Plus you can brainstorm with fellow volunteers to come up with new ones of your own. You will also have the local teachers supervising and helping you.
Make sure the children practise good hygiene every day
You can help encourage better personal hygiene by using fun activities. You can help teach children proper handwashing techniques or how to brush their teeth effectively twice a day.
Community work
You will also be able to add a bit of value to your placement through your own creative talents by helping with projects such as:
- Paint colourful murals with an educational message
- Decorate a classroom
- Renovate playground equipment
- Plant a garden
- Make flash cards, posters, and other educational material.
Exploring Sri Lanka
Finally, this project is also an opportunity for you to travel, learn, and grow in a safe environment. During your evenings, we will help you learn more about Sri Lankan culture through workshops and performances.
Over the weekend, you will get a chance to see a bit more of the country when we take you and your new friends on a trip to Kandy.
Where in Sri Lanka will I be working?
Our Childcare & Community High School Special is based along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. You’ll work in a group in various small towns about 2 hours from Colombo, focusing your efforts at a kindergarten or daycare centre. These centres are overcrowded and understaffed.
You will be amazed at the natural beauty of your surroundings, as well as the ancient cities, towns, and temples you’ll encounter on excursions with our staff.
Panadura
Panadura is a coastal town located around 40km south of Colombo. It’s a large town, with beautiful beaches that are popular with visitors and locals alike. There is an ancient Buddhist temple, over 200 years old.
Kalutara
Kalutara District is located in the south west of Sri Lanka. It’s famous for its beautiful beaches, forest reserves, rivers, and the bustling city of Kalutara.
Negombo
Negombo is a large city just north of Colombo.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of our Childcare & Community High School Special in Sri Lanka is to enrich the lives of young children from disadvantaged communities. We do this through fun educational activities and a focus on improving personal hygiene.
The daycare centres and kindergartens we work with are often overcrowded and don’t have enough resources. Teachers and caregivers often struggle to give attention to each child equally. You’ll support the work of local staff by helping the children learn through play and running fun activities.
You’ll also help improve children’s learning environments through gardening, playground renovation, and creating classroom resources. Having a colourful and healthy environment is a great way to inspire creativity and curiosity in children.
Creating spaces for cultural exchange and growth for you is another important reason we run this project. During your time on the programme, you’ll learn about Sri Lankan culture first-hand by living and working closely with locals.
Join us as a teenage Childcare & Community volunteer in Sri Lanka and learn more about a new culture while helping educate local children.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers and interns actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work.
We produce an annual High School Specials Impact Report, which documents some of these achievements. Find out more about the impact of these projects, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Sri Lanka. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Sri Lanka and have a truly unique experience. You may also stay at a guesthouse.
On our High School Specials, we will always try to have you share a room with at least one volunteer or intern of the same gender and approximate age. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Sri Lanka
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