Volunteer in Sri Lanka - Lowest Fees & Trusted Since 2003

I spent 3 weeks in the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle (Sri Lanka) where I stayed one week in each other following departments : general surgery, paediatrics and internal medicine. As a second year medical student it was a great valuable experience for me to be able to follow doctors in the hospital and observe how the healthcare system works overseas. Unfortunately, the language barrier with the local population hindered my ability to communicate with most of the patients and create contact with them but the doctors, nurses and medical students were very helpful and always eager to teach me more. I am especially grateful for the amazing support I had from the local family who took great care of me and hosted me. They were very welcoming and helped me with my volunteering in the hospital but also to plan some visits during my stay in Galle and organise my trip in the rest of Sri Lanka. They really introduced me in their culture and involved me in a lot of family events such as a wedding where I got the amazing chance to be invited. I recommend this experience if you’re looking for an authentic experience and if you are eager to learn more about the healthcare system in developing countries.

Earlier this year (March 2024) I spent a month in Galle on the SW coast of Sri Lanka, a trip organized through Global Crossroad. I wanted to work with children and teaching English was an obvious way to do it.

All my contacts with GC were helpful and friendly and I was provided with plenty of information prior to departure. I was picked up at Colombo airport and taken to the house of Michael Ferreira, the local organiser. The accommodation was spacious and the food (three meals a day prepared by his wife) was excellent. I frequently met his children and grandchildren. We talked, drank tea, played games, watched cricket(!) and I rapidly felt I was part of the family. Michael also has many friends and contacts in Galle, and I was often on the back of his motorbike for shopping or for sorting out official business downtown. This was total immersion in the life of Galle which was exactly what I was looking for.

During the week I helped at a government-aided school for children from very poor families, which was about 20' away by bicycle. I helped with the English class mainly teaching 3rd,4th and 5th grade children (6-9 yo). The resident English teacher, Prarthana, was kind and helpful and the children were a delight to work with: so happy, enthusiastic and respectful despite their clearly difficult home lives. It was a pleasure getting to know them all.

During my stay Michael organized 4-day road trip around the island. There is so much to discover: beautiful landscapes, an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, many historical monuments from the time of the kings over 2000 years ago, sacred sites from the time of Buddha around 500 yrs BC, and the remains of the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial periods. We also visited a tea plantation, an Ayurveda spice and herb garden, producing a wide variety of natural therapeutics, a turtle hatchery, and an elephant clinic, necessary because in some parts of the island the elephants roam free and sometimes are injured on the roads! I never expected such a rich experience. It was a great trip and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who visits the island.

This was my first experience of voluntary work outside Europe. It was a memorable, and without exaggeration, a life-changing experience. I am definitely planning a similar trip in the future, and I will gladly choose Global Crossroad as a partner for the next project. My thanks to the whole team and especially to Hom, Anjana and of course Michael and his family

I have been working in the orphanage for 4 months. I stayed at Michaels Hostfamily and I loved it. They treated me as their family. I learned a lot working in the orphanage. In the beginning you have to searche How you can guide the children. After a while you get to know them and you can learn them a lot. Michael also always helped me where needed and came to the orphanage if I wanted to say something in Sinhala. In the weekends I explored the beaches and did some surfing. Loved everything about my experience. Thank you Global Crossroad for the help

My overall experience at the elephant orphanage was so special and unique. I got to meet many local people and I got to have dinner at one of the mahout's house (elephant trainer) who lived in the middle of the jungle - one of the most incredible and unforgettable experiences in my life. The food at the volunteering site was very good as well. I was also able to visit many sites such as waterfalls and factories around the area with the guidance of a staff member at the elephant conservation park. Furthermore, I got to make new friends and meet new people from all around the world. Apart from the volunteering work, you will also be able to have a lot of free time to make friends and travel around the area. I am so satisfied with the service and my overall experience.

My time volunteering at Millenium Elephant Foundation was absolutely incredible. I spent two weeks at the foundation, helping to wash, feed, and care for the elephants in a very personal way. We also helped clean their night beds so they were comfortable for the elephants as well as work on active projects around the foundation. I was also able to spend time with the other volunteers from all over the world, the amazing coordinators, the mahouts, and of course the volunteer village dogs. In addition, Michael and the Global Crossroads team made sure my trip and experience ran very smoothly by making sure to let me know I could contact them at any time. My experience was truly unforgettable and I highly recommend this volunteer program to anyone who has a heart for elephants and their wellbeing.

I was in Galle, Sri Lanka. I volunteered at a temple and taught English to the monks. I really enjoyed my stay in Michael's house. He and his family were very helpful to me. I would recommend there to any volunteer who is planning to stay in Galle.

My project started the next day of my arrival. The monks were very open-minded and they really wanted to listen to me and what I had to say. I had a connection with them from the first day. I was happy to teach them and they also seemed very happy to have me as their teacher.

Even though the time was short, I can confidently say that the project was a success because I went ahead of what was mentioned on my responsibilities.

I met so many beautiful people outside of the temple and the host family as well. I'm very happy that decided to be a Volunteer in Sri Lanka through Global Crossroad.