The information in the gapyear.com placement database is provided by each individual company. Gapyear.com claims no responsibility for inaccurate, misleading or libellious information. Please ensure that you check all details with the specific organisation before booking or accepting placement.

GYC1945 - Care & Community Country: Sri Lanka Cost: £1045.00 Cost Includes: The price includes insurance, accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include flight, kit or visas      Duration: 1 months Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7562 or

 

	This placement would suit... caring, creative, energetic volunteers who want to make a difference. alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" /> care 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. The 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 col alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" />ing, 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. Care 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. Tsunami Although much of the media frenzy which surrounded the tragic events of the Asian Tsunami has since moved on, many of the displaced people cannot. It is estimated that it will take ten years for the people of Sri Lanka to return to the standard of living they had before the disaster. Sadly this fact is all too quickly forgotten and so we are endeav alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" />ing to find more people able to help the continuing recovery effort. When the Tsunami struck, alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" /> colleagues in Sri Lanka asked for the help of alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" /> volunteers. An impressive number answered that call. A lot of initial recovery work was done quickly thanks to those individuals and progress certainly made. However, we are now looking for willing people to take up the mantle and continue the work they started. If you have specific skills or just want to lend a hand, there are many projects where you can really help. You can help build and restore schools, houses and orphanages or care for and teach the homeless and orphaned. All volunteers are allocated a supervisor within their placement, and also have the backup of alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" /> staff in the local office and the UK office. Accommodation is with local ‘host’ families; as well as providing support, advice and an insight into Sri Lankan family life, host families also provide three meals per day which tend to be traditional recipes and give volunteers a great opportunity to sample a range of Sri Lankan delights! alt="Teaching and Projects Abroad" title="Teaching and Projects Abroad" class="r" /> users say... "I have recommended TPA to so many people already and I have told everyone I know that they have to go to Sri Lanka. I had the best time of my life and I am so glad I decided to take a gap year. I feel very lucky that I was able to spend 3 months in such a diverse and beautiful country, with everything I needed and I really appreciate what TPA did for me. Many thanks."- Hannah Elson 0845 344 7562 Projects Abroad is the leading organiser of volunteer placements across five continents. We offer a diverse range of teaching, care, conservation and work experience projects. There are no set dates and you have the opportunity to become part of one of our local communities overseas