PMGY - Volunteer in Sri Lanka from $270

Just returned having spent 4 fantastic weeks im Sri Lanka. From the moment I booked to the day I stepped foot in Colombo airport the support from the Pmgy team has been amazing. Ashika and his team were fantastic, going above and beyond to get me into other projects during the sinhalese new year as my project did not start until the following Friday. The accommodation is basic but liveable. I was at lion house, anti the lovely lady who made our meals and cleaned was fantastic particuarly if you have any food allergies. Its the perfect opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, and gain new friends.

I was on the medical project so spent 2 weeks at the Roseth private hospital and 2 weeks at the balapitiya hospital. I also did 2 health clinics each week. To do this you have to be on a medical or nursing degree programme. I learnt a lot here, although should warn the hospitals are purely observational. The closest to hands on I got was, with 1 lady passing out on the emergency treatment unit floor and me having to carry her with 2 others onto the bed.

There is the opportunity to go to other projects as medical runs during the mornings. I went to the orphanage, I also got to work at the turtle hatchery.

There is plenty of opportunities to travel whilst in Sri Lanka. Weekends are your freetime. I went to Hikkaduwa frequently after projects. I also went to Mirissa Beach, Unawattuna, Galle and our local Ambalangoda. I went to Kandy on the arranged Pmgy trip. This was a brilliant weekend and well worth the money.

The Sri Lanka Pmgy team are brilliant, I dont have a bad word to say. Ashika, Nalaka, Kasun, Manoj, Ranji and Thamari go above a beyond to make you feel part of the family
I also want thank Josh our fab geordie intern who made my month the best and most memorable month ever.

I've just returned from a 5 week trip in Sri Lanka, 4 of which were spent with PMGY. The 4 weeks comprised 2 weeks working in the New Tsunami school and 2 weeks intensely scrubbing Raja, the elephant.
The projects themselves are well-organised and highly involving. The tsunami school runs roughly from 3-6pm on weekdays and it is expected (and advised) that you spend a couple of hours planning the lesson beforehand. All projects run on the weekdays, but there is some differences in the timing of projects which is worth checking; you may be able to help at another project in the same day. The remaining two weeks were spent with PMGY's friendly elephant, Raja. The morning's structure involved first cleaning Raja's bed (I.e moving loads of branches), then cleaning Raja's faeces (I.e shovelling mounds of poo into a bag), then washing the elephant with a king coconut shell! The flexibility in the projects meant that I was also able to spend some time with the turtles at the turtle sanctuary based in Hikkaduwa, roughly 5km from Ambalangoda, which is where the volunteers stay. This was an absolutely incredible experience and one that id encourage anyone to do.
PMGY compromises wonderfully the exhausting projects with relaxation and opportunities to be a tourist. I spent a weekend in Mirissa, the honeymoon capital of Sri Lanka. It sounds unoriginal to say it was idyllic, but it really was. I made the journey by bus, which cost 100srp or 50p for a three hour journey. Next I went to Unawatuna, a slightly less clean and picturesque Mirissa, but still wonderful and worth visiting.
Overall, the experience was incredible and well worth doing. It facilitated a fruitful volunteering experience but also encouraged you to be a tourist. I look forward to working with PMGY again.

I just finished volunteering for 6 weeks in Sri Lanka at the Tsunami school teaching English. I had an amazing experience and didn't want to leave! The children there are so wonderful. They are caring, loving, and so happy to learn English! The volunteer house I was staying in very quickly felt like home to me. The staff there are so welcoming and helpful. You really get to know the other volunteers and coordinators in your time there. I am from Canada but I now feel I have a second family in Sri Lanka. Whenever I had a problem or any stress the coordinators were always happy to help and would quickly improve any situation. Josh (coordinator) was always there whenever I needed help in the programme or when I was just stressed out. It was really nice to hear about his past experiences volunteering and being able to relate to him. Ashika and his family are so wonderful and welcoming into their home. It was very hard saying goodbye to everyone there but I am already planning my trip to come back again next year! I would strongly recommend this programme to anyone!

I spent 4 weeks in august volunteering in Sri Lanka, I spent 2 weeks doing construction and the other 2 weeks teaching monks. It was the most rewarding and exciting 4 weeks of my life, ashika and his team were very accommodating and no problem was too big. The houses were clean and the sisters were very friendly and tried to help at every opportunity. I can't wait to hopefully go back and hopefully see them all again soon!

I spent three weeks in Sri Lanka on the elephant experience and could not have wished for a better time! Pre departure information, help and guidance was very accurate and in abundance and then once landing in Sri Lanka, we were supported with all issues both efficiently and professionally. I felt 100% safe in Sri Lanka and this was aided by the great tuk tuk transportation system set up, as well as the friendly and approachable staff. I've been involved in feeding, walking and washing elephants, growing very attached to them and understanding their way of life in Sri Lanka - a very rewarding experience. I stayed in a house with amazing people, the food was quite varied and tasty, the sisters were so lovely and I would do anything to do back! Would most definitely recommend to anyone who is looking to be involved in volunteering and learning about a completely new culture.
Thank you PMGY for an incredible set up!

The three weeks I spent in Sri Lanka on the orphanage project were amazing! Everyone was so friendly and the children were so lovely. Staying with Ashika's family was great and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend volunteering in Sri Lanka with Plan My Gap Year. The country is beautiful, the locals are extremely friendly and you have the opportunity to meet lots of new likeminded people.

Spent 3 weeks in Sri Lanka and took part of the Community building project. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I want to thank Ashika and the whole team for everything!! Aside from project work I traveled on weekends and any times that project work was cancelled (e.g national holiday).
The coordinators in Sri Lanka were great and made the experience even better, they made the whole experience really easy. Hope I could go back!

I had a great two weeks with pmgy in Sri Lanka. I was going the medical programme, it gave me the opportunity to learn about contemporary alternative medicines, do a blood pressure clinic and move around different wards in the hospital. I found the handbook really useful and made me feel less nervous and more prepared for my trip! I felt like I could ask anything to the pmgy team in Sri Lanka, they were lovely! The accommodation was good, and gave me the opportunity to meet/ live with lots of other volunteers on different projects!