Location
  • Sri Lanka
Length
1 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
235
Price Details
When you choose to volunteer through RCDP International you not only get the best value for your money but will help empower local communities, contribute in developmental projects and help the disadvantaged and marginalized.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Meals Travel Insurance
What's Not Included
Airfare Transportation Visa
Oct 21, 2024
Dec 18, 2023
1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

Join our very affordable program in a country with stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, captivating cultural heritage and unique experiences within a compact location.

Situated on the tip of India, Sri Lanka is a small island and is ranked as one of the best volunteer abroad destinations. This is in large part due to the warm and welcoming people who will always appreciate the volunteer work you will do. However, the country has suffered from Tsunami and civil wars. With the peace returning, the people are now optimistic that Sri Lanka will march towards economic prosperity and the lives of the people will become better. RCDP works with grassroots projects in Sri Lanka to help the disadvantaged. Our volunteers will work with local people, immerse in local culture, enjoy the landscape and return home with life changing experience.

Our programs in Sri Lanka include orphanage work, teaching English, teaching Buddhist monks, elephant conservation and healthcare.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Contribute in the way that is most meaningful to you by volunteering in a project of your choice.
  • At $235, ours is the world’s most affordable volunteer program available.
  • Your fees directly benefit your host family – there are no middlemen.
  • Partner with others just like yourself–people who know that a better world begins with changing a single life.
  • Your safety is always our priority… every volunteer location has been thoroughly vetted.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.78 Rating
based on 9 reviews
  • 5 rating 77.78%
  • 4 rating 22.22%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.7
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.7
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 1 - 8 of 9 reviews
Default avatar
Cristina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Enriching experience

I joined the medical project in SriLanka for 2 weeks and I really enjoyed it. From Monday to Friday I got to go to The Teaching Hospital Karapitiya (THK), where I saw different cases from the ones I'm used to see back in my country. I stayed with a host family and they couldn't be nicer. The food they cooked was so tasty and they all were very attentive. On the weekends I got to explore Sri Lanka. Michael was kind enough to organize everything and make sure I had the best time. Very enriching experience in every aspect!!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
After going to the hospital, I liked to go to Dewata beach, rent a surf board for 1-2h and just enjoy surfing. Although it rained very often, there were always people surfing.
Pros
  • Different medical cases to see
  • Very welcoming people
  • Beautiful country
Cons
  • Not very hands on
27 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
David
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Galle orphanage

Our host family was magnificent and the whole experience enjoyable. Food was wonderful and all round great fun and learning about their life and their history of tsunami.

The orphanage was a challenge for our family (perhaps more for the adults than the kids who don’t understand the full
Scale of this). Our kids were great but I would challenge other families to consider whether this is the best activity as a family. Our lack of ability to speak the language did not aid our ability to communicate but love and hugs speaks a thousand words!

What would you improve about this program?
I think it’s hard to improve institutional facilities in foreign countries.
72 people found this review helpful.
Terra
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

One week volunteer at orphanage

I joined one week volunteer program at the Galle orphanage. There are about 40 kids separated into 3 groups according to their age. It is hard to believe they were all abandon by their parents because they are all lovely kids. I wish them all the best in their future. As I volunteered during their new year week, there was short of staffs so the volunteer help was very appreciated.
I mainly played with the older kids at the playground and so happy to see their happy faces everyday. I will come back and volunteer longer next time.

Michael, my host is a very nice guy, he responded to all my queries in email very quick. I feel safe before and during my stay with him and his family. Also his grandchildren are so adorable. We played UNO everyday after dinner!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Just apply and try it! You learn so much from the kids and its an eye-opening experience.
82 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alonso
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Orphanage in Sri Lanka

This experience was life-altering. The program was well-organized from start to finish in regards to every aspect. Meals were on time and excellent, Michael and his family were kind and hospitable, the location is amazing, I could go on. In the area of Galle there are many nearby beaches to explore as well as a bustling city center with great shops. If this city is not for you, Michael is keen on organizing cultural trips in which you can visit other parts of Sri Lanka at an extremely reasonable price.
The orphanage itself made the experience even more meaningful as it is evident how appreciative the children are that you are there to help and give them love. The orphanage is structured well and run well, which makes volunteering there that much easier and more enjoyable. My one complaint would be within the orphanage, the matrons in charge who run the facility do not seem too keen on us volunteers being there, and they occasionally pushed us to the side and encouraged us to leave early. However, some matrons were kind, helpful, and appreciative, so they made the experience even better.
Personally, I would absolutely come back and do this exact same program, same location, everything, just because of how unique and personalized my experience was. I felt I got a lot out of the program, and it has changed my perspective on many things.

What would you improve about this program?
This program could be improved by possibly talking to the matrons and organizing a way for the volunteers to be more involved without interfering with the matrons and their planned activities for the children.
89 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alonso
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

english teaching to buddhist monastery

It has been great teaching the kids, they are really nice and excited about learning. Super friendly as well. It really was a rewarding experience. Meeting and chating with the head monk was also very interesting and cool.

The host family was really nice, they helped a lot in any way they could to make it the best experience, also the food was really good, always something nice to have. The house's atmosphere was very cool and nice to be part of. The other volunteers living there were also really cool people and was nice to share this experience with.

There are so many places to see around sri Lanka. Really nice beaches and very cool landskapes across the mountains.

I would defenetely recommend other people to have this experience

84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Woan Lin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

1 week at the orphanage Galle, Sri Lanka

I am truly blessed to be able to spend a week with the wonderful orphans here. They teaches us that we people/humans should have more humility, love and happiness. I was mainly taking care of the babies and during lunch hours i’ll play with the older kids. If the kids who are facing such adverse circumstances but come out strong enough to smile through life. Why are most people still complaining their lives are terrible? I urge future volunteers to contibute to the orpahange by buying them gifts and using monetary to give better lives to these orphans. I hope more kids get adopted so they can have a family to grow with.

I came during Christmas period, gave the gifts such as soft toys and stationeries. My host Michael and I asked the matron what the orpahange needs, we ended up getting 3 big exhaust fans for the toilet, main hall and classrooms. Audio player and speakers for the babies/kids to listen to lullaby songs during sleep or play time. The remaining money was given for the maintenance of the fridge/shower heaters/putting up wires and labour for the exhaust fans. A big thank you to some of my friends who contributed to the donations.

Michael is heart warming and his family are friendly as well. I joined the family for midnight Christmas mass and truly is a blessing to witness different culture but yet catholic tradition still stay strong. I’m blessed to be hosted by Michael and family. I caught with eye infection and Michael brought me to the hospital for check up. Simple gesture but a genuine man who has a kind heart and responsible one. With heavy heart, I’m leaving Galle tomorrow morning to backpack for the remaining week before I head back home (Singapore).

This experience is truly unforgettable, meaningful and sentimental. I want to thank the Teachers/caretaker in the orpahange, locals that I have crossed path and also Michael and his family that made my stay here feels like home. It’s my first time volunteering alone overseas, and wouldn’t be the last. May God bless everyone!

With love,
Woan Lin
Singapore
28 December 2018

What would you improve about this program?
If the Teachers/assistant know English, it’s easier to converse. But the teacher I worked with Kumuduni is wonderful! She knows abit of English and sometimes I use translated so she could understand what I’m saying or asking. Thank you for setting RCDP to help those in need.
87 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Gregory
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Two weeks at the orphanage in Galle

I would highly recommend the RCDP program in Galle Sri Lanka. I spent two weeks at the orphanage in Galle and found the experience to be wonderful. Children were very nice and energetic to learn. People around me were helpful.

Onsite coordinator was very helpful and went out of his way to make this trip a success. During my two weeks in Galle, with the support of coordinator, we were able to use the funds raised to provide medicine and cleaning supplies to the orphanage.
Our coordinator took a half day to bring me to all the places in town to ensure we were obtaining the best quality and price, which would have been impossible if I was on my own.

More importantly, he helped us even after I left the project to assist and solve issues relating to the 49 boxes of books for the children and young adult that were donated to the orphanages. These books were distributed to other orphanages in the area as well.
The time spent with the kids was of course the best part. I was with the older children (age 2-5), and spent the morning and early afternoon playing games and spending time with them. The head teacher was great as well and you can see she truly cares for the children.

What would you improve about this program?
I would suggest learning some very basic vocabulary before arriving, just so you're able to give directions to the kids while there, as they don't all understand English yet. Overall - a great experience that I would recommend to all.
76 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Paula
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Elephant Orphanage – Sri Lanka

RCDP is a lot cheaper than other organizations but doesn’t offer less anything less. Some people on the projects was on were paying a lot more for exactly the same thing. At the elephant orphanage it was a great experience I loved bathing the elephants however there was a lot of down time and you had to be proactive to help out at the elephant orphanage.

The children’s elephant orphanage was great initially I felt overwhelmed by the number of little kids (I was expecting older children but they are all under 5). Most of the children have skin infections. Some have scabies. This doesn’t stop you wanting to help but it would have been nice to know other volunteers so I could have talked to a doctor back home. Overall I have had an amazing time in srilanka but you definitely get out what you put in.

Project staff were kind to me, when ever I need help they were their for me. My host family was very nice and they care me a lot, I love people and project very much. It was my wonderful moments while I was there. Thank you for providing such a wonderful project with kind people.

What would you improve about this program?
RCDP Staffs are very nice and helpful. I was surprised and pleased with the fast response from staff, so I would strongly recommend RCDP to anyone, I really love this project.
79 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers