2 weeks or more
Sri Lanka Pre-School Volunteers
Help out at Sri Lankan preschools - no degree needed!
Prices from
£789
deposit
£49
27 people have been looking at this trip recently
Get an extra week for free when you book our two-week option! Speak to a Travel Advisor to find out more.
T&Cs apply. Offer on 2025 start dates only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts. You must speak to a Travel Advisor to redeem the offer.
T&Cs apply. Offer on 2025 start dates only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts. You must speak to a Travel Advisor to redeem the offer.
Trip Highlights
- Teach young children through a fun activity-based learning style - games, crafting, singing and more!
- Stay at our amazing volunteer house where you can meet like-minded travellers
- Enjoy lots of free time to relax on nearby beaches or explore more of Galle
- Experience Sri Lankan culture and make a positive impact while you travel
- Receive support from our incredible local team
Trip Overview
Travel to Sri Lanka and get involved in our incredible preschool project - no degree required! Choose anywhere from two to six weeks, volunteering on a part-time basis from Mondays to Fridays. Teach young children basic English skills through an activity-based learning style, as well as playing educational games, singing and dancing, crafting and more! As part of this project, you will stay in our social volunteer house where you can meet more like-minded travellers. It’s super close to beautiful beaches to unwind on in your free time, or you can explore more of this gorgeous destination! It’s the perfect way to travel while giving back.
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- All your meals: freshly cooked and prepared every day
- All your accommodation: social volunteer house with swimming pool and super close to the beach!
- Airport transfers upon arrival
- Transport to and from the project
- Project training
- Pre-school teaching project
- Orientation tour around Galle
- Included activities
- Lots of free time to explore Sri Lanka
- 24-hour emergency support
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Optional activities
- DBS Police Record Check
- Extra teaching resources (purchased locally)
- Return airport transfer
+ 14
On this project, you will stay at one of our gorgeous volunteer houses which are just a five-minute walk to the breathtaking Unawatuna Beach. The accommodation is located in a safe and quiet residential area, and it is only a 15-minute drive into Galle: a stunning coastal city filled with historic buildings, bars, shops and restaurants. The volunteer houses are also quite close to the iconic Mirissa and Jungle Beaches!
Rooms typically have a maximum capacity of six beds, however, most rooms are shared between four travellers. These rooms are single-sex and ensuite. Private upgrades are available at an additional cost; contact a travel advisor for more details.
The main house is split over four floors and has three kitchen areas, three common areas, a dining area, a private outdoor garden and a swimming pool. All of these facilities are available to all guests, regardless of their volunteer house. Hot water and Wifi are included.
Fresh, home-cooked meals are provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals are typically a mix of Sri Lanka cuisine and Western food, such as:
- Sambal
- Bread and fruits
- Rice and curry
- Pasta
- Salads
- Wraps
- Soups
Please let a travel advisor know if you have any dietary requirements, as most can be easily catered for with local ingredients.
About the preschool project
This project aims to support very young children in southern Sri Lanka at the start of their educational journey, focusing on underfunded preschools with limited access to sufficient resources. This is an amazing opportunity to assist teachers and help make positive contributions to the learning development of these very young children during their formative years.
Role and responsibilities
Classes are typically held in the mornings (sometimes in the afternoons) and last three to four hours per day. While class sizes tend to be 20 to 30 children on average, volunteers will often work with smaller groups at a time. Alongside classes, volunteers will spend four to five hours on lesson planning each week.
As a volunteer, you will be teaching basic English (reading, speaking and writing) to the children. You will also lead and engage the children in playing educational games, singing and dancing, crafting and practising pre-reading skills. Socialising with the children and showing them warmth will go a long way.
Training and support
For all activities, whether it is project-related or operational, you will be supported by our experienced local team. Upon arrival, you will be provided with a detailed orientation and training programme. This covers health and safety training, as well as culture training and an orientation tour around Galle. Our local staff will also provide basic training before the project begins, and the local preschool teachers will provide guidance during the sessions. The education coordinator will also accompany the volunteers to the project location and guide the volunteers in assisting the preschool teachers.
Volunteers will also have access to our in-house teaching library, where you can find manuals, books, worksheets and more teaching materials for you to brainstorm and plan sessions - as well as find general guidance. Local transportation to and from the project is included every day.
Free time
The volunteer house offers a variety of optional activities for you to enjoy, including weekly yoga classes, movie nights, and monthly guided bike tours and BBQs.
There will be lots of free time as part of this project, which can be used to discover the local beaches, explore more of Galle (just 15 minutes away from the volunteer house!), or even plan exciting day trips to surrounding areas in Sri Lanka.
Teaching project
While our preschool project works with very young children, our Volunteer Teaching Sri Lanka is aimed at slightly older children and has a few more practical responsibilities involved as a result.
Please note activities and itineraries are subject to change.
Booking Options Payment plans available
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Please note that there are various religious and public holidays during the year and on these days no activities take place. During the month of August, special summer classes will take place therefore, hours and type of volunteering will vary. Please contact us for further information.
Online booking is unavailable for this trip
Online booking isn't currently available but if you'd like to enquire please use the form below. Alternatively if you'd like to discuss alternate trips or if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us.Call us on: 01892 527392
Email us at: [email protected]
Flight Options Quotes available
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Arrival Information:
Arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport on day 1 of your stay. There will be two shared airport transfers available every Saturday. The morning transfer covers flights that arrive between 6am to 10am. The evening transfer covers flights that arrive between 2:30pm to 6:30pm.
If your flight arrives outside of these hours or is not scheduled to arrive on a Saturday, a private transfer can be arranged at an additional cost. Contact a travel advisor for more details.
Departure transfers are not included, however are easy to arrange while in the country.
Age & Eligibility:
This is an open-aged trip for those over the age of 18, suitable for travellers who wish to make a difference as a volunteer. Experience is beneficial but not essential. The majority of travellers are aged 18-45. For travellers over the age of 40, please note that private room upgrades may be required in order to participate in this programme.
This programme is suited to participants who are energetic, patient and enjoy spending time with young children. You should have a flexible, mature attitude and be open to cultural difference. This is a cultural not a party trip, so you should be willing and happy to entertain yourself in your free time.
You will need to have a CV, cover letter and a DBS (please see below) and medical report. This programme does not require you to have any prior experience (although any you have is beneficial); you’ll receive advice in orientation upon arrival and are provided with guidelines and the daily support of a volunteer co-ordinator at each of the projects.
DBS
On this particular programme, as you’ll be working with children, you’ll need to undergo an enhanced DBS previously known as CRB, or Criminal Record Bureau check and will need to have a clean criminal record.
DBS checks may list past convictions, cautions, reprimands, warnings, and if applicable will show whether or not you have been barred from working with certain vulnerable groups. Non-conviction information such as fixed penalties may also be included.
There is an additional cost for the DBS check, please speak to your travel advisor at the time of booking. The DBS process is in 3 stages:
- Once we receive your booking payment, you will then be sent an online application link for the DBS check, which you will need to complete.
- Once you have completed the application, the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) will need verification of your identity - to do this you will need to take 3 original documents to your nearest crown post office and use their DBS and ID verification service. This costs approximately £9 and is payable directly to the Post Office.
- Once the post office verification is done it usually takes up to 6 weeks for your DBS to be processed, and your DBS will be sent to you directly in the post.
Please note, enhanced DBS (criminal record) checks can take 6-8 weeks to come back, so please ensure your start date allows enough time for your DBS check to be completed.
Want to check the demographics of your start date? Request the demographics here >
