from 1,102€

Excellent 4.8rating (150)

Teaching Education

location
4 - 20 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Assist local teachers in kindergartens, community halls & or a special needs school, around Kandy
  • Teach the children about your country and increase their cultural awareness
  • Teach English conversational skills, writing, reading, drawing, through fun activities
  • You can also teach older kids from the village for a few hours after school, at their home or in the community hall
  • Get the kids active by playing sports and playground games

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
50+

About the program

Help the kids improve their English skills through fun, educational games, creative activities and singing/dancing etc.

As well as kindergarten teaching, we also have other teaching options if you wanted to combine projects to get the most out of your experience. Here are the English teaching projects you can get involved with…

Kindergarten Teaching
Volunteer at one of our many kindergarten schools, assisting the ...

About the program

As well as kindergarten teaching, we also have other teaching options if you wanted to combine projects to get the most out of your experience. Here are the English teaching projects you can get involved with…

Kindergarten Teaching
Volunteer at one of our many kindergarten schools, assisting the local teacher and teaching English. This project helps children from the villages improve their English language and conversational skills. You will mostly be teaching English but could be asked to help teach drama, music or other foreign languages. You will assist local staff by creating teaching plans for each day. All the schools are well managed and supervised by officers from government and private institutions.

Village Kids
English education quite expensive in Sri Lanka and the majority of the children in villages are not able to attend the private tuition classes they need to improve their English. This project teaches English to these village children after school hours. The lessons will take place either at a community centre or at the home of a parent who can offer space to conduct the lessons. This project is only for 2 to 3 hours in the afternoon, so we suggest that you combine this with another project, which takes place in the morning.

Special Needs School
You can also help by spending some time at the special needs school, where you can care for and help students with various health conditions. Your affection, attention and care encourage the children to increase their confidence and to put a smile on their faces. Your role will be to support the teachers and staff in caring for the children, teaching and other activities, as well as assisting them to live an independent life.

Teaching English to Adults
Learning English can greatly help with job prospects, particularly within the tourist industry.  By teaching these adults vital English language skills, you can increase their confidence and assist in better chances for them to earn a higher living. The formal teaching of English in schools has not been that successful in Sri Lanka, so your help is very much appreciated by the adults who want to gain English skills to benefit their job prospects.

Location
Kandy, is an amazing destination high up in the hills approx 3 hours drive from Colombo with incredible views, dense forests and a buzzy atmosphere with locals and tourists. Kandy is the last royal capital of Sri Lanka and is famous for it’s culture and temples such as Temple of the Tooth and plenty of others. The city has bustling markets with all kinds of interesting and diverse goods and services from unique handicrafts, exotic foods, arts, music and dance. Kandy has a really cool vibe and is somewhere you can happily explore for an extended period of time.

Project Tasks
  • Assist local teachers to teach English to kindergarten children
  • Create lesson plans for fun and educational classes, play and activities
  • Help at after school clubs to teach English to local children
  • Assist at the special needs school or teach adults English

Typical day

Volunteer for 4-6 hours per day.

Monday to Friday
Preschool Teaching
  • Mostly English teaching, but also drama, games, music, art and other foreign languages
  • Encourage children in school work and encourage the all-round development of the child
  • Assist teachers and other staff
  • Create teaching plans for the ...

Typical day

Volunteer for 4-6 hours per day.

Monday to Friday
Preschool Teaching
  • Mostly English teaching, but also drama, games, music, art and other foreign languages
  • Encourage children in school work and encourage the all-round development of the child
  • Assist teachers and other staff
  • Create teaching plans for the following day
Special Needs School
  • Interacting in educational activities with children as advised by the staff
  • Engaging the children through creative activities
  • Playing fun games
Teaching English to Adults
  • Teaching basic English writing skills and phrases
  • Improving English conversational skills
Village Kids
  • Preparing lesson plans
  • Teaching English to children through educational activities
  • Creating cultural sharing activities
  • Using games and other interactive activities to improve their spoken and written English


Free-time activities

Here are a few things you can do in Sri Lanka!

Royal Botanical Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are situated around 5. km to the West of Kandy. Once being only for the Kandyan royalty, they are now open to the public to wander around at their leisure. There’s 60 hectares of beautiful garden to explore, ...

Free-time activities

Here are a few things you can do in Sri Lanka!

Royal Botanical Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are situated around 5. km to the West of Kandy. Once being only for the Kandyan royalty, they are now open to the public to wander around at their leisure. There’s 60 hectares of beautiful garden to explore, where you will see a huge Javan fig tree, pretty orchids and even monkeys!

Knuckles mountain range
This stunning mountain range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hosts many walking trails. You will find small villages, beautiful waterfalls, numerous native wildlife and rice fields. This is the perfect place for people who love the outdoors and adventurous hiking trails.

Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
Another UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient rock is situated around 91km North from Kandy and is very popular with tourists, who can climb up to the top for some seriously stunning views. Along the way you will see antient rock carvings and paintings on the walls of this sacred rock. It will take roughly just over an hour to climb up.

Yala National Park
Located on the South coast of Sri Lanka, this stunning park hosts one of the highest leopard densities in the world. Not only that, you can also spot elephants, monkeys, birds, buffalo and more. There are numerous tours in Yala, from day tours to over several days of safari.

Adam’s Peak
Around 91km South of Kandy you can climb to the top of this sacred sight, just as the locals do for pilgrimage. It’s a bit of a trek up in the dark but totally worth it to see the sun coming up over the clouds, mountains and lush forest. You will be greeted by stunning views to reward your efforts!

Hortons Plains National Park
You can trek through this beautiful national park to ‘World’s End’, a 9.5km round loop trail, taking around 3 hours. This is a pretty easy walk, but you will be greeted with amazing views out over the countryside and above the clouds! It’s best to visit here early (before 10am) as the clouds can roll in after that and block the incredible views.

Udawatta Kele Reserve
Situated near the Kandy lake, this nature reserve is complete with monkeys and birds- fantastic for wildlife and nature lovers. Here you will find wooded forests, over 400 species of plants and 70 bird species. You can trek through the forest for a relaxing break away from the city.

Tea Plantations
Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are both popular places to visit a tea plantation, for a refreshing taste of some of Sri Lanka’s best fresh tea! Not only do they produce great tea, the landscape is stunningly green, with endless hills rolling off into the distance.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

at High School level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

Police check or working with children check

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Involvement Volunteers IVI

Accommodation
3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
1 day orientation
Daily transportation to project
In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
Fundraising support
University course credits (where applicable)
Certificate of Completion

Airport Pickup at Bandaranaike International Airport

Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.

A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Bandaranayake International Airport (CMB). You must arrive between the hours 05:00 to 21:00 on Sunday.

If you arrive outside the pickup times, you can book a private transfer for an extra fee.

If you want to book any extra nights before or after your program, you can do this for an extra fee.

Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).

From the airport to the Kandy accommodation, it takes around 3-4 hours by road and to the Ambalangoda accommodation, around 3 hours.  

Accommodation

You will be accommodated in one of our centres which are located 2-4 km away from Kandy centre, and about a 15 min walk to the nearest supermarket and ATM. You’ll share rooms with 4-10 other volunteers of the same gender with a shared toilet per room. A fridge, safety deposit boxes, lockable rooms, hot showers, bed linen and fan are included with volunteers expected to bring their own towel. Laundry facilities are available at a small fee. The centres do not have Wi-Fi but you can buy a local sim card. Most volunteers will purchase a local data plan and connect this to their personal devices.

Food & Beverages

3 meals per day are provided during weekdays and 2 meals per day on weekends. Safe filtered drinking water is provided along with tea and coffee. You can expect meals with rice, coconut, spices, roti, lots of vegetables & sparing amounts of meat. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo. We assist you to find cheap flights to Sri Lanka. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Sri Lanka provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Sri Lanka you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Sri Lanka. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Program starts every Monday. Arrivals on Sat/ Sun. If arriving on Sat, an extra night is charged.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 1,102€
8 weeks 2,042€
12 weeks 2,870€
20 weeks (max. stay) 3,816€
Average fees 232€/week

Program fees

232€ per week 4 - 20 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 20 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Involvement Volunteers IVI during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Involvement Volunteers IVI

Excellent 4.8 rating (150 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 1989

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Lauren

Spoken languages: English

About the project

IVI are a non profit org with 28 years experience providing responsible volunteer placements in 15 countries worldwide. We help you connect with inspiring opportunities

Meet your organization

Involvement Volunteers International delivers positive social change to developing communities and vulnerable populations through local, national & international volunteering.  Our projects empower the skilled & un-skilled to catalyse the efforts of local partners in creating a better world.


WHO WE ARE

Founded in 1989, IVI is a pioneer of overseas volunteering.  Back when there was no internet and phones were a luxury in many parts of the world, we traveled to developing countries in search of credible NGO's in need of manpower and global volunteer resources.  Some of the many relationships we forged are utilized to this day. 

We are passionate about volunteering and giving back to society and in particular developing communities which are less fortunate than us.  In this way, we combine travelling with volunteering to help people make a positive impact overseas.

SOCIAL EXPERIENCES
All of IVI’s projects have a strong social element at the core.  With more manpower (& womanpower!) we can truly catalyse the efforts of our local partners.  This means you're sure to meet loads of like-minded people from all parts of the world.   This type of experience truly broadens your understanding of the world and yourself, opening your heart to new enlightened ways of thinking .   With your new found travel companions, you'll have plenty of opportunity to explore and have fun!  

Our projects create a unique platform to experience the true heart and soul of a destination rather than simply the tourist areas.   We'll involve you in meaningful & responsible volunteer work that really benefits the local communities.

AFFORDABLE VOLUNTEER TRAVEL
As a non profit org, we are not motivated by shareholder profits.  Our fee structure is fully transparent to ensure volunteers hard earned money is going directly to the areas where it is most needed.  It is vitally important to us that the presence of volunteers has a positive and sustainable impact on the local communities we work with.   

We charge a one off US$275 application fee per volunteer to cover the running of IVI including administration overheads, project inspection costs, marketing, and salaries.

The program fee starts at $150 p/week and goes straight to the in country management to cover arrival airport transfers, on the ground coordination, orientation, accommodation, meals, in country 24/7 project support, project development, donations and related administration costs.   

In comparison to many of our competitors, our programs are incredible value.

SAFETY & RESPONSIBLE PROGRAMS
With approx 80-90% of our volunteers being single young female travelers, volunteer safety is of the utmost importance.  All of our projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management support contact as well as a dedicated placement manager pre/post journey.  This ensures you will be cared for every step of the way.    The local teams are highly experienced and qualified to manage emergency situations.

All IVI projects have been personally inspected to ensure the standards meet necessary guidelines for quality and safety.  In addition, we monitor and maintain communication with local embassies to oversee potential issues in order to notify volunteers and their families accordingly.   

Our Australian team are available 24/7 and only a phone call away.

Our responsibility also extends to the local people which is why volunteers working in childcare related fields must provide a criminal background check before they travel.   Our ultimate goal is the long term development of the communities we work with, hence we work closely with our local partners to ensure that projects are needs driven and sustainable. 

SUPPORT

From your very first inquiry, right through to your welcome home, you'll have the same dedicated volunteer manager at every stage.  We are experts in the field and will provide you in depth insights about what to expect and how to prepare to ensure you have an amazing experience overseas.  Every project includes a detailed welcome pack which provides all aspects needed such as in country contacts, what to pack, cultural values, basic language guides and much much more.   

On arrival at your destination, you'll be greeted by one of our in-country team and in many cases 1 week orientation is provided to help ease you into the way of life and ensure you're equipped with the right customs to ensure a successful volunteer abroad experience.  

FUN!
Volunteering abroad is quite possibly the most rewarding experience you will have in your life!   We know this not only through our own experiences, but through the testimonies from thousands of volunteers we have successfully placed worldwide over 27+ years in operation.  Volunteering overseas is not only rewarding.   It's fun!   You're meeting new people, you're seeing new sights, and you're expanding your understanding of yourself and the world.  You're experiencing something real and life changing in many ways...  

GET INVOLVED WITH IVI TODAY!

150 reviews · rating4.8

Heidi rating5

2019 at Teaching Education

The highlight of Sri Lanka was definitely the team; the drivers, coordinators, managers, chef, cleaners – everyone was so helpful and lovely. Everything felt very well organised and I felt very comfortable to talk about anything with them. The people of Sri Lanka in general were all so beautiful ...
ANNA RATTERO rating4.2

2024 at Kindergarten Teaching Assistant

È stata una bellissima esperienza, stare con i bambini è stato magnifico! Loro non parlano bene inglese quindi ho comunicato con loro usando soprattutto sguardi e gesti. Si ha la possibilità di conoscere persone del posto, conoscere una nuova cultura e offrire il proprio contributo nel fare ...
I can’t express enough how much Meki, Tima and Paulina took care of me. They would even fan me when I was eating and if I was lying on the front deck (anywhere I was actually if they thought it was needed😆) I’ve never been fanned before😆 Sitting up the head of the table being fanned and ...
Gabriele Heumann rating4.8

2024 at Nutrition & Public Health Outreach Assistant

Vielen Dank für die tolle Erfahrung. Ein besonderes Lob für Carrun, ich würde es gerne immer wieder machen. Dankeschön auch am Marie und Masi tolle Gastfamilie. Ich kann sie nur weiterempfehlen ...
Errol S rating5

2024 at Turtle Conservation Assistance

It was an amazing week working with a diverse group of volunteers from around the world. We got to experience working with turtles from nearly hatched to around 8 months old. They were extremely cute and you could really see the impact of the volunteering when we released them into the wild. It ...
Jennifer Steinborm rating4.4

2024 at Support Woman & Children Commune

From the first day in Fiji I felt incredibly welcome there! Mere and Masi were very helpful from the start and showed me everything. I enjoyed working with the women at the Lovu HART Village at the office and when kindergarten started I loved seeing the kids every day and helping them where I could. ..

Location


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