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Brilliant 4.72rating (254)
  • Quality Education

Teaching Education

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

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

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
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    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
    *Schedule possible to change due to the project and community needs at the time. Volunteer flexibility and adaptability is important to a positive volunteering experience. 

    Public Holiday on Every Wednesday - The government of Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a public holiday as part of energy-saving measures and to help manage the current fuel shortage. Teaching and Childcare placements will not be available on this day. However, all other project options will continue to be offered to participants.

    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

    On-site Services

    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


    Private Room Upgrade: please contact us directly for options and pricing

    *Please note: Upgrade prices can change, so please check the price with us first

    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.

    *Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.

    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
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    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

    $308 per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    4 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.7
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers
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    2019
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    2025
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    2025
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    Sarah Damaschin

    School Construction

    Location

    Asia > Southern Asia > Sri Lanka > Kandy

    Meet your project coordinator

    Lauren
    254
    reviews
    4.72
    Brilliant
    1989
    Founded

    Verified

      Very high response rate
    Spoken languages: English
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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Education  >  English Teaching in Sri Lanka
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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