Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Sri Lanka
- Around 45% of the popualtion in Sri Lanka live on less than $5 a day.
- Many poor families lack access to quality education, leading to higher levels of unemployment.
- Poverty is seen in in affluent areas as well as in rural areas. 85% of poor families live in rural areas.
- Around 21% of the popualtion in Sri Lanka is malnourished, with 17.3% of children having stunted growth.
- Women are usually not financially independant from their husbands, their main roles being to look after the family, clean and cook.
HOW can you help?
- This volunteer project is best suited to pre-medical and medical students, aiming to gain valuable experience in a real life hospital setting.
- Shadow local doctors, nurses and medical professionals in a goverment hospital.
- Witness and learn from various methods of treating patients.
- Interact and communicate with the local doctors for a benefical cultural exchange.
WHAT can you do?
- Shadow medical professionals such as nurses, doctors, and specialist therapists
- Learn more about overseas healthcare systems
- Gain valuable experience or pass on skills and practices from back home
- Observe pracices you may not get to see at home and help with treatments (if experienced)
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: HOSPITAL PROJECT
LOCATION: KANDY, SRI LANKA
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 18+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Medical student, CV, Cover letter, Criminal background check.
Overview
You will be observing patients alongside a doctor or nurse at one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
During the collapse of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, western medicine started to become recognised here and the opening of hospitals throughout Sri Lanka began. Indian workers came to Sri Lanka from 1821 for its coffee and tea prospects. Public hospitals were in great need during this time, due to poor nutrition, and diseases such as cholera and malaria. Later, with a new medical board, they selected vaccination officers to assist in vaccinating the public against Smallpox. The old Smallpox Hospital in Deyyannewela was later extended, becoming the General Hospital Kandy (teaching hospital).
With the help of the University of Peradeniya, Teaching Hospital Kandy hosts undergraduate training programmes for university students who are studying medicine. The Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) assigns post-graduate trainees, registrars and senior registrars to train people in medicine and for them to gain hands on experience. The hospital has over 2200 beds and acts as a training facility for inspiring medical students (being overlooked by professional staff).
Volunteering on this project, your main role is to observe the patients, treatments, techniques, and assist professional doctors and nurses working at the hospital. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about overseas healthcare and to share your knowledge with the staff.
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
- Witness and learn from various methods of treating patients
- Acquire knowledge and practices from an overseas healthcare system
- Get involved in treatments if experienced
Food & 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.
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.
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.
Specialty
Projects
- Medical Project
- *Nursing & Midwifery Internship
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1 Week - $615
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2 Weeks - $825
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3 Weeks - $1165
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1 Month - $1525
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2 Months - $2695
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3 Months - $3990
- Private rooms in Kandy cost additional $500 p/week. No private rooms in Ambalangoda.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
For this project, it is a requirement that participants are Medical Students. You should get a prior confirmation from us 4 weeks before your arrival and should email the following documents 4 weeks prior to your arrival.
- Detailed CV
- Certification letter from your University stating that you are enrolled on a medical degree.
- A letter from you (addressed to the Kandy General Hospital) requesting the hospital to grant permission for you to take part in the medical project.
- Volunteers above the age of 65 should have medical clearance.
- 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
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
On your first Monday, you will join our orientation day, to get acquainted with your new surroundings, as well as local culture. Your project continues as usual from Tuesday onwards.
Schedule
- Welcome meeting, introduction to Sri Lanka and the various projects, general/ house rules, code of conduct and organising important documents
- Sinhalese Language Lesson
- Cultural Lesson- learn more about the do’s and don’ts
- Kandy City Tour
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.
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.
The program functions from Monday to Friday and the normal hours at the hospital will be from 08.00 to 13.30. Working hours can be changed according to the medical department’s requirement.
***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***
*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.
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.
Additional Requirements
For this placement, it is a must that participants are Medical Students. You should get a prior confirmation from us 04 weeks before your arrival. You should email the following documents 04 weeks prior to your arrival.
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Certification letter from the university stating that you follow a medical degree.
- A letter from you (addressed to the Kandy General Hospital) requesting the hospital to grant permission for you to take part in the medical project.
- Travel Insurance Certificate.
It is also advised that you are :
- Physically and mentally prepared to take on these medical initiatives.
- Proficient understanding of healthcare principles.
- High level of efficiency, accuracy and responsibility and can work under pressure and is a team player.
- Older participants or over 65 years are required to have a medical clearance as proof of their physical fitness as they may perform various activities.
- You are advised to purchase medical, and travel insurance before your arrival.
- Recommended vaccinations often include hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and polio.
Additional Equipment
Medical Belongings:
- Please bring your own scrubs (Light Blue) and stethoscope. In addition, you can also bring your own face mask and medical gloves.
- Bring a complete set of medical uniforms and medical shoes, preferably a medical uniform or a Doctor’s coat.
- Refillable water bottles and hydration packs to stay hydrated throughout the day particularly during your medical internship.
Dress Code:
- Wear modest and tidy clothes if you are visiting temples during your free time . Wherever you go into a temple ladies MUST cover their shoulders and knees, and basically the more that is covered the better. For men it is also best to cover as much as possible in a religious site.
- The locals do tend to dress more conservatively and the safest choice of clothes to bring is “smart casual” as a great compliment and a sign of respect for their culture.
- Comfortable sandals are a must, and should be easy to take off as most Sri Lankans do not wear shoes indoors.
Personal belongings such as:
- Bring Personal toiletries such as basic soap, shampoo, toothpaste and towels.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses to protect from the heat of the sun when having your personal activities during your spare time.
- An environmentally friendly sunscreen or lotion is also advised to protect you from the heat of the sun and please carry with you preventive agents during outdoor activities, such as mosquito repellents for insect bites or other insects that may irritate your skin.Protective measures against mosquitoes, you might consider a net for your bed.
- Medicines you may require and especially if you have to take specific medicines on a regular basis, bring them along. Also you can bring a simple first aid kit with yourself.
- You might want to bring a prescription of Keflex, or another type of oral antibiotic that can help with stomach ailments.
With a population of 20 million, the democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka, formally known as Ceylon is a tear drop shaped island off the south eastern coast of India. Steeped in over 2000 years of history, the culture is unique to Sri Lanka and known for it’s export of tea, holistic medicines, cinnamon and gemstones including a unique blend of music, dance and visual arts.
Colinised by the British, Dutch and Portugese, there is a multi-culturalism with distinct Sri Lankan flair that feels similar to India, only a whole lot more chilled out! Sri Lanka, better known as the “nation of smiling people” is predominently buddhist (approx 80%) with some Hindu, Muslim and Christianity.
Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and given it’s size it’s easy to experience them all in a short period of time. From the world’s oldest living tree in Anuradhapura, to the colonial architecture of Colombo, to the white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, to lush natural forest, picturesque cities, thousand year old temples, and ancient civilation ruins there are really so many reasons to visit this amazing land.
Sri lanka has a tropical climate with distinctive wet and dry seasons. Temperatures vary and it can get much cooler in the mountains than it can on the beach.
On average temperatures in Sri Lanka vary from 28- 32 degrees, but in the mountain regions this can go to as low as 16 degrees.
From mid-April to September the Southwest moonsoon rains come, affecting the West, Southwest coastline and the Hill Country. On the East coast, the monsoon rains start from November to March but are not quite as severe.
December to March are the best months to visit the West or South coastline and the Hill Country. For the East coast or the North, the best time to visit is from April to September.
Sri Lanka and known for it’s export of tea, holistic medicines, cinnamon and gemstones including a unique blend of music, dance and visual arts.
Colinised by the British, Dutch and Portugese, there is a multi-culturalism with distinct Sri Lankan flair that feels similar to India, only a whole lot more chilled out! Sri Lanka is predominently buddhist (approx 80%) with some Hindu, Muslim and Christianity.
There are many festivals in Sri Lanka. Here are the dates for some of them!
- January: Duruthu
Celebrates the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. During Duruthu, thousands of people attend colorful parades, which consist of three processions on the nights before the full moon. The processions consist of fireball performers, drummers, dances, decorated elephants and the most important – a gigantic tusker treading a white carpet. - April 13th or 14th: Avurudda (New Year)
Avurudda celebrates the Sinhalese New Year in Sri Lanka. According to Sinhalese astrology, the new year begins when the sun changes from Meena Rashi (Pisces) to Mesha Rashi (Aries). - June: Poson Festival
Poson Festival takes place on the full moon day of June and celebrates the arrival of Buddhism, which occurred when Arahat Mahinda, the son of the emperor of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism. - October or November: Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival that signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, and good over evil. It is celebrated with millions of lights shining over houses, temples, and buildings.
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