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Get Free Quotes From 7 Best Cheap Sri Lanka Volunteer ProvidersAre you thinking about a volunteering trip to Sri Lanka? Are you worried about how expensive it might be? Do you want to find the most highly rated and trustworthy programs in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka, a small country in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The beautiful country offers stunning coasts, diverse landscapes, delicious food and amazing wildlife with a deep cultural heritage. Its tropical and warm weather is just one of the reasons why thousands of meaningful travelers go to Sri Lanka.
Giving back to the needy Sri Lankan communities might be a life-changing experience. However, choosing the right organization to volunteer with might get a daunting task. During your search for best volunteer opportunity in Sri Lanka, hundreds of volunteer providers will pop up. They all differ in their program’s price, usefulness and safety.
At TravellersQuest, we want to see you have a remarkable experience in Sri Lanka. Thus, we spent many hours researching and finding the best, affordable and safest volunteering providers in Sri Lanka. We sincerely believe that selecting any of these companies will lead you to a safe, life-changing and affordable selfless trip to Sri Lanka.
| Company Name | Starting price | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Plan My Gap Year (United Kingdom) | $519 |
Go Overseas:404 reviews Go abroad: 77 reviews |
| RCDP Volunteer Abroad (Nepal) | $429 | Go overseas: 62 reviews |
| IFRE Volunteers (USA) | $449 |
Go Overseas: 115 reviews |
| International Volunteer HQ (New Zealand) | $709 |
Go Overseas: 2,211 reviews Go Abroad: 1,657 reviews |
| GoEco | $950 |
Go Overseas: 89 reviews Go Abroad: 729 reviews |
| A Broader View Volunteers | $890 |
Go overseas: 178 reviews |
| Oyster Worldwide | $1,295 |
Go overseas: 83 reviews Go Abroad: 106 reviews |
Table updated: March 27, 2024
Plan My Gap Year was established in 2011 in the United Kingdom. This award-winning organization offers meaningful volunteer programs in several countries across the world. PMGY’s programs have been viewed as good alternatives to other very expensive programs offered by many corporate companies.
PMGY’s offers several meaningful volunteer programs in Sri Lanka. Their fees are extremely affordable and 100% transparent. The organization is best known for safety, training and support, financial security, along with responsible travel, personal touch and quality cultural immersion opportunities.
PMGY’s Sri Lanka programs are located in Ambalangoda and Wasgamuwa, on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s considered to be one of the perfect places to volunteer as it has a safe, peaceful, and traditional community, as well as an incredible coastline. Their programs range in length from 2-24 weeks, depending on the project and destination.
The minimum duration on their Real Sri Lanka Experience and Sri Lanka volunteer project is 4 weeks, (2 weeks exploring the island and 2 weeks volunteering). The two weeks of exploring include chilling by the beach in Mirissa, spotting leopards in Yala national park, stick fishing in Weligama, taking a cycle tour through ancient Ceylon ruins, and a visit to Kandy and the cultural triangle. During the second two weeks, the volunteer will spend time in the community and learn more about how life for Sri Lankan people really is.
The Tsunami village program is an after-school education program which works in communities displaced by the Tsunami of 2004. Volunteer teachers in temple school will teach English and other subjects to Buddhist monks, while also learning meditation, yoga and Buddhist way of life.
Thinking of expanding your medical expertise & experience? Medical volunteering opportunity in Sri Lanka run by PMGY is a great option to do so! You join their medical volunteer project and gain hands-on experience as you get to directly involve in various health camps and treatments.
PMGY supports 3 orphanages in Sri Lanka, one for girls funded by an international NGO, and two for boys. Orphanage volunteers in Sri Lanka will be placed in either of these orphanages, where they can serve from 2 to 24 weeks. Your responsibilities in the program include teaching, playing, sharing your life-skills, cooking, cleaning and other administrative tasks.
If you love soaking up in the sun by the beach while also saving rare Sea Turtles, this turtle conservation volunteer program in Sri Lanka is the best suitable option for you. PMGY works in collaboration with local organizations to save the endangered sea turtle species and calls for international volunteers to contribute.
PMGY is one of the best affordable and highly rated providers of volunteer programs in Sri Lanka. Past volunteers are happy with PMGY’s impactful overseas volunteer programs, and often share their stories and photos on social networks. Most reviews mention the high quality of the coordinator teams, the friendly environment, and the desire to repeat the experience. PMGY has 404 reviews on Go Overseas and 77 reviews on Go Abroad.
Read all reviews of PMGY on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of PMGY on Go Abroad.
PMGY offers affordable Sri Lanka program fees. Their program fees are set according to the destination and the length of stay. The fees include a one-time registration fee that costs $249 and weekly program fees begin from just $270.
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RCDP International Volunteers is well-known for being the most affordable international volunteer provider since 1198. They are a highly-trusted and credible organization that runs operations in many developing countries around the world. Their philosophy revolves around trying to bring a positive change in the world, no matter how dire circumstances may seem to be. Their Sri Lanka volunteer programs are affordable and at the same time, provide a high quality experience where volunteers get to bond and familiarize themselves with local Sri Lankans and their exquisite culture.
RCDP Volunteers has many on-going projects based in Sri Lanka that range from helping the needy to caring for elephants to teaching English to underprivileged children. You’ll get some invaluable experience if you get involved in RCDP’s volunteer programs.
Their Orphanage program in Sri Lanka is a life-changing opportunity for you if you love changing the lives of deprived Sri Lankan kids. When you join, you will work around 3 hours a day helping children cook, clean, do their homework and you’ll even conduct art, music and dance activities to fuel their creativity.
Another good opportunity for aspiring volunteers is the teaching English program in Sri Lanka. You will work with children aged between 6-16 years and teach them English. Volunteers can follow the official curriculum or use their own methods in order to make the class more interactive and fun.
Volunteers working at the Sri Lanka monk teaching program for young monks, whose ages range from 6-14 years old, will participate in teaching focused on developing the monks' conversational skills. Volunteer teachers are encouraged to share their own life stories and experiences, and have the students do the same.
The Elephant Sanctuary volunteer opportunity in Sri Lanka is divided into 3 parts, elephant conservation, eco-farming, and teaching. Your major task is to assist mahouts (handlers) to care for and feed the elephants, grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs, or teach English to children in small, underfunded schools.
RCDP Volunteers is respected as one of the top volunteer providers in Sri Lanka and overall Asia. You can read through hundreds of volunteer reviews on their website and every single one of them praises RCDP for providing them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. RCDP Volunteers has 62 reviews on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of RCDP Volunteers on Go Overseas.
RCDP works hard to keep the fees low on the Sri Lanka volunteer programs that they offer. Project costs depend on length of stay and destination. The application fee of $279 USD is divvied up into advertising and administrative costs. Program fees that begin at just $150 a week cover your accommodation, meals, donations and other secondary services.
IFRE Volunteers is a non-profit 501 C 3 organization founded in 2005 in Texas, USA. The organization’s ethos is about supporting underprivileged children, local community development and grassroots organizations worldwide, by sending funds and international volunteers. With 200 projects in 18 countries and more than 17000 previous volunteers, IFRE knows what to do to offer the safest, most meaningful and cheapest volunteer programs in Sri Lanka. Their volunteer travel programs are meaningful and multifaceted - which include amazing travel experiences, cultural immersion, language courses, and volunteer opportunities.
IFRE Sri Lanka programs give volunteers the chance to have a life-changing experience while also enjoying Sri Lanka's tropical forests, golden beaches, and popular tourist destinations.
IFRE’s Sri Lanka orphanage volunteer program is located in the beautiful city of Galle. When you join, you will teach English for 3-4 hours a day in a local orphanage. Besides, you will also help with teaching hygiene, assist children with their homework, and also help monitor their academic progress.
Teaching Buddhist monks is indeed an amazing option for you if want to observe a monk’s daily routine. You will share your English skills with Buddhist monks and nuns aged between 8-21 years old.
The elephant volunteer experience in Sri Lanka is located in Kegalle and Pinnawala. The main objective of this program contributes to caring for elephants, an eco-farm project, an after-school English program, and a mobile veterinary unit.
Many volunteers have expressed a deep gratitude towards IFRE Volunteers for organizing and arranging volunteer trips to Sri Lanka. You can read through excellent reviews from past volunteers on their website. IFRE Volunteers has 115 reviews on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of IFRE Volunteers on Go Overseas.
IFRE offers low cost but highly useful volunteer in Sri Lanka programs. Being a 501 C 3 organization, all their programs fees are tax-deductible. IFRE Volunteer's program fees are divided into two clear strands. The application fee is $299 USD and covers staff/office expenses, advertising, and so on. Weekly program fees start at $150 a week and covers field support, board/room, airport pickup and transfer to project, a culture and language class and much more.
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International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) was established in 2007 in New Zealand with a primary focus on providing an affordable volunteer travel experience which is safe, high quality and responsible. They operate in more than 30 countries worldwide and have successfully placed around thousands of volunteers on various projects, including many volunteers in Sri Lanka. IVHQ help their volunteers develop realistic expectations about what they will achieve on their programs, and they are committed to high standards of risk management and safety. Their amazing programs are designed to deliver sustainable value to communities, their partners, and the environment.
IVHQ has a wide variety of volunteering programs in Sri Lanka, in areas such as; rural community development, childcare, teaching, wild elephant conservation, elderly care, special needs, temple renovation, medical, and turtle conservation.
Their programs usually begin on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, and volunteers can usually choose to stay for between 1 – 12 weeks.
Volunteers offer English classes to locals who can’t afford private language lessons while volunteering in Sri Lanka programs. Volunteers will be placed in pre-schools, local temples, and villages in Kandy, where they will run 2-3 classes per day, with students ranging in age from 3-15 years old.
On the Rural Community Development Program, volunteers assist with the long-term development of local communities through childcare, teaching, and renovation activities, in high-schools, pre-schools, monasteries, and also temples. This is a unique opportunity to experience traditional village life in Hanguranketha’s rural community.
The Temple Construction & Renovation Project helps volunteers in Sri Lanka learn about Sri Lankan construction methods, where things are built without any help from modern machinery. The volunteer work will be mainly focused on cleaning and repainting the temples, and assisting with the restoration of the paintings and sculptures inside them.
Volunteers on the Sri Lanka Elephant Welfare Project will observe and monitor the wild elephants’ behavior, as well as carry out research-related tasks in Wasgamuwa. The main focus of this project is developing effective measures to resolve human-elephant conflict.
IVHQ offer readers a simple and effective way to check reviews on their website according to destination and project making it really easy to find the information you need. Take the time to check out the reviews from thousands of happy volunteers, offering positive feedback about IVHQ's coordinators, food, program flexibility, support, and safety. IVHQ also has a whopping 2211 reviews on Go Overseas and 1657 reviews on Go Abroad.
Read all reviews of IVHQ on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of IVHQ on Go Abroad.
IVHQ offers many affordable and highly rated volunteering programs in Sri Lanka. Program fees are set based on the destination and the length of stay. There is an initial $299 registration cost and nominal weekly fees start from $380 per week. The weekly fees include meals, airport pick-up, accommodation, in-country 24/7 volunteer support, program supervision, orientation, and in-country administration costs.
GoEco is a humanitarian volunteer organization that was established in 2005 in the United States. The company ran its first volunteer project at the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, directly on the Mediterranean Sea, in 2006. The organization has grown significantly since that time, and now has projects in more than 33 countries. Their primary focus is to encourage ecological and volunteer tourism which promotes sustainable development and conserves the environment. GoEco’s volunteer programs in Sri Lanka bring volunteers closer to Sri Lankan community and wildlife.
GoEco offers many types of volunteer projects in Sri Lanka that focus on providing humanitarian assistance and at the same time, conserving the environment and wildlife. All projects are 2-8 weeks long but have different fee scales.
Volunteer in Sri Lanka on GoEco’s childcare & community development project. The minimum stay is 2 weeks and the maximum is 8 weeks. The first week is all about orientation, to let people discover the country and get experience on how to deal with everything there. Volunteers are then assigned to specific projects, which vary depending on the current openings and a volunteer's personal preferences.
The Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation volunteer program in Sri Lanka directly works to protect and preserve endangered sea turtles. You will work closely with locals to rescue and rehabilitate the injured sea turtles. You will usually spend your days on the beach, caring for the sea turtles and their environment, as well as educating tourists about the nature of the program.
Help women to gain equal social responsibility and rights on the Women English Literacy Program. Volunteers in Sri Lanka will be involved in teaching English to local women and also help them find employment opportunities.
GoEco stands proudly as one of the best recognized humanitarian organization when it comes to environmental conservation. Their efforts are commendable, not only among volunteers but in the media as well. Read through some honorable reviews of GoEco on their own website. Also, GoEco has 89 reviews on Go Overseas and 729 reviews on Go Abroad.
Read all reviews of GoEco on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of GoEco on Go Abroad.
GoEco has affordable volunteer programs in Sri Lanka that don’t exploit volunteers for their work. GoEco truly cares more about how much impact they have on the world rather than the business side of things. Their most affordable programs start at $950 and all prices include local in-country support, accommodation, food, pre-departure kit, orientation, airport transfers, as well as insurance.
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Founded in 2007, A Broader View offers meaningful and culturally immersive volunteer travel combined with adventure in several countries across the world. Their main motto is to help improve the lives of globally disadvantaged communities. While doing so, they also help you enlighten your mind and broaden your horizons about the challenges faced by impoverished people around the world. A Broader View has extensive experience in volunteer opportunities in Sri Lanka and you’ll surely find some that fit your interests.
A Broader View offers ample projects for you to choose from and do some volunteering work in Sri Lanka. Their projects will be a nice addition to your portfolio and also give you some eye-opening experiences of the real world.
If you love getting involved in the teaching profession and want to share your skills with those who are in need, you can opt for joining their teaching English program in Sri Lanka. When you join this program, you will not only assist regular teachers in a classroom, but also try finding solutions to various education related problems.
Beach lovers who enjoy conserving marine wildlife and sea turtles can join their Sri Lanka marine and turtle conservation volunteer opportunity. As Sri Lanka is home to several sea turtle nesting beaches, you can soak up the sun relaxing on the sandy beaches while also supporting various works at hatcheries.
A Broader View calls medical students and professionals to contribute to their medical program in Sri Lanka. The program aims to reach basic healthcare access to disadvantaged communities, and you can be a part of this. This will indeed be a hands-on experience for you since you work alongside local professionals.
Another awesome program for animal lovers is their Elephant Welfare program in Sri Lanka. Once you join, you’ll be involved in the daily care and management of elephants while learning a thing or two about animal welfare.
Childcare Volunteer Program in Sri Lanka is yet another meaningful opportunity for you to change the life of impoverished Sri Lankan kids and help build their confidence and skills.
A Broader View is one of the most reviewed and highly rated humanitarian organizations in the world. From exceptional outreach services to 24/7 customer care and response, A Broader View wants its volunteers to feel at home with them. This outstanding organization has 178 reviews on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of A Broader View on Go Overseas.
A Broader View shuns high prices for top notch volunteer work – as long as their volunteers put in great effort, they provide affordable services happily. Their program fees begin at $890 per week and include accommodation, free internet, basic facilities and other expenses.
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Oyster Worldwide is a family owned business, operating out of the UK, which provides volunteer work to individuals worldwide. They have extensive experience in the volunteering field and they specialize in students wishing to do volunteer work during their gap years. They meet the highest standards in the travel and volunteer business with top-notch health and safety, environment and wellbeing policies. The organization is up-to-date about all of their ongoing volunteer projects and you can easily find volunteer work in Sri Lanka that is well-suited for you.
Oyster Worldwide has a wide variety of volunteer programs in Sri Lanka for you to choose from. They’ll help you connect with local staffs and guide you every step of the way on your volunteer journey.
If you’re a solo volunteer looking for some excellent volunteering opportunities in Sri Lanka, check out the Elephant Conservation Program. You’ll be tasked with monitoring elephant habits and trail while also conducting research about elephants with professional scientists and conservationists at your side. Of course, you’ll also get to enjoy some beautiful Sri Lankan scenery on your trip!
If you’re traveling with your family to Sri Lanka in search of volunteer work, the Elephant Conservation Program for families is an excellent option. You’ll be taken to Wasgamuwa National Park where you’ll observe and take note about elephant behaviors. You can also get involved in some teaching programs and also contribute to the local community.
First-timers as well as experienced volunteers have expressed how well Oysters Worldwide runs their operations and execute their flawless service. If you don’t believe us, do check out some volunteer testimonials online. Oysters Worldwide has 83 reviews on Go Overseas and 106 reviews on Go Abroad.
Read all reviews of Oysters Worldwide on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of Oysters Worldwide on Go Abroad.
Oysters Worldwide is a bit pricier than other companies on our list but, their past volunteers have testified that the experience is worth every bit of the money that they paid. Well-serviced volunteer houses with plenty of facilities are provided to all volunteers in Sri Lanka and other countries that wish to work with this prestigious organization. Their starting program fees for volunteering in Sri Lanka begin from $1,295 and include accommodation, financial coverage, in-country support and airport transfer to projects.
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Sri Lanka has a diverse range of volunteer opportunities for those seeking to travel to the country. From sea turtles and elephant conservation to teaching local children and Buddhist monks, volunteers will find themselves engaging in a wide selection of volunteer activities.
Rural villages in Sri Lanka are struggling and there are thousands of poverty-ridden people in the country that struggle to make ends meet. You can help by donating some money or directly getting involved in teaching, medical or empowerment volunteer programs.
You need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if you plan on going to Sri Lanka. You can get this prior to your trip or once you reach the airport. You can also apply for the ETA online.
Sri Lanka is one of the top countries in the world where citizens take part actively in volunteer work. According to a survey done between 2009 and 2018, almost 46% of the Sri Lankan population engage in volunteer work.
Some people reading this article have probably completed volunteering, perhaps even with one of the organizations mentioned. If that is you it would be great to have your feedback on the experience? On the other hand, if you're reading this because you are interested in volunteering, we hope the information has been helpful. We'd love to know which organization covered sounds good to you, and why.
Have you ever joined volunteering programs in Sri Lanka? Whom did you go with? Are they on our list? Were you happy with your experience? If so, and you if you think we missed an important volunteer organization, let us know in the comments!
