4 - 24 weeks
from € 1.450
Sri Lanka

Voluntary work in medicine in Sri Lanka

  • Urban everyday life
  • High learning value
  • Diverse cuisine

In Sri Lanka, if you have the appropriate prior knowledge, you can get involved in a modern hospital not far from the capital Colombo. Benefit from the exchange with international colleagues and support them in treating patients.

Location icon Wattala
Minimum age icon from 18 years
Icon Duration 4 - 24 weeks / from €1.450
Departure days icon Saturday Sunday
Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Health and Wellbeing
health and well-being

Ensure a healthy life for all people of all ages and promote their well-being.

Project ID : FA-SR250

As a volunteer
Sri Lanka

4 - 24 weeks / from €1.450
to the cost overview

Voluntary work in medicine in Sri Lanka

What's the matter?

In Sri Lanka, if you have the appropriate prior knowledge, you can get involved in a modern hospital not far from the capital Colombo. Benefit from the exchange with international colleagues and support them in treating patients.

Medical care in Sri Lanka is considered a role model in South Asia. Although it does not quite meet the European standard, it is very well developed and of a high standard, especially in Colombo and the surrounding area.

In addition, medical care is free, which is very unusual in Asia and therefore progressive. Here you can provide support in a variety of areas and exchange ideas with the local specialists.

When you volunteer in the medical field in Sri Lanka, you will work in a large, modern hospital. You can volunteer either directly in Colombo or in Wattala, a suburb of the capital. You will be assigned to where your expertise is most needed and where you can work most meaningfully. The hospitals have a large number of departments:

  • Anatomy
  • biochemistry
  • Mikrobiologie
  • molecular medicine
  • internal medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • surgery
  • Gynecology
  • Psychiatry
  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Dermatology

Your tasks as a volunteer

As a volunteer in the medical field, you will be deployed according to your skills and previous knowledge. Your tasks and responsibilities also depend on your previous experience, but also on your interests and the needs of the hospital. Basically, you can help in different areas and stations, such as in the emergency room, internal medicine, obstetrics, in the laboratory, etc.

The goal of your volunteering assignment is to help the skilled workers in Sri Lanka as much as possible.

You usually work at least four hours a day in the hospital. Your shifts will typically be between 8am and 17pm Monday to Friday. Your exact working hours will be discussed with you on site.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer House in Wattala

During your volunteer work or internship, you will be housed in a volunteer house near the town of Wattala. Up to 18 volunteers live in the three-storey volunteer house. You share a room with up to two other volunteers. In the house there is a western bathroom and there are fans against the heat. A washing machine and WiFi are also available for free use. You can cook together in the kitchen and get to know each other better. Our services include breakfast, lunch and dinner.

You can reach the center of Wattala within 15 minutes by tuk tuk or within half an hour by bus. Various supermarkets are within a radius of about 1 km from the house.

Location

Wattala, Sri Lanka

Wattala

A multifaceted landscape awaits you in Sri Lanka, from tropical rainforest to sandy beaches with palm trees to the mountains with their deep gorges. The island nation is located south of India in the Indian Ocean and impresses with fascinating cultural and historical sights as well as with an exciting flora and fauna.

Our project location is in the city of Wattala. This is a suburb of the capital Colombo, which is about 10 km away. This makes Wattala the perfect starting point for trips to the towns and beaches in the area. 

Are you ready for your adventure? Travel to Wattala, discover Sri Lanka and develop your practical skills in this exciting environment!

Transportation in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Your free time in Wattala

Wattala is a small town in western Sri Lanka, just 15 km from the capital, Colombo. The picturesque town is far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and, with its natural location, offers the perfect retreat for everyone who needs a break from hectic everyday life. Wattala is particularly recommended for nature lovers, as the place is considered the perfect starting point for excursions into the beautiful landscape of Sri Lanka. For example, Wilpattu National Park is less than an hour away. Take a safari through the dense vegetation and spot various wildlife such as elephants, leopards, buffalo, etc. frolicking around one of the park's many lakes. 

A detour to the Talangama Wetland on the outskirts of Colombo is also worthwhile. The wetland includes lush green paddy fields, canals, ponds and swamps. This unique ecosystem is home to numerous exotic birds, butterfly and dragonfly species, purple-headed monkeys and various reptiles. Rent a paddle boat and observe the unique wildlife up close.

Due to its proximity to Colombo, the town is also perfect for trips to the capital, where there is so much to discover. Especially those interested in culture will get their money's worth here - there are numerous temples where you have the opportunity to see many aspects of the Buddhist religion with your own eyes. One example is the colorful Asokaramaya Temple, where you can see beautiful ornaments and countless images of Buddha and other mythical figures. You should definitely pay a visit to Pettah. In the noisy and lively bazaar district, stalls lined up after stalls. From fragrant spices to colorful clothing and souvenirs to delicious local food, you can buy everything here. The beautiful Mount Lavinia Beach, which invites you to relax or take a walk on the beach, offers a change from the hectic city.

Furthermore, Negombo, about 30 km north of Wattala, is a popular destination. The west coast town is best known for its fish market - here you can watch miles of fish being spread out to dry in the sun or fishing boats docking in the harbour. In many places in the city you will still notice the influence of the European colonial powers from the past. For example, you can discover the remains of the Dutch Fort and a 120km long canal from Colombo via Negombo to Puttalam. But you shouldn't miss the beaches of Negombo either. Unwind on the spacious, empty sandy beaches or discover the colorful underwater world on a diving trip. Negombo is also known for its kitesurfing scene, so if you've always wanted to try the sport, you've come to the right place.

On-site procedure

Arrival in Sri Lanka

You will be picked up at the airport by a team member and taken to accommodation in Wattala. The program manager will welcome you there. The orientation program takes place there the next day.

Orientation program in Sri Lanka

During the orientation program, which usually takes place on your second day on site, you will get an introduction to the culture and life in Sri Lanka. The most important dos and don'ts will be explained to you, but you will also be informed about the currency, local cuisine and transport options.

Your first day in the project

Your project location is always as close as possible to your accommodation. On your first day at work, you will be accompanied to your assignment site either by our team or by other volunteers. The further course of your project work will then be discussed with you there. In addition to your work, you will definitely have enough free time to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.450, -
    4 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 170, - / week
    up to 20 weeks respectively

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
  • Accommodation in Volunteer House
  • Daily drive to the project
  • Meals: Breakfast and dinner

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

Wattala Team
site

Harsha is our team leader at the Wattala project site in Sri Lanka. He has been involved in social projects for a long time, which also motivated him to coordinate volunteering projects in Sri Lanka. With his broad knowledge he will be happy to assist you during your volunteer work in Sri Lanka, so that you quickly feel at home and nothing stands in the way of an unforgettable experience. Welcome to the green island in the Indian Ocean! "Ayubowan"!

Portrait team in Wattala, Sri Lanka

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

Which visa do I need for Sri Lanka?

You need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. You can apply for a tourist visa online. The issuance is for a stay of 30 days. An extension can also be requested online. Our on-site team will be happy to help you with this.

The following documents are required for the extension: passport photo, passport copy, copy of the return flight ticket.

What language skills do I need for the project in Sri Lanka?

Good knowledge of English is required. A Sinhala course is also recommended.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What are the requirements for the medical project?

Participation in this volunteer project is only possible with prior knowledge. You should either already have completed training in the medical field or be at least in the fifth semester of your medical studies.

Without previous knowledge you can Internship . make

What do I need to bring with me for the medical project?

If you already have work clothes from the hospital (such as tunics), you are welcome to bring them with you.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Sri Lanka? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

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