Sri Lanka

Volunteering in the street dog project in Sri Lanka

Q: How far in advance do I have to register?

Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date , But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible. But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.

Directly at the sea
contact with dogs
Diverse cuisine

In this project you support the local staff in Sri Lanka to feed, care for and get used to stray dogs so that they can be adopted. In this way you help to curb the suffering and uncontrolled reproduction of strays and to fight transmissible pathogens.

Galle

from 18 years

4 - 12 weeks / from €1.290

Wednesday, Sunday

life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-SR165

As a volunteer
Sri Lanka

4 - 12 weeks / from €1.290
to the cost overview

Volunteer in the street dog project in Sri Lanka

What's the matter?

Sri Lanka impresses with its incredible variety of wildlife. From crocodiles to elephants to leopards, the island state is home to a wide variety of animals. There are also an estimated 20 million dogs living in Sri Lanka, most of them on the streets. There they have to starve or catch contagious diseases.

This situation can only be curbed through sustainable medical care for the street dogs. Your assignment site therefore takes care of the strays, castrates, vaccinates and nurses them back to health. Your help as a volunteer is needed for this work! Stand up for Sri Lanka's street dogs and help to enable them to lead a species-appropriate life.

During your volunteer work in Sri Lanka you will support a veterinary clinic that takes care of street dogs. The clinic was founded in 2007. Since then, over 80.000 castrations, 600.000 vaccinations and 460.000 treatments have been carried out. The clinic is set up in line with European standards and is looked after by around 80 qualified employees.

The sick and injured animals are cared for here until they are well again. Homeless dogs are also examined, castrated and vaccinated by the clinic team so that dangerous pathogens can no longer spread unchecked and uncontrolled reproduction can be curbed. In addition, many animals are fed at fixed feeding places every day.

The goals of the veterinary clinic team are to curb the uncontrolled proliferation of street dogs, to fight diseases and to create lasting awareness of animal welfare among the population. Help them achieve these goals!

Your tasks as a volunteer

In the aid project for dogs in Sri Lanka you can participate in many different areas. Your day-to-day duties will include feeding and caring for the animals that are (temporarily) housed at the facility. You will also get an insight into veterinary medicine. For example, you help with the distribution of medication, grooming, eliminating parasites or cleaning and disinfecting wounds. You also ride along on the daily feeding tour and take care of the animals at the feeding stations.

Furthermore, the inhabited enclosures and boxes must be cleaned. The puppies that are nursed back to health on the premises need your attention in particular. You'll help socialize the animals by playing with them, petting them, and brushing them to reduce their fear of humans.

There is also a herd of cows, goats and donkeys at your deployment site. The cows are in the pasture every day, but you are more than welcome to help feed the goats and donkeys.

In general, you will work on the project 5 days a week for about 7 hours a day. Your working days can also fall on the weekends. The veterinary clinic is open all year round.

The volunteers work in different shifts on the project. There is an early shift from 6:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m., a shift for working with the severely disabled dogs in the clinic from 6:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. and a midday shift from 11 a.m. to 18 p.m. when the tuk-tuks are loaded and the feeding tour takes place.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer Apartment in Galle

You live right near the clinic. The house has four bedrooms with private bathrooms. There are also two kitchens in the volunteer apartment, with two volunteers sharing one each.

WiFi is also available. There is also a washing machine and the apartment is cleaned once a week. You even have your own garden where you can enjoy your evenings.

On each project day there is lunch at the deployment site. Otherwise, there is a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering on site.

Location

all fotos

Galle

Galle is a small city located right on the ocean. Approx. 91.000 residents are at home here. A railway line connects the port city with the city of Colombo. A large seaport was established there after colonization, which meant that the port of Galle, which was famous at the time, lost its importance. However, Galle cannot be denied the name of the "cute harbor town".

The seat of the bishopric, a Roman Catholic diocese, is also in Galle, although only a minority of the inhabitants belong to Christianity. Buddhism is the main religion here, followed by Islam and Hinduism.

In Galle, the first thing that catches your eye is the large fortress. Not only they, but also the old town are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Before you meet an almost European order inside the fort, you will find a hustle and bustle and see small huts where locals live. Mosques, churches and Buddhist temples meet in the old town, which has a large, wooden gate. Small streets lead to impressive villas and interesting museums.

City explorations and walks on the beach can be perfectly combined here! Breathe in the sea air while you get something to eat at a market or visit the religious sites!

Your free time in Galle

If you have decided to do a volunteer project in Galle, you can look forward to exploring one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka in your free time. The city, surrounded by fortress walls, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a lot of corners worth seeing.

In the historic district of Galle Fort you can expect small houses from the Dutch colonial era, the Bastion Point Utrecht with an 18 meter high lighthouse that is still in use today, numerous museums such as the National Maritime Museum and temples. If you climb the old fortress wall that surrounds the city, you can look forward to a unique view of the open sea.

You should also definitely stroll through one of the markets. There you will find fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, but also a wide range of handicrafts, such as carvings, textiles and antique furniture. The perfect place to shop for souvenirs.

A day at the beach can do you good to unwind in between. A beautiful beach just 20 kilometers north of Galle is Hikkaduwa Beach. Unawatuna Beach is about six kilometers southeast of the city. It is particularly popular and is good if you would like to dive or snorkel.

If you want to experience some action, take trips to one of the safari parks together with the other volunteers, go surfing or trekking or take a tour to the Blowhole, a natural wonder that sprays a huge jet of seawater into the air between two rocks.

Your stay in Galle will be rounded off by beautiful sunsets, which you can admire from Flag Rock. Located at the southern end of Galle, The Rock is said to be one of the best spots to end the evening.

On-site procedure

Arrival in Sri Lanka

Your adventure in Sri Lanka starts at the airport in Colombo! Once there, you have the option of either exploring the capital first or traveling straight on to our local team.

Optional: RGV pickup service

If you use our optional pickup offer, you will be picked up by one of our team members at the main exit of the airport. From there you go directly to your project location by car (Galle: approx. two to three hours).

Arrive on your own

If you would like to explore Colombo first or would like to travel to Galle independently, you can also travel by public transport. The approx. 3,5-hour train journey already offers you your first highlight: the wagons are well filled and you come into contact with the local population for the first time.

Arrived in Galle

Arrived in Galle at the bus station or train station, it is only a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride from your location. Once there, you get to know other volunteers, can move into your room and relax from the trip.

Orientation program in Sri Lanka

In our dog project in Galle you will first find out everything you need to know about the dog clinic. The team will explain the daily routine on site, special precautions and your responsibilities in the project. There is also enough time to gain initial experience of the country and its people.

Your first day in the project

The working hours will be discussed with you at the beginning. After you have been instructed in the work, you will soon be able to take on tasks independently.

Pricing

base fee

€ 1.290, -

4 weeks of participation
extension week

€ 190, - / week

up to 8 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 day of arrival and departure
Accommodation in Volunteer House

Meals: Lunch on project days

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

Airport transfer on the day of arrival and departure (can be booked for approx. €140 on request)

Daily drive to the project

Food and drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& 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.

" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.

" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.

"Volunteer Teaching Focused" online TEFL/TESOL course

245 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course for volunteers
Intensive online TEFL/TESOL course (120h)

460 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course
Airport transfer round trip

190 €
Personal development introductory course

Free of charge

Two tools to get you started on your personal development

Galle Team
site

Your local contact is Carla. Carla has been working in the dog clinic for years and has a heart of gold - not only for the dogs, but also for the volunteers.

The entire team in the clinic consists of 50 dedicated employees who work almost around the clock. Veterinarians, vet assistants, catchers, drivers, cleaners, cooks and grooms are all employed here to provide the best possible care for all dogs.

Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!

Testimonials

Experience report from the dog relief project in Sri Lanka

I immediately felt like a full part of this project. I gained a very good insight into veterinary medicine and was also able to provide medical assistance, for example with daily medication administration and fur and ear care.

01.08.2020

Melanie

More testimonials
Browse our magazine

RGV FAQ
to the project

How far in advance do I have to register?

Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date, But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible.

But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.

Can I travel with a friend or in a group?

Yes! On request we enable a double room if you for two with a friend or a friend, or an apartment or other suitable accommodation for groups.

We are very happy to enable our participants to go on a project and share accommodation with friends. Shared accommodation is usually possible both in the volunteer house and with the host family, although the room in the volunteer house may also be shared with other participants. In some locations there is also the option of sharing an apartment.

When registering, please always mention the person(s) traveling with you!

Can I combine projects?

Yes! You can combine projects at one location, at different locations, but also in different countries. It is also possible to combine a project with a trip. You can specify your desired combination directly when registering.

Combination options at a glance:

Combine programs in one country
Combine programs across countries
Combine a program with a language course
Combine a program with ours Adventure & Trips

There are a few things Project combinations to note: The minimum length of stay per project must be observed and you may incur additional costs for country combinations, for example for an intermediate flight.

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 animal welfare project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.

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

Volunteer work in the dog support project in Sri Lanka

Volunteers in the Dog Relief Project in Sri Lanka

The dogs appreciate the love and support from volunteers.

Volunteers and employees of the veterinary clinic

Employee Carla is the contact person for the volunteers

Street dogs are cared for in the veterinary clinic

Feeding the dogs is one of the volunteers' tasks

Going for a walk is also one of the daily tasks

More than 80.000 castrations have already been carried out in the veterinary clinic

The dogs are always happy about volunteers playing with them

More projects you too might be interested

Are you not sure yet? Think about whether a spontaneous assignment as a volunteer abroad is the right choice for you or whether you would like to Voluntary social year (FSJ) abroad want to decide.

With RGV you achieve flexible volunteer work in different countries worldwide. Maybe there is one too Internship abroad the ideal choice for you to gain valuable experience abroad.