OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Sinhala, Tamil
POPULATION: 19.9 million (2006)
GDP per CAPITA (PPP US$): Sri Lanka $3,896 Canada $36,687(2008)
% of Population BELOW POVERTY LINE: 22% (2002)
United Nations Human Development Index (HDI)
The HDI measures the average progress of a country in human development. It provides a ranking of 179 countries based on three dimensions of human developemnt: living a long and healthy life, being educated and having a decent standard of living.
SRI LANKA Country Ranking 104
WHY VOLUNTEER IN SRI LANKA?
Before the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004, about 9 million Sri Lankans or 30% of the population were living on less than $15US per month. In just a few minutes, the Tsunami killed more than 40,000 people and changed the lives of many more by wiping out their livelihoods. Hundreds of thousands of people plunged into poverty. In its wake, the Tsunami left desolate evidence of how vulnerable poor people are in the face of shocks and natural disasters. Volunteer participants experience the incredible satisfaction of working with the locals as together they rebuild the lives of the people still recovering from the Tsunami. Volunteers assist with the construction of homes and sustainable development facilities in the Tangalle region at the southern tip of Sri Lanka.
Developing World Connections volunteers have helped build 29 homes for the families devastated by the tsunami. In the village of Ketakalawatta, volunteers have also built a prayer centre, a shop and a playground. Sustainability is the name of the game. Now, efforts focus on the construction of a trades training facility to help ensure the locals develop the technical skills they need to secure their economic futures.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Volunteer abroad! Even though the tsunami is now becoming a distant memory for many, its legacy remains, and much work needs to be done. Join a group of volunteers and contribute to Developing World Connections long-term commitment to the people of Tangalle. At work, you can expect to do anything construction related, be it bending rebar, moving dirt, putting up a roof or painting. You will see the reconstructed village of Ketakalawatta. No special skills are required and your efforts are valuable, regardless of your physical capacity.
We invite people who cannot give the gift of time to donate to Sri Lankan projects and programs through Developing World Connections. Visit the Donate page or contact us for more ways to be of service.
WHAT CAN I SEE?
Upon completion of the volunteer experience, we recommend you travel inland to the lush, historical and cultural Sinhalese capital of Kandy to visit the Temple of the Tooth, the National Museum and the Kandyan “Devil Dancers”. Tour the tea fields and factories at Nuwara Eliya, stand at the rivers edge while the Mahouts scrub their elephants and visit the 1,500 year old Sigiri murals and rock architecture at the rock fortress of Sigiriya rising 600 feet above the jungle.
WHEN CAN I GO?
| 2010 - Scheduled Volunteer Experiences |
| JANUARY 18 TO FEBRUARY 1 |
| APRIL 16 TO APRIL 30 |
| MAY 8 TO JUNE 5 (STUDENT) |
| OCTOBER 9 TO OCTOBER 23 |
| NOVEMBER 13 TO NOVEMBER 27 |
Note: Schedule is subject to change depending on flight arrangements and suitability for host communities. For one week, the Program Cost is $1,600 and for two weeks it’s $2,000. This includes the cost in-country food, transportation, accommodation, project costs and a substantial direct donation to the project. It’s 100% tax deductible. Follow the first team of 2010 in Sri Lanka. They will continue work on the Trades Training Facility outside the city of Tangalle. They will also be attending the 5th anniversary celebrations put on by the Tangalle- Kamloops Friendship Committee in Tangalle. The celebrations will building a temple wall in the village of Ketakalawatta. Click here to read about the group's adventures and project work.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
