DWC has sent numerous teams to volunteer in Tangalle, Sri Lanka over the years and continues to work on projects to make life better for residents there. In late 2004, after a massive tsunami pummeled 14 countries and killed more than 230,000 people, a team was on the ground in Tangalle, Sri Lanka, to start rebuilding homes, lives and hope. Keep up the tradition and volunteer in Sri Lanka to help those that need it.
About The Trip:
Sri Lanka was the first country that DWC ever sent teams to and that is why it has always been a location that’s special to the organization.
Volunteers in Sri Lanka have built homes for people who have with next to nothing and made improvements to schools (and played with the kids while they were at it) and other community facilities. They have made an impact in the lives of people struggling just to put food on the table and children who need an education to open doors for their futures.
Read day-to-day experiences from our volunteers on the Sri Lanka Blog »
It’s Not All Work:
As a volunteer in Sri Lanka, you’ll find the Tangalle region is usually humid and hot, with daytime highs reaching about 32C. Being a tropical island, Sri Lanka never really gets cool. Tangalle is perched on the Indian Ocean, where you can go for a swim to get a break from the heat.
Sri Lanka offers a wealth of temples and beaches, but there’s also the Kudawella blow hole where sea water froths up through a hole in a rock cliff, Yala National Park, turtle watching, the Weverukannala Buddha statue, the historic city of Galle and the elephant sanctuary.
Learn more about Sri Lanka »
The Project:
Team members will be mixing concrete, hauling bricks or doing whatever other manual labour is required for construction projects. No specialized skills are required, so anyone is welcome to sign up and help out.
When / Itinerary:
- Saturday, October 16 to Sunday, October 17 – Team travels to Sri Lanka; arrival at Colombo airport; transport to Tangalle; check in to hotel and acclimatize
- Monday, October 18 to Friday, October 22 – PROJECT WORK in Tangalle
- Saturday, October 23 to Sunday, October 24 – Free days for some R and R
- Monday, October 25 to Friday, October 29 – PROJECT WORK in Tangalle
- Saturday, October 30 – Return to Colombo, travel home or continue travel
FAQs:
DWC Team Leader:
Jen Erickson
Jennifer Erickson has travel in her blood. She is passionate about exploring new places and cultures.
Her first trip with DWC was to India in October 2015 where she worked on a project to build a women’s shelter. This project hooked her on the kind of engaged travel that DWC trips provide. In 2016/17, she took a one year leave of absence from work to travel and participated in two DWC projects – building a home in the Philippines and a return to India as a team leader.
Jennifer is a public servant in her work life, working for the Ministry of Health in Victoria.
In addition to India, Jen lived in France and has travelled to places as varied as Peru, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Asia and East Africa. She is passionate about community development and empowering people to contribute to improving their lives.
To learn more about other teams’ adventures in Sri Lanka, read our Volunteer Blog.
Are You Ready To Go?
Ready to apply? Fill out our online application. You can secure your place on this trip with a $500, non-refundable deposit that will go toward your total trip cost. After you’ve submitted your forms and deposit, our office will contact you and send you a welcome package.
We’re glad to have you join us.
Still have some questions? We’re here to help, please feel free to contact us now, or fill out the form.