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, November 13 to Sunday, November 14 – Team travels to Sri Lanka; arrival at Colombo airport; transport to Tangalle; check in to hotel and acclimatize
- Monday, November 15 to Friday, November 19– PROJECT WORK in Tangalle
- Saturday, November 20 to Sunday, November 21 – Free days for some R and R
- Monday, November 22 to Friday, November 26 – PROJECT WORK in Tangalle
- Saturday, November 27 – Return to Colombo, travel home or continue travel
FAQs:
DWC Team Leader:
Jen Baillie wants to live in a world where people have face-to-face conversations, make mistakes and grow from them, play outside, celebrate each others gifts, live inspired, find something to be grateful about everyday and every “thank you” note is scribbled by hand.
As a child and youth care practitioner, local and global volunteer, she’s been actively involved in her community since the age of 12. She has travelled to more than 20 countries and has led Developing World Connections teams to Rwanda, Peru, Guatemala and India.
When she’s not on one of her adventures around the world, you can find Jen lost in a stack of travel books and maps planning her next trip, volunteering in the community, devising her next random acts of kindness mission, sifting through inspirational quotes and unapologetically soliciting people to join her in getting involved, following their passions or hers. “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” – Helen Keller
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.