Teach Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka

Project At A Glance

Location: Galle, Sri Lanka Arrival Point: Colombo Eng Point: Colombo Duration: 2-12 weeks Hours: 30-40 hours per week Food: Local meal thrice a day Room: Host family or Hostel Date: 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month

Project Summary

Strong command in English language is fundamental to make it in today’s globalized world. Individuals without English language skills tend to miss out on various life opportunities. Even to compete for jobs in international level, English language is one of the basic requirements. But, owing to the dreadful poverty and illiteracy among parents, Sri Lankan children don’t get to go to schools for quality education. IFRE inspires to address this issue and help those deprived children get quality education with proper English language trainings. Our projects are based in rural Sri Lanka where understaffed schools are struggling to provide quality education. Volunteers will take English language classes in those schools. You’ll also hold debates and discussions while teaching according to the official curriculum.

Skills/Qualifications Needed

There are no specific qualifications needed to join the teaching English volunteer program in Sri Lanka. However, we expect determined volunteers who are willing to help the needy and are ready to work hard. Volunteers should also be warm and caring towards children. Good Skills in teaching English is a must!

Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers in this project teach young children in rural schools. The children may range from 8-21 years. You’ll be taking English classes and train students on both spoken as well as written English. You’ll also be assisting various extra-curricular activities like sports, arts, music, etc. Volunteers might as well help the school administration. Many past volunteers have found this particular volunteer project memorable and engaging.

Room/Food/Supervision

In Sri Lanka, all volunteers stay with well-screened host families (in most situations, with our in-country coordinator or local staffs). Our host families are socially respectable and are well versed in the art of hosting international volunteers. Host families offer a safe home, private rooms (occasionally shared with other same-gender volunteers) and shared bathroom facilities with running water and a “local” style toilet. You receive three prepared meals per day. If you will be out of the house during lunch hour, you can request a lunch "to go" that you can take with you or eat out on your own. Host families provide typical meals that are traditional to Sri Lanka. Rooms are shared, as are bathroom and kitchen facilities. For a small additional fee, volunteers can opt to stay in a modest seaside motel. Please note this preference in the initial volunteer application.

Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers with either face-to-face visits or via email/telephone and volunteers will have 24/7 access to our in-country staff. With longer placements, we visit our volunteers every two weeks (when possible) and volunteers are always welcome at the local office. If project placement is local, we request that volunteers stop by the office once a week to keep us posted on how they are doing with their home stay and project. If project placement is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication by either email and/or phone.