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Children’s Teaching Volunteer Program
Being a volunteer for the Teaching Program in Sri Lanka with Volunteering Solutions, you'll get an opportunity to help young children improve and learn English and provide them with much-needed confidence that comes with a better understanding of the outside world.
Save 15% on your Sri Lanka program fee For trips starting on or before 31 December 2026. Booking fee not included.
Use code SRILANKA15This program places you in rural schools around Galle in southern Sri Lanka, and occasionally at neighboring Buddhist temples and pirivenas, working alongside local teachers and Education Coordinators to help children roughly aged 6 to 12 practice spoken and written English. Day to day you run activity-based English lessons, work with small groups on reading, writing, vocabulary and pronunciation, and spend part of the week on lesson planning. It suits volunteers with no teaching experience or qualifications who are comfortable spending long days with children and are open to a rural, unpolished classroom setting.
Placements run 2–20 weeks, starting every week (saturdays), with the next intake on 26 Sep 2026. You stay at a volunteer house in the Unawatuna neighborhood, sharing a room and eating breakfast, lunch and dinner cooked on site every day, walking distance from Unawatuna Beach. Programs start from $1,084 (deposit included). One reason to pick this project over others: it combines classroom teaching with occasional sessions for young Buddhist monks at nearby temples, a rare addition to a standard English-teaching placement.
- Teach underpriviliged children aged 6-12 years in Southern Sri Lanka
- Get first-hand working experience in an international set-up
- Stay in a tropical villa style volunteer house close to the beach in Unawatuna
- Meet some like-minded travelers from other parts of the world and make bonds of friendships
- Learn about the culture, traditions, and festivities of Sri Lanka
- Experience the thrill of wildlife adventure at any of the several national reserves, including, Sinharaja forest reserve, Bundala National park, Minneriya National park, and more
- Explore world-class beaches like Ahangama, Mirissa, and Tangalle and soak in the sun over the weekends
- Get the taste of real Sinhalese cuisine
Your role on this program
- Teach English (reading, speaking, listening, writing) to children aged roughly 6-12, working alongside local teachers and Education Coordinators
- Run activity-based learning and oral English activities, particularly for beginners
- Help children identify and form English alphabet letters legibly
- Support children in writing simple sentences and building vocabulary for their daily environment
- Lead grammar, comprehension, pronunciation, and spontaneous speaking practice
- Work with small groups of children at a time, giving individual attention where needed
- Spend part of the week (about 4-5 hours) on lesson planning and preparing materials
- Occasionally teach young Buddhist monks at neighboring temples or pirivenas, on the days they are available
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You assist local teachers and Education Coordinators rather than replace qualified school staff, and duties may vary with the placement's needs. A Project Coordinator accompanies volunteers to the project site and guides lesson planning, so you are not left to design curriculum or manage a classroom unsupervised.
A typical day and week
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Saturday: Arrival +House Tour + Initial Training session (as long as the participants come by afternoon or else its done on Sunday)
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Sunday: Neighborhood familiarization tour
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Mon to Fri: Volunteer work
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Breakfast – 06:30 am – 8:30am
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Monday to Friday 8-10.30am
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Lunch – between 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
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Lesson Planning 1-3 pm (There is an option to teach children at the teaching center from 3-5pm)
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Dinner – 06:30 pm -7:45 pm
Note: The schedule may vary depending on the particular project and local circumstances.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- No prior teaching qualification required, but an intermediate level of English is needed to participate effectively
- A clean criminal background check report, since this placement involves working with children
- Physical fitness and general good health at the time of joining
- An open, flexible attitude toward working in a rural school setting different from home
- Patience, a sense of humor, and comfort spending extended periods of time with children
- Valid travel/medical insurance, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The teaching takes place in rural government schools around Galle, and occasionally at Buddhist temples or pirivenas, working with the schools' own teachers and Education Coordinators who set the syllabus and manage the classrooms. A Project Coordinator from the local bilingual operations team accompanies volunteers to the project site and supports lesson planning, so volunteers work inside an existing structure rather than running classes independently.
Because the placement involves children, a clean criminal background check is required before the start date, and volunteers are expected to work within the boundaries set by local staff and teachers at all times. Your contribution is best understood as extra English practice, small-group attention, and activity-based support that supplements what the regular teachers already provide, not a substitute for qualified teaching staff or a guarantee of specific learning results.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in Sri LankaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,084 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,244 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,404 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,564 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,724 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,884 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,044 | |
| Each additional week | +$250 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Dedicated volunteer housing with WiFi (shared rooms)
- Shared airport transfer on arrival at designated time windows in the morning or afternoon
- Orientation and training on arrival
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner all days
- Guaranteed project placement
- Local transportation to projects in private AC van or tuk tuk
- Experienced bilingual operations team on the ground
- Dedicated staff support from 6 am to 8 pm every day
- 24/7 local emergency support
- Weekly yoga class on rooftop terrace
- Weekly movie nights on large screen projector
- Monthly bike tour around paddy fields and local villages
- Monthly special BBQ dinner
- Travel & Medical Insurance(Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- Visa Fee
- International Airfare
- Return Airport Transfers from Galle to Colombo Airport (available at extra charges)
- Vaccinations
- Any personal expenses
- Additional Local Excursions and Trips
- Private Room Upgrade charges
- Charges for additional nights at accommodation
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfers
Volunteers are picked up from the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport Airport by a representative of the local coordinating team on the program start date during scheduled airport pickup hours. Participants are also dropped off to the airport upon completion of the program during the scheduled airport drop hours (At extra charges).Charges for the return airport drop can be paid by the participants when they are in Sri Lanka.
Note : Arrival transfer (shared) within pre-defined time windows on Saturdays included in the program price (non-transferable).There will be 2 shared airport transfers every Saturday (Morning and afternoon/evening) from airport to Galle. A private transfer is also available for USD 100 and can be arranged on Saturday or for participants arriving on any date other than the start date.
Orientation
A detailed program Orientation will be provided before you start your volunteering program.All volunteers on arrival get a welcome presentation including health and safety training, culture presentation, project specific presentation and area orientation tour. Our staff will also assist you with the lessons and planning the curriculum, as and when required. You will also have access to our in-house teaching library consisting of manuals, books, and various teaching materials to help with lesson planning and providing general guidance.
Accommodation
Volunteers joining the programs in Galle, Sri Lanka, will get to stay in the quaint Unawatuna neighborhood, overlooking the famous Unawatuna Beach and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Our participants stay in two volunteer houses which are located near to each other.
The Beachside house is located right across the road from Unawatuna Beach and about 100 meters from the other volunteer house. It has 12 spacious bedrooms of varying sizes with attached en suite bathrooms each with air-conditioning facilities (most rooms also have attached outdoor balconies). There is also a separate dining area, small garden, lounge, terrace and a large office with permanent staff onsite. The property is safeguarded by multiple CCTV cameras and an onsite night security team.
The other larger volunteer house has 13 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.Most of these rooms have ocean views! There’s a private 40-foot outdoor swimming pool surrounded by tropical greenery. The house also has 3 kitchens as well as 3 living/common rooms (one each per floor), a prominent dining area, and a private outdoor garden with seating/lounging areas.
The office is located on the ground floor of the house near the main entrance – this is where the local team operate from every day. The house is located in a peaceful, nature-filled neighborhood adjacent to a small Buddhist temple (nestled away from the main tourist areas). To ensure the safety and security of the participants, there are CCTV cameras installed, and an in-house security guard for night-time surveillance. Hot water and high-speed Wi-Fi are there and you can opt for air-conditioning and laundry facilities at an additional charge.
Private (single and double) room upgrades are available at additional charges. During busy months participants are also provided accommodation in nearby guesthouses in case of low capacity in the volunteer houses or non availability of private rooms. Private rooms are provided in guesthouses within walking distance to the volunteer house. Volunteers stay in the private guesthouses and walk over to the volunteer house and have meals with the other volunteers.
All participants aged 40 years and older will be provided with a private room only and will not be provided accommodation in shared dorm rooms . Additional charges for private room upgrade shall be applicable.
Meals
We provide 3 freshly cooked meals per day all week long (Monday to Sunday): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Fresh ingredients are purchased from local markets to prepare these meals. The volunteer homes have cooks from the local community who come daily to cook fresh, homely and tasty local meals for the volunteers. We can cater to a range of special diets including vegan, gluten free, nut free and lactose-intolerant diets. If there are any other allergy or food requirements mentioned to us beforehand, we always do our best to accommodate those needs. Those volunteers staying in private guesthouse rooms near the volunteer house, usually have breakfast at the guest house and walk down to the volunteer house for their lunch and dinner.
Local Transportation
Local transportation to and from the project is included every day.
During Free Time
There is plenty to do during the free time and weekends for the volunteers.The following activities are provided free of charge and included in your program fee:
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Evening Rooftop Yoga Session (weekly)
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Movie nights on large screen projector at the house (weekly)
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Bike tour across paddy fields and local villages (monthly)
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BBQ for volunteers and staff in the garden (monthly)
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Night Fishing for anyone into fishing (on demand)
The following are popular weekend (or even daily) activities which our volunteers love to do around the area (at an additional charge):
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Surfing lessons
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Elephant safari
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Whale watching(during season)
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Rainforest hiking
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Beach hopping
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Local cooking class
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Galle Walking Tour
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Local spice market visit
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Galle Fort visit
We also encourage you to join our specially curated 7D/6N Sri Lanka Culture & Adventure Tour which packs the best of the island’s beauty and diversity within a week.The tour can be added to your program itinerary before or after the volunteer program.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Sri Lanka
Airport pickup
You are collected from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) by the local team on a Saturday, within one of the scheduled shared transfer windows (morning or afternoon/evening); a private transfer is available for USD 100 if you arrive outside these windows or on another day.
First night
On arrival you get a house tour and an initial training session; if you arrive later in the day, this training is done the following Sunday instead.
Orientation
Sunday is set aside for a neighborhood familiarization tour along with a welcome presentation covering health and safety, local culture, and project-specific information.
First project day
Teaching work begins on Monday, with the Project Coordinator accompanying you to the school or temple and guiding you through lesson planning and delivery.
Daily support
The bilingual operations team is based in an office inside the volunteer house, local transport to projects runs in a private AC van or tuk-tuk, and a 24-hour emergency contact is available throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually do as a volunteer?
You co-teach and assist with English lessons for children roughly aged 6-12 in rural schools around Galle, working in small groups, running activity-based exercises, and helping with lesson planning alongside local teachers and Education Coordinators.
Do I need teaching experience or qualifications?
No teaching qualification is required, but you should have at least an intermediate level of English and a patient, flexible attitude toward working with children in a rural setting.
What does a typical day look like?
Weekdays generally involve teaching in the morning, lunch, then a lesson-planning block in the early afternoon, with an optional additional teaching session later in the afternoon; the exact schedule may vary by placement.
How long can I volunteer for and when do programs start?
Placements run for 2–20 weeks, with new starts every week (saturdays); the next start date is 26 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Programs start from $1,084, deposit included, and cover shared accommodation, all meals, local transport to projects, arrival orientation, a shared airport transfer within scheduled windows, and staff support; the $249 deposit counts toward your total and is refundable if no placement can be offered.
Where will I live and what will I eat?
You stay in a shared room in a volunteer house in the Unawatuna neighborhood, near the beach, and receive breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, prepared locally with vegetarian options always available.
How do I get from the airport to the project?
A shared transfer from Colombo airport to Galle is included within set Saturday time windows; if you arrive at another time, a private transfer can be arranged for USD 100.
What safety and support systems are in place?
A permanent bilingual operations team is based in an office inside the volunteer house, local transport to projects runs in a private van or tuk-tuk, and a 24-hour emergency contact is available throughout the program.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Specific visa and vaccination guidance is sent to you before departure; travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions.
Is a background check required for this program?
Yes, since the placement involves working with children, you need to provide a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date.
Who is this program best suited for?
It suits volunteers age 18 and above who enjoy spending time with children, have at least intermediate English, and are comfortable adapting to a rural school environment with basic resources.
Will I also teach young Buddhist monks?
Some volunteers spend a limited number of days a week teaching young monks at temples or pirivenas near Galle, depending on their availability, alongside regular classes with local schoolchildren.
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