KICKSTART SRI LANKA

For your first 2 weeks you volunteer on the south coast near Galle, Monday to Friday. Pick one of 4 projects – or mix it up and do a different project each week (e.g. 1 week with the turtles, 1 week at the dog sanctuary). A Buddhist temple visit and a bike ride through the rice fields are also included during your volunteer weeks.

Sea Turtles & Conservation

The beaches around Galle are important nesting grounds for sea turtles, but the eggs face poachers, predators and pollution. The local hatchery gets no government funding, so volunteers make a real difference here.

• Turtle work (at least half your time) – protecting nests, moving eggs safely to the hatchery, feeding hatchlings, cleaning tanks and helping release them to the sea. Sometimes you’ll help care for injured turtles too.
• Night patrols – in nesting season (roughly December to April) you may join beach patrols to watch turtles nest or eggs hatch.
• Conservation projects – beach and lagoon clean-ups (sometimes by canoe), mangrove and forest planting, coral restoration (seasonal), recycling and eco-bricks, and nature talks at local schools.

Good to know: around 3–4 hours a day, mostly early morning or late afternoon · ages 16+

Dog Care Sanctuary

Work at a large dog rescue clinic near Galle that cares for up to 2,000 rescued street dogs, with a team of 40+ vets, carers and surgical assistants. It’s an intense project at first, but perfect for true animal lovers.

• Disabled & paralysed dogs – your main role. Give extra love and attention, take dogs for walks in their wheelchairs and help with water therapy at the beach to build their strength.
• Other areas of the clinic – feeding puppies and caring for mums, socialising rescued dogs, playing with teen pups, caring for older dogs and dogs with skin conditions.
• Out in the community – occasionally help with vaccination drives or feeding programs for local strays.

Good to know: around 4 hours a day, usually mornings · ages 16+ · anti-rabies vaccine strongly recommended

Kindergarten Teaching

Help out at kindergartens in underprivileged communities, where staff are often stretched or have limited training. You’ll assist local teachers and give kids aged 3–6 the attention they need to learn and grow.

• In the classroom – basic English and simple maths, songs, games, arts and crafts, and learning through play.
• Class sizes – usually 15 to 30 kids, who absolutely love having international volunteers.

Good to know: around 3–4 hours a day, mostly mornings, plus lesson prep · ages 18–45 · not available in December

Sports Coaching

Give kids from rural villages outside Galle free access to structured sport, encouraging a healthy lifestyle and teamwork. No sports degree needed – just energy and a love of being active.

• Your week – 2 days of football coaching, 2 days supervising swimming lessons and 1 day that changes week to week (like games at local schools or community sports days).
• Who you’ll coach – kids aged around 9–14, working alongside local coaches and helping prepare activities.

Good to know: around 3 hours a day, in the afternoons · ages 16–45 · runs 5 Sep–5 Dec 2026, 9 Jan–3 Apr 2027 and 3 Jul–4 Dec 2027 only