HQ Volunteering
The dates shown in the table are the accommodation check-in and check-out dates.
Projects start on Mondays and finish on Fridays.
| Kandy | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
| 2 weeks | 12 July - 25 July | 26 July - 8 August | 9 August - 22 August |
| 3 weeks | 12 July - 1 August | 26 July - 15 August | 9 August - 29 August |
| 4 weeks | 12 July - 8 August | 26 July - 22 August | 9 August - 5 September |
NB: Turtle Conservation projects in Ambalangoda run on different dates and involve volunteers spending the first week in Kandy (Cultural Immersion Week) before moving to Ambalangoda.
| Ambalangoda | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
| 2 weeks | 5 July - 18 July | 2 August - 15 August | 16 August - 29 August |
| 3 weeks | 5 July - 25 July | 2 August - 22 August | 16 August - 5 September |
| 4 weeks | 5 July - 1 August | 2 August - 29 August | 16 August - 12 September |
Most projects take place in Kandy, a historic city in the heart of Sri Lanka, surrounded by green hills and picturesque landscapes. It is one of the country’s leading tourist and cultural destinations, thanks to its significant cultural and historical heritage, marked by major temples and the Esala Perahera—one of Asia’s largest Buddhist festivals—featuring processions and traditional dances.
The Turtle Conservation project takes place in Ambalangoda.
Ambalangoda is a coastal town in south-west Sri Lanka, renowned for its tradition of wooden masks and ritual dances. It offers quiet beaches, an authentic atmosphere, and easy access to the evocative Madu Ganga lagoon, surrounded by mangroves and rich in wildlife. It is an ideal destination in which to immerse yourself in local culture and crafts while enjoying the area’s natural beauty.
Kandy
Volunteers in Kandy are accommodated in a volunteer house. Bedrooms have bunk beds and you can expect to share a room with four to nine other volunteers.
The volunteer house has a safe member staying in the house at night and there is an 8:00pm curfew on weeknights and 12:00am on weekends at the volunteer accommodation.
Volunteers on the Turtle Conservation project in Ambalangoda are accommodated in a large volunteer house with shared bedrooms by gender. It’s a five-minute walk to the local beach and the volunteering placement.
WiFi is not available in the volunteer accommodation.
Included are 3 meals per day on weekdays and 2 meals per day during the weekends.
Ambalangoda
Volunteers on the Turtle Conservation project in Ambalangoda are accommodated in a large volunteer house.
Volunteers can expect to share rooms with up to seven other volunteers of the same gender and all bedrooms are provided with fans.
The house has electricity and western style bathrooms, however showers are usually cold. It’s a five-minute walk to the local beach and the volunteering placement.
To access the internet during your program, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Sri Lanka, as WiFi is not available in the volunteer accommodation.
Included are 3 meals per day on weekdays and 2 meals per day during the weekends.
For destinations in partnership with HQ Volunteering, 25 scholarships of €300 are available.
Costs vary according to the duration of the volunteering project and are broken down as follows:
| Destination and project | 2 week | 3 week | 4 week |
| Kandy Childcare - Construction and Renovation - Teaching - Women's Education - Special Needs Care |
US $812 | US $1.004 | US $ 1.176 |
| Kandy Medical |
US $902 | US $1.139 | US $1.356 |
| Ambalangoda Turtle Conservation |
US $1.007 | US $1.334 | US $ 1.656 |
A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Provide assistance in understaffed and under-resourced childcare centers around Kandy, helping with lessons, playtime and general tasks wherever your help is needed.
Help to restore local temples, schools and pre-schools to their former beauty by painting and cleaning them.
A project for pre-meds, medical students, or professionals, where you’ll assist local staff in a teaching hospital in Kandy. Duties are observational and include the opportunity to get experience in a range of medical departments.
Suitable for students in their 1st or 2nd year. Volunteers will observe and shadow qualified doctors.
Assist in special needs schools, homes and care centers, helping to care for children and adults with a range of challenges. Help with education and socialization, organizing activities and providing a fun environment during the day.
Help to teach English to those who can’t afford to pay for private language classes. Assist in a range of settings, including in monasteries, pre-schools and village homes.
Assist on government-backed turtle conservation projects aiming to help boost local turtle populations. Help with feeding and cleaning turtles, protecting and maintaining hatcheries and promoting recycling in local communities.
Assist local Sri Lankan women from difficult backgrounds to overcome gender inequality issues and help women develop life skills in a safe place.
