Overview
Teach English in Sri Lanka

Volunteering on this Sri Lankan project will take you to assist the work of Horizon Lanka, by teaching children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to develop their academic skills. Volunteers live in a rural community in Central Sri Lanka, close to one of the country's largest National Parks and assist the local teacher with activities ranging from teaching English to children to training the village football team.

Volunteers live with a local family in the village to be immersed in the local Sri Lankan culture. For such a small island, Sri Lanka has many riches that continue to lure travelers, such as the waterfalls, beaches, excellent bird watching, fascinating culture, jungle and national parks that you can find here in abundance.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

Our mission is to offer society a more practical, efficient and morally developed individual, who can face the challenges of modern day living and the Information Age.

Mr Ranjith Pushpakumara, Academy Headmaster

What Difference Does This Project Make?

The foundation started off providing children with further education in English and computers. The foundation now supports additional initiatives, such as bringing PC’s to the homes of the local villagers and micro-scholarships which aims to help students who are having difficulties financing their studies. This project now provides over 160 students with access to the internet, PC’s in their homes and an academy to improve their English and ICT education and most importantly it offers both the children and the community fresh hope for the future.

Highlights

Assisting on a pioneering project in rural Sri Lanka; living with a local host family and immersing yourself in their culture and local community; teaching children who are eager to learn English and IT skills; exploring the local region to visit the many National Parks, beaches and ancient cities.

Location

The project is based in the village of Mahavilachchiya, which borders the Vilpaththu National Park. It is about one hour by car north of Anuradhapura, the largest and oldest of Sri Lanka's ancient cities. For such a small island Sri Lanka has many riches that continue to lure travellers; here you find waterfalls, beaches, excellent bird watching, fascinating culture, jungle and national parks.

Field Conditions

Please be prepared for relatively basic living conditions. You will stay with local families in the village itself, where all volunteers have a private room and access to a shared bathroom. The houses all have running water (not hot), electricity, showers, etc. Three meals a day will be provided by your host family (vegetarians can easily be catered for) of food that is nutritious but basic. Volunteers should be prepared to wash your clothes by hand!