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Galle, Sri Lanka

Volunteer in a Dog Care Project

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Trip Highlights

A perfect volunteering opportunity for dog-lovers!
Work with one of the most reputed stray-dog care units in Sri Lanka, with an experienced team of over 40 people consisting of established veterinarians, caretakers, operations personnel.
Meet a bunch of enthusiasts traveling from different parts of the world and boost your co-working skills.
Explore Sri Lanka like never before!
Learn about the culture, traditions, and festivities of Sri Lanka.

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Overview Program Requirements Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities Volunteer Work Schedule Living Costs Dates Reviews

Overview

Join the Dog Care Volunteering Project in Sri Lanka with Volunteering Solutions and work with one of the most reputed organizations devoted to the well-being of stray dogs in southern Sri Lanka. There are hundreds of thousands of stray dogs in the country who suffer from hunger and untreated diseases, beaten to death, and extremely mistreated by humans due to lack of sensitivity.

Most of these dogs live on the streets, and many are in an appalling state. Unsprayed females produce several litters of puppies every year, many of which are simply abandoned in front of temples or thrown in the drains, etc. Being a volunteer for this program, you'll get the opportunity of hands-on work with dogs that needs attention and care, while collaborating with a highly efficient team.

The main motivation behind this project is to provide a high level of care to the most neglected and vulnerable street dogs of southern Sri Lanka, so they have the best possible chance to survive and thrive despite the difficult odds they face.

Volunteers in the project work with a well regarded charity which care for approximately 2,000 dogs in their facility which is the largest animal care facility in all of Sri Lanka. The dogs are divided in two adjacent units which house approximately 1,000 dogs each. The dogs are cared for in a beautiful, free-roaming sanctuary which provides a safe-haven for sick, disabled, and vulnerable strays. There is also an on-site veterinary clinic with resident local vets providing life-saving treatment and care.

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program and should be prepared to work outdoors and get their hands dirty. Participants in the program should have a keen interest and love for animals and dogs in particular.Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteers spend most of their project time at the dog care facility doing hands-on work with dogs that need the attention and care. They also assist in various activities around the facilities, including local beaches and streets, to assist with the care work and day-to-day operations as needed.

The type of tasks volunteers can expect to undertake include:

High level of engagement with dogs and dog activities (playing, cuddling, etc.)
Assisting during mealtime feedings
Working with injured and disabled dogs and using a range of rehabilitation techniques such as hydrotherapy, wheelchair therapy and more (involves weekly trips to the local beach for these activities)
Cleaning the general areas to maintain hygiene
Helping with socializing certain dogs
Puppy care
Basic wound cleaning if necessary
Occasionally assisting with building various tools for the betterment of the dogs’ experience (e.g., building small sheds, utility tools, toys, etc.)
Other day-to-day tasks as appropriate

Please note that the above set of tasks represent the range of tasks past volunteers have undertaken over time. The actual set of tasks performed at any given time are dependent on the needs on the ground in those periods and are determined by the management of the dog sanctuary. Being a real-world project, the tasks can also evolve from time to time as per the needs and goals of the project.

Volunteer Work Schedule

Saturday: Arrival + House Tour
Initial Training Sessions on safety & security, as well as cultural orientation, will also be provided. (This is done either on Saturday or Sunday depending on the time of arrival).
Sunday: Neighbourhood familiarization tour.
Monday: The first day of the project – starts with an introduction/orientation session at the project followed by the assignment of tasks for the week (new volunteers are usually paired with an experienced volunteer in their first week).
Tuesday - Friday: Regular volunteer work at the project site. Volunteers will be assigned work in the morning session from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.The project runs mainly in the mornings for 3-4 hours a day but the times can be altered depending on time of year and the needs of the project.

Breakfast - 07:30 am - 9:00 am
Lunch - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Dinner - 06:00 pm -7:30 pm

Living

At Volunteering Solutions we ensure that all our international volunteers are provided the utmost comfort so that they can have a home away from home experience while working with us. We ensure that your stay, meals and other personal requirements are looked after well.

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 hrs. Participants are also dropped off to the airport upon completion of the program during the scheduled airport drop hrs.

Note : Airport Transfers are provided at extra charges of USD $37 each way for a shared transfer during scheduled pickup hours on Saturday.There will be 2 shared airport transfers every Saturday (Morning and afternoon/evening) from airport to Galle and vice versa for return departures. A private transfer will cost USD 100.

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 metres 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 also provided accommodation in nearby guesthouses in case of low capacity in the volunteer houses or non availability of private rooms.

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.

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. We have two lady chefs (a head chef and an assistant) from our 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.

During Free Time

There is plenty to do during the freetime and weekends for the volunteers.The following activities are provided free of charge and included in your program fee:

Evening Rooftop Yoga Session (weekly)
Movie nights on large screen projector at the house (weekly)
Bike tour across paddy fields and local villages (monthly)
BBQ for volunteers and staff in the garden (monthly)
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):

Surfing lessons
Elephant safari
Whale watching (during season)
Rainforest hiking
Beach hopping
Local cooking class
Galle Walking Tour
Local spice market visit
Galle Fort visit

Dates

2024

2025

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

Filling Fast

Costs

1 Week $735

2 Weeks $890

3 Weeks $1045

4 Weeks $1200

5 Weeks $1355

6 Weeks $1510

7 Weeks $1665

8 Weeks $1820

Extra Week $195

Please Note: -An application fee of $249 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
Dedicated volunteer housing with WiFi (shared rooms)
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 Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

Visa Fee
International Airfare
Scheduled Airport Transfers from Colombo Airport (available at extra charges)
Vaccinations
Any personal expenses
Additional Local Excursions and Trips

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

: As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee. You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments. However, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior to the starting of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.
: After you complete your application, your personalized ‘My Account’ will be activated.You will need to upload your CV/Resume along with your photo in the same. Our backend team and the placement site takes around 10-12 days to review your application. After we review your CV and documents, your booking is confirmed and booking confirmation is updated in your ‘My Account’. Some projects need a mandatory criminal background check and the same is mentioned in the project info of your program. Approval of your application depends on your qualification and eligibility criteria for each project.
: Below are the necessary requirements to participate in the Sri Lankan volunteer projects:

The minimum age requirement for the programs in Sri Lanka is 17 years.
Volunteers participating in the Medical Program should be at least 18-year-old.
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. They should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
The participant must be in good health.
: We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.

In our experience of more than 12+ years, we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
: All volunteers need to arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on the starting date of their project. Volunteers are picked from the airport by the local coordinator or representative and are transferred to their accommodations. Accommodation will be provided in the volunteer house located near your placements.

A short orientation is given after arrival about the city and placements. The volunteers are also taken for a short tour of Colombo before they start with their program. However, the tour depends on the arrival time of your flight.
: If you are planning to come for multiple programs in your trip, you will have to pay the application fees just once. Your application fee is valid for a year's time ( from the date of application). You will not have to pay the application fees again if you come within the mentioned time frame.

For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next VolSol program.
: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
: Volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day depending on their program. However, volunteers need to be flexible, open minded and understand that work requirements can alter at times.
: Volunteers traveling to Sri Lanka need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to their arrival or on their arrival in Sri Lanka. You can then obtain a Visa on Arrival in Sri Lanka for 30 days.
Volunteers can apply for ETA online and the approval of the same will be communicated via email.
Volunteers can be provided with the supporting documents if needed. More information will be provided once you enroll for the program.
: The Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo is well connected with all major airports across the globe and flights are easily available. The recommended airlines are:
Srilankan Airlines
Air India
Mihin Lanka
Spicejet
Emirates

There are frequent in-country flights from Colombo to Galle and Kegalle as well.
: Sri Lanka is one of the popular tropical destination in Asia and attracts travelers from all around the world. The locals are friendly and helpful as well, however, it is recommended to consult your in-country coordinators before you step out alone or go to any other locations in Sri Lanka. Also, it is recommended to be with your group whenever you venture out or stay out late in the night. It is strongly recommended to follow the safety rules and regulations provided by the in-country coordinator.
: We recommend you to consult your physician or travel doctor before traveling to Sri Lanka. However, we recommend you take general vaccinations such as:
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
: Yes, for all volunteers it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
: Considering the fact that Sri Lanka is a tropical country, the weather is mostly hot and humid. For people traveling from European and North American countries, it might seem to extremely hot during the days and sultry at night. We would advise you to consume a lot of water and protect yourself from the sun in whichever way possible. Carry an umbrella.
You can consult your doctor once, before traveling to Sri Lanka.
: Your coordinator will meet you at the airport and will take you to your accommodation and introduce you to our team and other volunteers. You will then be provided with the orientation covering areas like culture, customs, safety, locations, placement, greetings, local transportation etc.

On the first day of work, the coordinator will guide you to your project site.
: Volunteers joining the programs in Galle, Sri Lanka, get to stay in the quaint Unawatuna neighborhood, overlooking the famous Unawatuna Beach and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Participants stay in one of the two volunteer homes located in close proximity to each other. The 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.
Other than that, we also provide single/double/family private room upgrades at extra charges. The beach is just about 5 minutes walk from the stay and you can reach the Galle Fort in about 15 minutes.

If you have special dietary requirements, please mention the same in your application form.
: Depending on your project placement, you will get free evenings and weekends to explore in and around the city. You can utilize the evening time to visit local markets and other places around your project location. Make the most of your weekends by exploring Sri Lanka to the fullest.

We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the ‘Add-on Tours’ section in your ‘My Account’. Your in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in Sri Lanka.
: Places like Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Rumassala Mountain, and Galle fort are major attractions in Galle, and Kegalle is a city of ancient architecture and natural beauty. Volunteers are free to plan quick getaways and explore Sri Lanka during the weekends.You can also relax at the beachside and enjoy the taste of the delicious seafood.
: Your program fee covers your accommodation, airport pick-up, orientation, pre-departure booklet, and 24x7 in country staff support. You will need to cover your personal expenses, such as traveling, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing, return airport drop, weekend tours etc. You should carry around $50 - $60 per week for your basic personal expenses, such as water, local transport, phone etc.
: You can change money at any bank or at the airport by showing your passport. There are ATMs located all around the city (Galle, Kandy, Ambalangoda and Kegalle) as well.
: We encourage volunteers to connect with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to connect with other participants and our team.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer section on our website