Volunteer Sri Lanka

                                                    Volunteer Reviews

Stacey Mckinon – USA:
I had an amazing & most unforgettable experience volunteering at your project during my stay, one that far surpassed my expectations and it’s difficult to pick out a single moment. I have sincerely learned from your example, Janaka, that one person CAN make a difference. You are an inspiration and I will try to live by your example on my journey through life. It has been such an honour to be part of your program & vision in making changes and differences in people’s lives – no matter how big or small that difference may be. It is an amazing project that you have established and I feel extremely lucky to have been part of it – no doubt I will return again. Greatest thanks for providing me with an opportunity & a life time and one that I will cherish for always!

Two months of my volunteering has been one of the most wonderful months in my life and time will never forget. Thank you so much for making this so wonderful, for being so welcoming, generous and kindness and especially for all the yummy food.

I think the work you do is so fantastic and it has been an absolute honour to be part of it and I feel so lucky to have met so many beautiful people along the way. Sri lanka has been a complete surprise for me, it was never on my ‘Must visit’ list until your project came along, but without its colour, flavours and beauty, I feel I would have a huge gap missing in my life – I am so happy to have discovered it and you.

 

Trish Cohen – UK , Jan-April 2011: 
It’s hard to find words to describe my experiences of my 10 weeks volunteering with Janaka’s project. Most of all I want to thank each one of you for welcoming me so warmly into your home and family. The sacrifices you all make to allow the project to function are amazing. It really has been a home from home. Your project draws together amazing people from around the world because it is so inspiring and wonderful. I feel privileged to have been part of the project and Janaka, you have been so kind and generous always happy to hear new ideas, suggestions, and especially to help out with my many questions and plans.

Some highlights of the project for me have been ; taking the special needs children for swimming, teaching the nurses and playing cricket with the nurses, I have now found love for cricket too thanks to Sri Lanka!! Thank you for being so flexible about the times we leave the house and return home. And also being so caring about our wellbeing, it meant a lot to me. I have learnt so much through my experience with the project, much more than I could have imagined about myself, about others and about the world, in particular Sri Lanka, it’s a beautiful country.

The variety of projects is excellent and there really is something for everyone, which was the big attraction for me. I love the flexibility and how every ones talents are valued.

 

Emily Ray – Australia:
Looking back, I realize that finding ‘VSL’ project details via Google was defining moment as the information provided on the web site was so comprehensive and interesting that I just felt I had to come and experience it for myself. From the very first contact with Janaka, I felt at ease + reassured that using my school holiday time to travel to Galle would be the right decision. Although I have lived and travelled all over the world, this was my first ‘volunteering’ experience I do not regret my decision in any way. I wish to thank Janaka for his vision, patience, sense of humour, kindness and help from day one. Without his efforts, none of this would be possible, working with children, older people, teenage girls, … in a class room, swimming pool, their homes…. Truly amazing memories! 

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Anke & Tineke – Holland, September 2011:
We do not cry but we are very sad to leave you and all the kids from the projects. We do not promise but we are not twenty years old but nearly 65!
We believe that the time we stayed here was useful. We hope that the projects are going strong now and in the future. ‘VSL’ has been such a fantastic project to be involved in and an eye opening experience! 
 

I really admire you for making the project a success, with all the good which ones with it. You really are the most amazing man ever (obviously talking about Janaka) so kind and caring, you make all the volunteers here feel loved and looked after. A lot of people have a greater life because of you. I hope to come back again in the not so far future. 
 

Students and teachers of Charles Catholic College volunteered in Sri Lanka in July 2011 and had the honour of being the first school/college group to be hosted by Janaka and his family. An experiment on both our parts, it was with some trepidation that an eleven strong group of 17 and 18 year olds, including two staff, flew half way round the world to begin a two week adventure to which words can’t do justice.  No strangers to overseas volunteering, we had high expectations of what such a trip can do for young people, helping them to grow and develop, whilst doing something to help others in need. 

Our time with Volunteer Sri Lanka exceeded all our expectations and this account can only give you a flavour of what we experienced. When other volunteers say Janaka opened up his home to them, this is true in every sense.  Janaka and his family have created space and accommodation within their own home as well as a house across the road, for volunteers to stay.  With 3 cooked meals a day and a whole host of other facilities, volunteers can feel safe in the knowledge that home comforts are never too far away. Obviously the purpose of an experience such as this is to put yourself into new and challenging situations. The volunteering opportunities ensure that no matter what kind of experience you're after, there is a project to suit your needs.
Janaka worked with us closely over the year prior to departure, planning and organising what our volunteer experience would consist of.  Despite the time difference his response to email queries was immediate (which I later learned was because he barely gets any sleep)!  Eventually we agreed that a group such as ours would be benefit from carrying out much needed practical work, which would ensure the best use of our time and skills.  We set to work on 3 projects over the course of the fortnight which consisted of painting a classroom block in much need of redecoration, painting the main block in an orphanage and redecoration of the living quarters of a girls’ home.

Despite the hard physical work and the emotional impact of working closely with vulnerable young people and children, their overwhelmingly positive response, their smiles and their laughter gave us the much needed boost to ensure that we did our best to complete each project to the best of our ability.  In fact the girls in the home and the children at the school were so thrilled by our efforts to improve their environment, they too decided to join us with the painting! There were many emotional moments and we experienced some difficult things, particularly at the orphanage.  But the knowledge that we were making even a small difference helped to overcome this.

In the short time that we were in Sri Lanka the growth and emotional development that our students experienced, and indeed we as teachers also experienced was beyond what we had thought possible. In our final days there were many tears and emotional conversations about how each and every student felt that their time on the projects had shaped them and would continue to be a source of further growth as they returned to England and looked forward to life beyond college.

All this was only made possible through the immense help and support that Janaka provided to us in the lead up to and throughout the course of our stay.  His thoughtfulness and help went beyond the projects as he organised a 3 day tour complete with guide (the wonderful Annu) for our group around the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, as well as ensuring we had the services of a minibus and driver (the ever patient Douglas!) to ferry us back and forth between the projects.  Janaka arranged a trip to Yala National Park as well as a lovely Tea Plantation and the Maritime Museum in Galle. From the big things to the little things Janaka ensured that we were well looked after - like the wonderful lunch at his beautiful beach hotel in Unawatuna, the use of a local phone and SIM, to ensuring there was plenty of bottled water available in our rooms. In short it was very clear that Janaka had his eye on the ball looking for opportunities to ensure that we left Sri Lanka with a wonderful all round impression of this beautiful country, its history and culture and most of all, its people.

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Sophie Xinchen Xu - China
My name is Xinchen Xu (Sophie) and I’m from China. I spent 3 weeks in Sri Lanka; this period of time is quite unforgettable and has become one of the best experiences that would never fade in my memory.

Janaka provides a range of voluntary opportunities which is perfect for people who want to help the children in need, the old and the poor. He is such a good manager that he would provides us great care and in that way we volunteers can focus on our voluntary work without the worries behind.

My voluntary work includes taking street children to school, playing with the kids in the community center, helping the staff in the orphanage and so on. I really enjoy the time with the lovely and vivacious children. Before I started my work, I was not sure whether I can do my job successfully as a non- native speaker of English and whether the children would like me. However, I found that there is no need to worry about these because the children were incredibly friendly and I felt very sweet when they smile at me and hugged me.  I really like the feeling to be needed by someone.

In addition, I enjoy working with the other volunteers who were always helpful and nice; we had a wonderful time together. For instance, we discussed what we were going to do in the community center, played games with the girls in girls’ home and everything else.
Aside from volunteering, there are many things to do. Swimming in the India Ocean, walking on the beach, watching sunset in Galle Fort……it is the most amazing time I’ve ever had in my life! Besides, I am so lucky that I attended the party celebrating 2 year birthday of volunteer project. We wear traditional clothes of Sri Lanka, listened to music and talked about the volunteering and anything else just like family.

My accommodation, is a lovely apartment near Janaka’s house, is surrounded by beautiful garden with trees and flowers. I could always see the energetic monkey neighbors jumping up and down and hear them chattering. This is an entirely new experience because in my hometown I can only see monkeys in zoo.

My three weeks stay is definitely too short, however, although I cannot pull anyone out of poverty in three weeks, I did bring happiness to the children and the old.  Confucius said: Do not give up good things though they may be minor matters. So don’t be hesitated if you are still worry about what you can offer because even a little thing can make a difference.

 

 

Jenny Winton -  England:
Our volunteer journey began with a holiday to Sri Lanka last year.  We loved the country, met some great people and came home desperate to go back.  When the usual holiday blues didn’t go I knew something had to be done, and going completely against my normal instincts I found myself (a quiet, unadventurous, non-risk taking, 40 year old single mum) taking my son out of school, asking for 8 weeks off work and heading back to Sri Lanka to live with strangers and volunteer for 5 weeks.  Had I gone mad!
Absolutely not!  Without a doubt it has been the best thing I have ever done.  To be able to spend 5 weeks getting up in the morning and going to work with beautiful and amazing children in a beautiful country has been a real privilege.  One of the benefits of VSL has to be the variety of projects you can get involved in.  We worked with the Street children and at the orphanage, at times great fun, at times heartbreaking.  We were there to help, but until you are there you don’t realise how much you too will get back, and how your life will be enriched by spending time there.  We also spent time at the local Yasodara nursery school and community centre, assisting the teacher in the mornings and running activities for older children in the afternoons.  The children are keen and lively and so welcoming.  You become part of their community for the brief time you are there and feel like you never want to go home.  After our 5 weeks volunteering we returned to last years hotel as planned for a ‘holiday’ .  It was just as perfect as last year in every way, but  we would have done anything to go back to Janaka’s and spend more time there instead, and now  home we are already planning ways of going back.
Janaka and his family are perhaps the most friendly and welcoming people you will ever meet.  So generous – nothing is too much trouble.  In Sandali, Seth and Koeli, Sam has had a brother and sisters for the first time in his life and he misses them terribly.  Living with them and all the other volunteers you are part of a large but wonderfully happy and supportive family, in a beautiful house in an amazing country. 
Our five weeks flew by so quickly.  I would say that if you only have 2-3 weeks you will undoubtedly be of use, but don’t be scared of going for longer if you have the time.  I expected a challenge and hoped I would enjoy it.  What I got was an experience that will stay with me for ever and probably the happiest and most rewarding five weeks of my life.  I would be back there without hesitation if the opportunity arose again.   And for those of you wondering if taking a teenager is the right thing to do? – Do it!  We were lucky that the school fully supported my decision, but Sam as you can see has had the best time and it has been such a privilege to be able to share an experience like this together.  If in doubt call me – you can get my details from Janaka.