Sri Lanka – Medical and Nursing Program

This program is near Galle, a beautiful area in southern Sri Lanka that is surrounded by lush greenery and is in proximity to world-class beaches! Many of the nearby beaches are prime surfing spots, and others are more relaxing. There is even a turtle lagoon nearby. Galle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient religious buildings, museums and more. Galle is also quite trendy, and is home to cafes, specialty shops and boutique hotels.

This program is ideal for both non-medical students and medical students who are looking to specialize! Most of the volunteer work is observational and varies depending on placement.

Pre-Medical and Students (students who have not enrolled in medical or nursing school yet)
We will place volunteers who are premedical at a public hospital where they will observe the operations of different units. There are learning sessions given to volunteers by medical staff on a variety of relevant topics.

Medical and Nursing Students (Medical and nursing students enrolled in a recognized university)
Medical and nursing students will be placed in the teaching hospital, which is the third-largest hospital in Sri Lanka. Volunteer work is mainly observational, and may include the observation of these units: medical, surgical, psychiatric, pediatric, emergency and more. More advanced medical students may volunteer in specialized units such as vascular surgery, pediatric cardiology, oncology and neurosurgery. Please note that for public sector placements volunteers should apply at least three-four months in advance.

Both premedical and medical / nursing students may observe in a physiotherapy and rehabilitation center as well, depending on availability.

Schedule: Volunteers will wake early, around 6:00 AM, enjoy breakfast and arrive at their placement by 7:00 AM. Volunteers work between three to five hours per day, Monday-Friday, with lunch on-site around noon. Evenings are free except on days with evening surgery observations. During the weekends and local holidays, the program does not run and volunteers can enjoy sight seeing activities.

Internet: Each volunteer may use up to 10 GB of Wi-Fi in the volunteer house during their stay.

 Laundry: Laundry services are available for an additional fee. Additional data can be purchased at affordable rates.

 Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in shared rooms in a volunteer house that is close to the beach. There are over 13 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. Rooms are shared with up to six people and are single-gender. There is a private pool for the volunteers. The house has eco-friendly features including solar heating panels. There may be up to 52 volunteers in the house at a time.

 Food: Three meals per day will be prepared by the in-house chefs, using local, fresh ingredients. Tropical fruit is available during every meal and there is a salad bar set up during most lunches and dinners. Vegan, nut-free, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Tea, coffee and filtered water are available 24/7.

• Online ETA entry visa. We will send you the full instructions following the application.
• Minimum age of 18
• Police clearance form
• Proficiency in English
• CV
• Police clearance
• Pre-med, medical or nursing student

Volunteers can enjoy weekly evening yoga session on the rooftop, night fishing trips, weekly movie nights, monthly bike tours and barbecues! Additional travel adventures are available for an additional fee, and we list a few recommendations below:

Adventure Tour (Highly Recommended):
Extend your stay in Sri Lanka by participating in a seven-day Adventure Tour! This adventure tour includes a game drive, visits to waterfalls, a long train ride, an overnight stay at a riverside eco lodge, visit to temples, a village walk, visit to a spice grove, a visit to Lion Rock, time in the local market and a trip to Negombo Beach!

Additional Recommendations:

• Elephant safari
• Rainforest hike
• Surfing lessons on nearby beaches
• Whale watching (during the season)
• Cooking class
• Fort Galle visit