The VoluntEars Sri Lanka trip in July 2023 was our first trip back to this beautiful tropical island since before covid. It was great to be back!

We have missed spending time with our Sri Lankan friends and colleagues, eating their tasty food, and exploring their wonderful country.

We had a group of 16 volunteers, with 9 deaf and 7 hearing, plus our interpreter for this trip Megan Frickleton and the VoluntEars Director Richard Clowes, leading the trip.

Our group on the beach after completing a clean-up

Our group stayed with the same lovely Sri Lankan family as always, in Panadura; Nadeesha, Manoj and their two children with assistance from their parents Lal, Chandra and Kosala. Four of our group also stayed with a neighbour so we all had enough space. Bedrooms were shared mainly for 2 or 3 people and all our food was provided by the family and eaten around a huge dining table. Some volunteers ate the Sri Lankan way, using their right hand – respect to them…it’s not easy!

Volunteering at a Deaf school

Most mornings we would travel to the Deaf school in our private coach (with a/c!!) and spend the morning doing a renovation project – painting the junior school building. The school asked us to paint the entrance hall, stairs and corridors as they were rather dark and scruffy because they hadn’t been painted for a long time. We also painted a classroom on the ground floor. On the very last day, four of our volunteers made time to paint a simple mural in the entrance. The transformation was complete!

After finishing, the students surprised us all by giving out handmade “thank you” cards to everyone in our group, each with a personal message inside. So many different designs, colours and lovely messages…what a precious souvenir from the school. We were all really touched and there were tears as the cards were handed out and one of the teachers made a thank you speech.

Let’s talk about turtles!

One of the highlights of a VoluntEars Sri Lanka trip is the middle weekend when we spend a day helping sea turtles on a beach near Kosgoda. It didn’t disappoint! In the evening we were so lucky to release some newly hatched baby turtles into the sea after the sun had set (and after waiting for a fish eagle to fly away!!). Only 2% of baby turtles survive to become adults so every baby turtle counts.

Over the weekend there was time to swim in a couple of nice pools and chill out on the beach, treat ourselves to ice-creams and some people even went for a meal at Burger King and Pizza Hut.

Back at school we also spent time doing activities with groups of students. Justin Evans showed his skills with football and cricket, while Max harnessed technology to show students how to play pool on his I-pad. Emma, Rea and Arif increased the excitement levels with games of Uno! Meanwhile Tracy and Iris calmed things down by doing art activities and Sophie, Sunny, Poppy and Charlotte made colourful bracelets and loom bands! Respect to Joe, Kerry and Megan who somehow all managed to play netball despite it being high 30’s. Well done everyone!

New TV for the girls dormitory

A big thanks to the volunteers who joined together to donate a new TV to the girls dormitory. Their old TV broke many months ago and they were so pleased to get a new one so they could watch their favourite shows again after school.

Where else did we visit?

Our group also visited a tea plantation, an organic garden, Hindhu and Buddhist temples and the Red Mosque in Colombo, an outdoor art gallery and huge park, as well as an elephant sanctuary, a giant fish market, and the old Dutch canals in Negombo. We did a lot in 2 weeks 🙂

The funniest moment? It has to be a very lively monkey that made everyone jump on the way to Kandy!!

Thanks for joining everyone, the school was sooo happy with the results of our work and we loved having you with VoluntEars. Everyone adds something and makes a difference.

We need your help – join us on a trip!

If you like the idea of using or improving your sign language skills while volunteering at a deaf school and exploring a new country and culture then join our next Sri Lanka trip

More info:

Get involved! Read more here: Sri Lanka 2 Week Group Trips

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