How do you think you benefitted from the experience?

“I gained an insight into the culture and way of life of Sri Lanka – something I would not necessarily have experienced as a tourist. I enjoyed working alongside other volunteers and participating as part of a team in completing the project. I have also gained new friends which I look forward to meeting up with again.”

What did you learn?

“It has been a valuable experience which has broadened my horizons and something I would definitely enjoy doing again if the opportunity arose. I enjoyed the challenge of learning Sri Lankan sign language and then trying to put this into practice when communicating with the students at the school. With mixtures of success!”

What did you like about the VoluntEars programme?

“It was a very balanced programme of both project and sightseeing trips. These were not only informative but also very enlightening and fun.”

What did VoluntEars do well?

“A valuable and rewarding experience to work on a project that directly helped the deaf community. It was also a rare opportunity to work alongside deaf volunteers as so few if any organisations offer opportunities for deaf people to volunteer on an overseas project.”

How can VoluntEars improve?

“I feel there is nothing that can be improved. Queries regarding the trip were answered quickly. The schedule seemed to work and our days were filled with work and pleasure – a happy mix.”

What was your funniest or most memorable experience?

“It is very hard to pick just one memorable experience from the trip. However one of the top most was probably the challenges of communicating with the students at the school which was a new learning experience for all. Another unforgettable moment was working at the turtle sanctuary and the highlight was releasing the hatchlings into the ocean. Both these were very worthwhile and memorable experiences.”