Volunteers will mostly teach English to monks. They usually range from 8-21 years of age. The monks are usually very eager to learn from foreign volunteers and are very well behaved. Teaching in the monastery will provide you with an opportunity to learn about the life of the monks and experience Buddhist prayers and rituals.

Whilst there are no specific qualifications and skills required to join the project, you’ll have to be fluent English speaker (not necessarily a native English speaker). You should also respect the monks at all times and the respect the culture and prevailing values inside the monastery. If you’re open minded and flexible during the project, you’ll enjoy your stay and achieve more.

Rustic Volunteer Travel arranges volunteer meals, accommodations and strong field support for the duration of projects and optional travel packages. In Sri Lanka, volunteers generally stay with host families and accommodations are simple and clean homes in safe neighborhoods. Volunteers usually have a private bedroom, but occasionally rooms will be shared with a same-gender volunteer. Our host families are well screened and are respected members of their communities who live in affluent neighborhoods. Most of our host families have experience with hosting international volunteers. A host family stay is a great chance for cultural immersion and exchange.

Volunteers receive three local meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We can provide vegetarian meal options, but needs must be detailed in a volunteer's application. Snacks and beverages outside of mealtimes are not provided; however, there are local restaurants and grocery stores near the residences in which we place volunteers.  

Rustic offers unparalleled field support to volunteers to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. Once in Sri Lanka, there are many layers of support for you. The most important support comes from our country coordinator/field staff. The secondary support comes from the host project staff and members of host families. Volunteers will have access to our country coordinator's mobile number and they are available 24/7. Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. Our field staff will visit regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to make sure things are going well and as planned. However, if placement is far from our local offices, staff members will stay in touch via email/ phone. Volunteers are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time.

Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation prior to arrival.

Teaching projects are available in Galle (2004 Boxing Day Tsunami & largest remaining fortress in Asia), with shops, banks & internet cafes nearby. Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia, and has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. Famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, rubber and coconuts, Sri Lanka boasts natural beauty, tropical forests, beaches and landscapes, as well as its rich cultural heritage, making it a world famous tourist destination. Volunteers can organize different possible excursions during and after the project to visit places of interest. There is a tourist infrastructure already in place the volunteer can use during weekends. For example: Buddhist festivals, parks, wildlife sanctuaries, bazaars, markets, restaurants, temples, museums, palaces, hotels, and many more.