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Volunteer Buddhist Monastery Sri Lanka!
Do you dream of immersing yourself in Buddhist culture and traditions? Are you looking for a chance to do this while also providing a real benefit to the monks you’ll be learning from?
Then this Volunteering Teaching English to Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka is perfect for you!
Sri Lanka is an amazing country with a rich culture and history. There is great diversity of religion and culture, and beautiful temples, ruins and buildings abound.
The scenery is equally amazing, with serene and peaceful beaches complete with clear blue waters and waves perfect for surfing bringing travelers from all over the world to these shores.
Sadly, due to rampant poverty and the continuing scars of the country’s civil war, Sri Lanka is unable to provide a proper English education to most of its citizens and is something that’s only available in expensive private schools and language centers. Thus, volunteers are needed across the education sector to alleviate this problem, especially in temple schools.
By volunteering in Buddhist monk teaching program in Sri Lanka, you will greatly benefit the monks you teach by enabling them to spread their spiritual message to people from all over the world and introduce travelers to Buddhism and their temple.
Are you interested in a lifechanging experience immersing yourself in Buddhist traditions while helping the monks spread their message to more people? Then contact Global Crossroad today about this exciting opportunity!
Volunteer Responsibilities & Impacts
Your Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery volunteering work will primarily involve teaching English to monks aged 8 to 21 years old. You will also take part in organizing extra-curricular activities such as arts, sports and more.
Through this work you will give young monks the ability to communicate freely with visitors and Buddhists from around the world, letting them spread their message of peace and love to a wider group of people. Additionally, by raising the English level in these temples you will be contributing to the overall education level of the country as they pass on their skills to other Sri Lankans.
Skills and Qualifications
In order to volunteer teaching English to Monks Sri Lanka all you need is a solid command of the English language, as well as being a kind, patient and flexible person. You need to have great passion and love for helping those less fortunate, and a willingness to go outside your comfort zone and tackle unfamiliar and new challenges.
Previous experience as an English teacher or a degree in teaching or English is a huge advantage, but this is not required to take part in this program.
Teaching English in a Buddhist temple is an incredible and life changing experience that will allow you to become deeply immersed in the culture and traditions of Buddhism while providing a real benefit to the monks.
On arrival in Sri Lanka you will be met at the airport by our staff and brought to your accommodation where you’ll have the day to get settled.
- First Day: - On your first day of volunteering in Buddhist monastery in Sri Lanka, you will be given a briefing on everything you need to know about the project and escorted to the temple to be introduced to the monks living there. The rest of the day will be spent preparing for your upcoming English lessons.
- Weekdays: - Your teaching starts on the second day of the project and while each day will bring with it new and exciting experiences, a typical day looks like this:
- 7.00 AM - 7.30 AM – Start the day with a delicious Sri Lankan breakfast.
- 7.45 AM – Set out for the temple for a rewarding and eye-opening day of teaching English to monks.
- 12.00 PM – At noon you’ll get a lunch break, which is a great chance to observe life at the temple and immerse yourself in the customs of this place.
- 3.00 PM – Around this time your work will be finished, and you have the rest of the day to explore and enjoy everything Galle has to offer.
- 6.45 PM – Your day concludes with a delicious homemade dinner with your host family and fellow volunteer guests.
Volunteer Buddhist Monastery Sri Lanka: Dates and Prices
Start Dates:
All Volunteer programs in Sri Lanka start every Monday. However, Global Crossroad is very flexible and understands that various travel constraints that you might face.
Fees:
Global Crossroad is committed to offering the most affordable and highest quality Sri Lanka Volunteer trips. We strive to keep our costs low. The humanitarian side of the business is our passion.
Global Crossroad's Volunteer opportunity in Sri Lanka application and registration fee cost US $299. The application fee covers the cost of advertising, program promotion, and office expenses (rent, utilities, and staff salaries in USA office).
In addition to the application fee, you are required to pay a weekly program fee. You will pay your weekly fee directly to your host family and project. This way, the fees that you pay will benefit those who rightfully deserve them, and not for company profit.
Duration | Teaching Buddhist Monks |
---|---|
1 Week | $235 |
2 Weeks | $370 |
3 Weeks | $505 |
4 Weeks | $640 |
5 Weeks | $775 |
6 Weeks | $910 |
7 Weeks | $1045 |
8 Weeks | $1,180 |
9 Weeks | $1,315 |
10 Weeks | $1,450 |
11 Weeks | $1,585 |
12 Weeks | $1,720 |
Airport Pickup and Transfer to Galle (2 hours)- $100/per person
Language and Culture - $250
Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »
How your fee is allocated?
Program Fees Cover:
- Accommodation (volunteers house or host family)
- Food (local food 3 times a day)
- In-country support
- Program Orientation
- Personalized project
- Pre-departure information
- Certificate of completion
- Fundraising ideas and letters
- Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude:
- Visas
- Airfare
- Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
- Daily transportation
- Airport return transfer
The Volunteering programs in Sri Lanka fees will cover expenses that will begin on the first day of the program (usually the first or third Monday of the month) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day, you will be responsible for the additional expenses, which would typically be around $30 a day for room and meals at a hostel.
Accommodation and Meal
During your project you will be staying with a safe and welcoming host family in Galle. They will provide you with three delicious meals a day as well as plenty of opportunity for cultural exchange and immersion. The families are all picked for their respectability and ability to provide safe lodging to our volunteers, and you will share a comfortable room with modern bathroom facilities with volunteers of the same gender.
Free Time and Weekend Exploration
You will have more than enough free time during your Sri Lanka monastery volunteer project. During the week your evenings will be free to explore the city of Galle, while you have your weekends (Saturday and Sunday) free to go on longer excursions and tours all across the country.
Learn more about your free time and weekend exploration in Sri Lanka.
Safety and In Country Support
Global Crossroad takes your safety seriously, and to this end we carefully vet and regularly inspect all our projects, facilities and accommodation to ensure their safety. We will also provide support every step of the way, and your in-country coordinator will be available at all times, day and night, to support you with anything you need.
Read more about our commitment to safety and in-country support.
Volunteer Buddhist Monastery Sri Lanka: FAQs
Arrival and Departure
If you are planning to work in our teaching English to Buddhist Monks volunteer project in Sri Lanka, you must fly into Bandaranaike International Airport one day before the start of your project. Please notify us immediately if you miss your flight or the flight gets delayed.
Airport pick-up services is provided to all who have joined our volunteer teaching English to Buddhist monks program. Our local representative will be waiting for you at the international airport. However, we do not provide airport transfer services at the completion of your project.
Visa
Without a tourist visa, you won’t be allowed entry into Sri Lanka. You should apply for a tourist visa for joining Sri Lanka Monk Teaching Volunteer Project. You can apply for ETA visa online by visiting Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Normally tourist visas can be extended for an extra 60 days. Click out this website to find out more information about Sri Lankan visa policies.
Vaccinations
For a week-long visit to Sri Lanka, the CDC and WHO recommend vaccinations for Yellow Fever, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Measles, Rubella, Mumps, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Poliomyelitis, and Japanese Encephalitis.
Vaccination is an important travel necessity for those who plan on volunteering in Sri Lanka. You can learn more about these vaccinations here:
Any important information you want to share about this project.
There will be a highly disciplined lifestyle in the monastery. You must respect the rules and regulations of the monastery and behave accordingly. Outdoor games are not allowed whereas indoor games are encouraged. Physical attachment with anyone is strongly prohibited and monks are not allowed to visit outside monastery without permission. You should return to the monastery in a timely manner. Also, smoking and drinking is completely forbidden inside the monastery.
Why Volunteer in Buddhist Monastery?
Volunteering in Sri Lanka in Teach Buddhist Monks Program gives you the chance to completely immerse yourself in Buddhist culture and way of life while providing a real benefit to the monks living in the temple.
You will help young monks learn English
By providing basic conversational English to the Buddhist monks, you will open many doors for these often-sheltered young monks by giving them the ability to communicate with people from all over the world.
You will become a real part of everyday life in a monastery
As you will be spending a lot of time in the temple, you will get to know the monks on a personal level and become part of daily life in the monastery, forming lifelong relationships.
You will get the chance to learn and immerse yourself in Buddhist culture
Buddhism is a fascinating faith followed by over 70% of Sri Lanka. By joining this Sri Lanka Monastery volunteer program you get the chance to immerse yourself in the traditions of the faith and become enlightened through Buddhist philosophy and beliefs.
You will get the opportunity to take part in monks' rituals and ceremonies
You will get to witness and take part in traditional Buddhist rituals while at the monastery, allowing you to exchange secular knowledge for the spiritual knowledge of the monks.
Other Volunteering Projects in Sri Lanka
Global Crossroad arranges a wide range of volunteer projects in Sri Lanka. You can
Work in orphanages,
teach english,
medical volunteer program
elephant conservation(kegalle),
elephant conservation(pinnawala) and much more
Other Teaching English to Monks projects worldwide
Young monks are often unable to learn sufficient English, and Global Crossroad arranges projects aimed at teaching them English in several countries around the world. See the list below for some of our most popular projects in this vein: