Elephant Conservation Volunteer Program in Sri Lanka

Requirements for the Elephant Conservation Volunteer Program

Age Requirements

• Minimum Age: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
• Maximum Age: Volunteers must be 70 years old at the latest.

Qualification

• Language: Participants must have fluent English language skills
• Education: At least a GED or high school-level education.
• Other: Volunteers should be eager to learn, flexible, patient, dependable, and respectful towards all partner organizations and local community members.

Commitment

• Time Commitment: Volunteers must commit to a minimum duration, typically ranging from 1 to 12 weeks, depending on the program.
• Punctuality: Adherence to the schedule and timely attendance are crucial.

Skills and Experience

• Skills: You do not need to be a qualified or certified teacher to participate in the CROSS ROAD Volunteer Teaching in Sri Lankan
• Experience: There are no requirements for Prior volunteering experience to join this program.

Insurance

• Travel Insurance: Mandatory Comprehensive travel insurance covering health, accidents, and personal liability.

Financial Requirements

• Program Fee: You have to pay this program fee in advance. The fee starts from 150$ depending upon the time you are going to volunteer the price may vary.
• Travel Costs: Volunteers must pay for their travel to and from the project location.

Your Roles & Responsibilities as a Crossroad Elephant Conservation Volunteer Program

Depending on the needs of the local staff members, volunteers may work independently or in conjunction with other volunteers and local orphanages. Tasks may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting daily care for an assigned elephant (feeding, bathing, grooming, stimulating play, etc.) Become sensitive to the elephant's behaviour so as to identify the onset of any potential illness and treatment requirements, conservation area maintenance and upkeep
• Assisting in administrative/office duties, as well as organizing and executing community activities, educational campaigns, marketing/tourism projects and fundraisers promoting environmental education for the general public.
• Volunteers will also have the opportunity to assist in the conservation's after-school English education program and will help teach basic English instruction to local community members.
• Volunteers will also provide aid within the conservation's eco-farm, where they will assist local gardeners to not only grow medicinal herbs for the elephants, but also, harvest fresh, wholesome, and unprocessed produce (i.e., fruits and vegetables) that is used both in the conservation's local restaurant, as well as for creating delicious and nourishing snacks for the elephants.

Stay & Accommodation

All of our volunteers are safely placed within an esteemed host family's home or a volunteer hostel. We offer accommodation that is simple and basic, but comfortable and sanitary, all of which have been inspected. Depending on residency accommodations and the number of volunteers at a given period, volunteers will be staying in either a single or shared room. We advise all volunteers to bring items that they may deem necessary for their comfort (i.e., sleeping bags, toilet paper, mosquito net, etc.).

Food & Meals

Our program fee includes fresh and nutritious home-cooked meals catering to the flavours of the local cuisine while accommodating any individual dietary needs (i.e., allergies, vegetarianism, etc.).

• Filtered beverages accompany all meals. As customary in Sri Lanka,
• Each day three fresh and flavourful meals will be prepared for volunteers consisting of local ingredients and foods traditional to Sri Lanka;
• You will encounter dishes that are a harmonious fusion of Sri Lankan and South Indian cooking, with a strong prominence on rice, roti and spicy curries comprised of vegetables, meat, lentils, or fruit. 

Things Covered in Program Fees

• Accommodation (host family)
• Food (local food 3 times a day)
• Airport Pick up/Transfer
• Program Orientation
• In-country support
• Personalized project
• Pre-departure information
• Certificate of completion
• Fundraising ideas and letters
• Discount for returning volunteers

Program Fee Excludes

• Visas
• Airfare
• Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
• Daily transportation
• Airport return transfer