Restoration and Renovation Project in Sri Lanka, Kandy
Contribute to renovate and restore ancient temples and bring back their glory. To top it off, you will get a chance to renovate educational institutions, schools and community centres! This project will give you the opportunity to participate in efforts to bring temples, schools, and community centres in the city of Kandy back to their previous glory and get your creativity flowing to capture the imagination of the local communities.
- Visit temples and schools around Kandy
- Renovate, restore and repair rural parts of Sri Lanka
- Venture into the deep and culturally rich parks of this stunning island
- Journey to Kandy Lake
- Be part of a transformative project abroad
To book an activity with us we require you to participate for a minimum of two weeks. Therefore, you would need to book a quantity of two for this activity, unless you choose a separate activity to go with it. See the ‘Related trips…’ section for more options.
Program Description
There are many temples, schools, and community centres in and around Kandy that require renovation, restoration, and repair work. Our project works to bring back life to many of them. Your work will include basic renovation, painting and restoration of artwork in and around the temples in the afternoons. These latest projects are situated in the quiet yet active and vibrant city of Kandy. The projects take you deeper into the rural parts of Sri Lanka away from the noisy and overcrowded cities.
Kandy, the nucleus of Sri Lanka’s hill country, was originally the main Sri Lankan kingdom. Set around the beautiful Kandy Lake, the town still has many important temples. Sri Lankans as well as tourists make their way to Kandy’s temples, offering prayers and flowers. Although most of its palaces and temples were destroyed by invaders in the early part of the 19th century, there are still a large number of historical sites to be discovered.
Apart from restoring broken temples, you will also be involved in various other restoration, reconstruction, and beautification activities in and around Kandy. Activities such as beautification of parks, beautification of schools such as painting the classrooms with educative posters which will make the children return to schools every day with enthusiasm, creating interesting playground activities for growing children, also take part in beautification of the town in many creative ways.
CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) Check
It is required that participants complete a CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to take part in this project. We can provide this service for you at an additional cost because some people may already have one that is valid (please get in touch for more details).
Start dates are every week of the year with your activities starting on a Monday. We therefore request you arrive the Sunday between 5:00 and 21:00 to receive a free airport pick-up and transfer. Early or late arrivals will incur an additional charge.
Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation.
Aims & Objectives
Schedule
- Cleaning the surroundings of the identified sites
- Painting buildings
- Engaging in mural work if available
- Engaging in artwork if the temple makes requests
This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Additional Requirements
- Participants with body tattoos need to cover them and those who have visible piercings must take the ring/studs/etc out while at the placement
- Participants below the age of 18 should have parental consent
- Participants above the age of 65 should have medical clearance
Additional Equipment
There is no specific equipment
Location
Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. About 115 km from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level. Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity and has plenty to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handicrafts to ancient temples and adventure activities. Kandy was a royal capital and the last stronghold of the Kandyan kings against foreign powers, holding out against them for about 300 years. The two main Buddhist Chapters are based here and formed the last centre of independent Buddhist thought during colonial times.
Accommodation & Food
You will be accommodated in one of our centres which are located 2-4 kilometres away from Kandy centre. Furthermore, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.
Available Room Types
|
|
Standard Room |
|
All meals included |
Yes * |
|
Free beverages |
Yes ** |
|
Persons per room |
4-10 |
|
Wifi in public areas |
No |
|
Laundry facilities |
Yes *** |
|
Safety box |
Yes |
|
Lockable rooms |
Yes |
|
Hot shower |
Yes |
|
Private bathroom |
No |
|
Bed linen |
Yes |
|
Towels |
No |
|
Air conditioning |
No |
|
Fan |
Yes |
|
Mosquito protection |
No |
* Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends
** Water, tea, coffee and milk
*** At an additional fee
Food Arrangements
You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. The meals are a mix of Western and Sri Lankan food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can also eat out at any of the local restaurants.
Facilities
Our house is located 2 kilometres away from the city centre, where you can find anything you might need.
The nearest ATM and supermarket are a 15-minute walk away from our accommodation.
Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
- Welcome (Introduction to Sri Lanka and projects, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents)
- Sinhalese Language Lesson
- Cultural Lesson
- Kandy City Tour
- Activities & Events
- No scheduled activities outside the program
Sights & Surroundings
The places to visit during your weekends or on your project holidays are the Royal Botanical Gardens, Knuckles mountain range, Udawatta Kele sanctuary, Hortons plains national park and the railway museum.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Accommodation
Volunteer camp with shared rooms (4-10 people per room); Basic but comfortable with a refrigerator to store beverages.
Food
You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. The meals are a mix of Western and Sri Lankan food.
Airport Transfer
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early/late. You be supported at the end of your trip in your onward travel.
Training
A full orientation and project induction takes place. You will also receive full training relevant to your volunteer role.
Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.
Donation
Part of your fee is used to buy decent equipment for the project and community you work with. If you wish to bring further donation, please make sure that this is in the form of equipment and not monetary donations.
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Visas
- Vaccinations
- Spending money
- In country travel
- Laundry service
- Extra activities not on itinerary
- Departure transfer
Preferred Duration
There is no preferred duration but we believe that the longer you can stay the more you will experience and benefit.
Pre-requisites
No prior experience or qualifications are required and it is important that you can speak English. All participants require a CRB/DBS check to take part in the project activities.
Ideal for
Volunteer Holidays and Placements in Asia; Community Work and Activity Breaks in Sri Lanka, Volunteer Gap Years and Career Breaks in Indonesia, Student Summer Holidays in Sri Lanka, cultural experience Sri Lanka.
Suitable for ages 18 to 85
Most participants are between 18 and 25, so please be aware of this. We do welcome older people because of the value and experience they bring to the community. Participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program. Participants below 18 are required to provide parental consent letters and participants above 65 should have the medical clearance.
Related trips...
Turtle Conservation Project in Sri Lanka, Ambalangoda
Medical Project in Sri Lanka, Kandy
Education and Teaching Project in Sri Lanka, Kandy
