MTV projects 2015 of SCI Sri Lanka
Who are we,
Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world’s largest volunteering organizations with
more than 90 years of experience in conducting short and long term voluntary projects for
people of all ages and backgrounds. It has 43 branches and groups worldwide and an ever
growing number of partner organizations. The network spans 5 continents, but is based mainly
in Europe and Asia.
SCI was introduced to Sri Lanka in the early 1960’s (June 30, 1963) and the organization has been
active ever since. SCI has played a significant role in the promotion of peace and national
integration in Sri Lanka. It has organized countless work camps, short term projects, long term
projects, and international projects from the time it was established until now.
Our Mission Is,
"Promote peace, international understanding, and solidarity, social justice, sustainable
development, and respect for the environment."!
Our Vision Is,
"A world peace: social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with
mutual respect and without resource to any form of violence to solve conflict."!
MTV projects 2015
1.
2.
3.
4.
House of Light
Blue Rose Special School
Mother Theresa’s home ( Daya Niwasa)
HDO – Human Development Organization
You can find further information on the projects below
Fees for mid-term volunteering
Sri Lanka charges 200 Euros per month/ per volunteer which covers food, accommodation and
other related administrative cost. If the volunteer requests the airport pick up, it costs additional
70 euros.
Who Are We,
Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world’s largest volunteering organizations with more than
90 years of experience in conducting short and long term voluntary projects for people of all ages and
backgrounds. It has 43 branches and groups worldwide and an ever growing number of partner
organizations. The network spans 5 continents, but is based mainly in Europe and Asia.
SCI was introduced to Sri Lanka in the early 1960’s (June 30, 1963) and the organization has been active
ever since. SCI has played a significant role in the promotion of peace and national integration in Sri
Lanka. It has organized countless work camps, short term projects, long term projects, and international
projects from the time it was established until now.
Our Mission Is,
"Promote peace, international understanding, and solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and
respect for the environment."!
Our Vision Is,
"A world peace: social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with mutual
respect and without resource to any form of violence to solve conflict."!
Project Name:
The project is situated in the north central part of Sri Lanka. House of light, the home for boys in
Kurunegala was founded by two senior SCI activists. First it was catering to street children and later they
took abandoned children, children with single parents who needed a home. These two senior activists
were volunteers attached to a street children’s home which was run by the local Catholic Church AND
suddenly the church decided to close the project due to financial reasons and these two activists took
over the children and with the support of SCI and other agencies established the orphanage. There are
nearly 20 boys, aged from 4-20 years old
who are from different religions,
ethinicities and social backgrounds. The
main objective of the project is to
promote
peace,
international
understanding, intercultural and inter
ethnic understanding. Volunteers would
be Ambassadors of Peace.
Work: Most of the children will be in
schools in from 8 am till 1 pm. So the
volunteer can choose from a wide range
of activities like teaching of languages,
music, art, painting, gardening, computer
skills, shopping, cleaning, washing etc
Playing together with companions
The front view of the Home
The volunteers’ rooms
Project Address: House of Light, Dambulla Road, Melsiripura.
Accommodation & Food:
The project has it’s own home with separate rooms with attached bathrooms for volunteers, dormitory for
children, big living area and a kitchen. Simple food & accommodation would be provided. Volunteers
will have a shared bedroom with twin beds, fan and mosquito nets. The volunteers will get cooked food
which is most of the time would be rice, curry, vegetables, fruits and fish or meat occasionally.
Local Language: Sinhala would be the most common language use in the area. The project manager of
House of Light speaks good English while some of the children in the home speak little English.
Currency: The currency we use in Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan rupees.
1 €= 140 LKR
1$= 130 LKR
There are many facilities to exchange your money in banks or take money using your bank cards in every
city of the country.
Holidays & free time: There are few holidays except the weekends in a month. Normally schools are
closed in April (for 2 weeks to celebrate the Sinhala & Hindu new year), August ( 4 weeks), December ( 4
weeks). Since there are a lot of things to see in the country you can plan to travel in these free days.
Weekends are free for volunteers.
Working days and hours: Monday to Friday and six hours per day. Working hours/days could be adjusted
through mutual agreement/arrangement.
Needed skills (inc. language requirement): Basic competency in English Language. Since you are going to work
with marginalized children ability to understand other cultures and be tolerant is a must.
What to bring: Personal needs.First aid, torch light, pen knife, rain coat, mosquito repellents/mosquito
nets. Musical instruments – if any. Books, material relating to the teaching of Basic English as a second
language. Simple game, cotton clothing, long trousers, shirts/blouses with sleeves (could be bought
locally – rather cheap) and a great sense of humour would be very useful.
Travel directions: The home is situated in the North Central. The nearest big city to the project is
Kurunegala where 92 Km from Colombo (the central of the Sri Lanka) There are plenty of busses from
the capital (Colombo, 92Km) and few trains run between two cities. From Kurunegala, there are nearly
15 Km (30 minutes drive by the public bus) to the village where the home situated.
Map of the area:
Who Are We,
Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world’s largest volunteering organizations with more than
90 years of experience in conducting short and long term voluntary projects for people of all ages and
backgrounds. It has 43 branches and groups worldwide and an ever growing number of partner
organizations. The network spans 5 continents, but is based mainly in Europe and Asia.
SCI was introduced to Sri Lanka in the early 1960’s (June 30, 1963) and the organization has been active
ever since. SCI has played a significant role in the promotion of peace and national integration in Sri
Lanka. It has organized countless work camps, short term projects, long term projects, and international
projects from the time it was established until now.
Our Mission Is,
"Promote peace, international understanding, and solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and
respect for the environment."!
Our Vision Is,
"A world peace: social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with mutual
respect and without resource to any form of violence to solve conflict."!
Project Name & Description: Blue Rose Special school
The Blue Rose is a day School & Training Centre for the mentally disabled children in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The
school was established in 1981 with a one student and a teacher. Today there are 40 registered students, six
regular teachers and three part-time instructors for physiotherapy, speech therapy and music. Students who are
above 18 years old have their own vocational training center to make them capable of doing a profession after
leaving the school. Expert foreign volunteers, particularly from Europe have been working in the school for
periods ranging from 2 years to six weeks, for the benefit of these special need students.
Work:
The work volunteers have to carry out in the school is interesting and diversed. We are taking the students for
swimming in every Monday to a pool in out side the school and on every Thursday to the gym in the University for
Physical Exercises. Volunteers can help the students to occupy them in these activities. Apart from that the
volunteers can support the staff of the school in skill development activities for the children (teaching mathematics,
English, cooking/volunteers can try their own recipes and conduct cooking classes, singing, dancing, making
handcrafts ,,,etc) . Meanwhile they can organize classes to improve the English knowledge of the staff. Additionally
the volunteers will get an opportunity to carry out researches (related to their studies or profession) and organize
and implement any program in a field of she/he is expert in. It will be a good opportunity for them to identify the
students and research, implement new techniques which can be useful to uplift their life style. The school runs from
8 am to 1 pm and the volunteers are free after 1 pm and every weekend including other holidays. The school is
close in April (Sinhala and Hindu New Year), August and in December thus the volunteers can use this time for
travelling in the country. We have a lot of touristically attracted places where you can reach in few hours.
Volunteers who are above 18 years old, motivated and ready to work with special needs children are most welcome
to work with us. It's not needed to have previous experience of working with these kinds of children but should be
willing to learn and enjoy their life with them.
Project Address: Blue Rose Special School, No 18/A/4, Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha, Gatembe - 20000,
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Accommodation & Food:
Food is provided by the organization and the volunteers have to help in cooking with 2 local residential volunteers.
Since the center has a quite big and well equipped kitchen, it would be interested for the volunteers to share their
culture and to learn new local dishes.
Accommodation would be in the same location where we have the school. The volunteer has to share a room
(attached bathroom) with a one more volunteer. It would be interested and a good experience to work and live in an
international environment while sharing their own cultures. 24 hours accessibility to internet (Wi-5) and other
facilities are available.
Local Language: Sinhala would be the most common language among children during the school. But
the school staff will communicate in English during your stay.
Currency: The currency we use in Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan rupees.
1 €= 140 LKR
1$= 130 LKR
There are many facilities to exchange your money in banks or take money using your bank cards in every
city of the country.
Holidays & free time: There are few holidays except the weekends in a month. Normally schools are
closed in April (for 2 weeks to celebrate the Sinhala & Hindu new year), August ( 4 weeks), December ( 4
weeks). Since there are a lot of things to see in the country you can plan to travel in these free days.
Weekends are free for volunteers.
Working days and hours: Monday to Friday and six hours per day. Working hours/days could be adjusted
through mutual agreement/arrangement.
Needed skills (inc. language requirement): Basic competency in English Language. Since you are going to work
with disabled children, ability to understand their needs and tolerant is a must.
What to bring: Personal needs. First aid, torch light, pen knife, rain coat, mosquito repellents/mosquito
nets. Musical instruments – if any. Books, material relating to the teaching of Basic English as a second
language. Simple game,cotton clothing, long trousers, shirts/blouses with sleeves (could be bought locally
– rather cheap) and a great sense of humour would be very useful.
Travel directions: The school situated in the Kandy, the central province of Sri Lanka. There are plenty
of busses and few trains run between Colombo and Kandy which takes nearly 3-4 hours (110 Km).
Special Note: Volunteers are not allowed to use alcohol and smocking in the school premises. But there are
lot of pubs and restaurants in the city where they can enjoy their life.
You can read more through the links below:
You tube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dK_S_cFA4U
In Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/.../Blue-Rose-Special-School
Web: www.blueroseschool.com
Who Are We,
Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world’s largest volunteering organizations with more than
90 years of experience in conducting short and long term voluntary projects for people of all ages and
backgrounds. It has 43 branches and groups worldwide and an ever growing number of partner
organizations. The network spans 5 continents, but is based mainly in Europe and Asia.
SCI was introduced to Sri Lanka in the early 1960’s (June 30, 1963) and the organization has been active
ever since. SCI has played a significant role in the promotion of peace and national integration in Sri
Lanka. It has organized countless work camps, short term projects, long term projects, and international
projects from the time it was established until now.
Our Mission Is,
"Promote peace, international understanding, and solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and
respect for the environment."!
Our Vision Is,
"A world peace: social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with mutual
respect and without resource to any form of violence to solve conflict."!
Project Name: Mother Theresa’s home ( Daya Niwasa)
Project description:
Mother Theres’a Home which is also called the “Daya Nivasa” (House of Love) is a home/orphanage for destitute
children situated in the outskirts of the Kandy City. The Home is being run by catholic nuns. There are nearly 90
inmates and are all disabled. Some are severely disabled and are confined to wheel chairs or bedridden. Many need
individual assistance to do their daily activities. The inmates are of all ages and all females. There are nearly 5 nuns
and nearly 10 paid staff. In addition there are foreign and local volunteers who work there time to time.
Work: The main task of the volunteer is to help the staff to maintain the day today tasks at the home.
Volunteers will help with the daily activities of the home like: Teaching, playing, singing, physical exercises etc.
Project Address: Daya Niwasa, Peradeniya Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Accommodation and food: Food is provided by the hosting organization. Since the center has a quite big
and well equipped kitchen, it would be interested for the volunteers to share their culture and to learn new local
dishes.
Accommodation would be at SCI center where volunteer has to share a room (attached bathroom) with a one more
volunteer. It would be interested and a good experience to work and live in an international environment while
sharing their own cultures. 24 hours accessibility to internet (Wi-5) and other facilities are available
Local Language: Tamil and Sinhala. All the nuns at the home speak English and both local languages.
Currency: The currency we use in Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan rupees.
1 €= 140 LKR
1$= 130 LKR
There are many facilities to exchange your money in banks or take money using your bank cards in every
city of the country.
Needed skills (inc. language requirement): Basic competency in English Language and interested in work
with disable people. The volunteer should be ready to help the staff of Mother Theresa’s in different
ways.
Holidays & free time: Thursdays are free for all the volunteers work at the home. There are few holidays
except the weekends in a month. Since there are a lot of things to see in the country you can plan to travel
in these free days. Weekends are free for volunteers.
Working days and hours: Monday to Friday (except Thursdays) from 8.30 am – 4.30 pm with 1 and half hour
break from 12.30-2pm. working hours/days could be adjusted through mutual agreement/arrangement.
What to bring: Personal needs. First aid, torchlight, pen knife, rain coat, mosquito repellents/mosquito nets.
Musical instruments – if any. Simple game (enjoy your time with other volunteers ,cotton clothing, long trousers,
shirts/blouses with sleeves (could be bought locally – rather cheap)and a great sense of humour would be very
useful.
Travel directions: Kandy is Situated nearly 110 Km away from the central (Colombo) of Sri Lanka. The project
situated nearly 3 Km from SCI center where you can easily take a bus or if you are sporty person it will be walk
able distance.
This is our recommendation of Daya Nivasa:
“Your first day at Daya Nivasa can seem a bit overwhelming, with all of the women and kids that have all sorts of
disabilities. But after a couple of days when you find your way of dealing with these wonderful women and
experience their unlimited love for you, it will become a wonderful place to work. You will experience the pleasure
of bringing love and joy into someone else's life. It really gives you a great experience and not only because of the
disabled but also because of the nuns and other helpers at the place. The nuns share a lot of knowledge and respect
all cultures and religions. You can always ask the nuns for help and you can be sure to get the needed help but also
a joke on the way.
Working at Daya Nivasa is amazing; your boundaries will be expanded and you will do things you never thought
were possible”.
Best regards,
Trine
Who Are We,
Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world’s largest volunteering organizations with more than
90 years of experience in conducting short and long term voluntary projects for people of all ages and
backgrounds. It has 43 branches and groups worldwide and an ever growing number of partner
organizations. The network spans 5 continents, but is based mainly in Europe and Asia.
SCI was introduced to Sri Lanka in the early 1960’s (June 30, 1963) and the organization has been active
ever since. SCI has played a significant role in the promotion of peace and national integration in Sri
Lanka. It has organized countless work camps, short term projects, long term projects, and international
projects from the time it was established until now.
Our Mission Is,
"Promote peace, international understanding, and solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and
respect for the environment."!
Our Vision Is,
"A world peace: social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with mutual
respect and without resource to any form of violence to solve conflict."!
Project Name: HDO ( Human Development Organization)
Project description: Human Development Organization which is also called the “HDO” is an
organization which fights for the establishment of a socially just, equitable and peace civil society through
poverty eradication and sustainable development.HDO seeks to fulfill its mission through a people
centered, participatory sustainable development regarding Human Rights, Gender Balance and
Environment.
HDO is managed by a Board of Trustees which consists of all the founding and
elected members. The Executive Committee is responsible for planning, developing and managing
programs. The organization is made up with seven full time workers and 4 part-time workers. Most of
them are from the tea plantation. 50 % of the team workers and decision makers are women.
Activities of the organization:





Provide Human Rights, Peace building and Environment Education
Solidarity Economy / Community Finance
Promote gender and development issues at grass-root level but also national and international level
trough advocacy, lobby, research and publication.
Carry out Humanitarian Solidarity Programs ( Among IDPs)
Human Rights Education & Peace Building
Work: The main task of the volunteer is to help the staff to maintain the day today tasks in the
Organization. Volunteers will help with in their activities such as organizing workshops, training, awareness
program, Field visits in tea state areas, help in their research related to the activities,,, etc
Project Address: HDO, William Gopallawa Mawatha, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Accommodation and food: Food is provided by the hosting organization. Since the center has a quite big
and well equipped kitchen, it would be interested for the volunteers to share their culture and to learn new local
dishes.
Accommodation would be at SCI center where volunteer has to share a room (attached bathroom) with a one more
volunteer. It would be interested and a good experience to work and live in an international environment while
sharing their own cultures. 24 hours accessibility to internet (Wi-5) and other facilities are available
Local Language: Tamil and Sinhala. But there will be many people who can speak English.
Currency: The currency we use in Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan rupees.
1 €= 140 LKR
1$= 130 LKR
There are many facilities to exchange your money in banks or take money using your bank cards in every
city of the country.
Needed skills (inc. language requirement): Basic competency in English Language and interested in
organizational work. The volunteer should be ready to help the staff of HDO in different ways.
Holidays & free time: There are few holidays except the weekends in a month. Since there are a lot of
things to see in the country you can plan to travel in these free days. Weekends are free for volunteers.
Working days and hours: Monday to Friday and six hours per day. Working hours/days could be adjusted
through mutual agreement/arrangement.
What to bring: Personal needs. First aid, torch light, pen knife, rain coat, mosquito repellents/mosquito
nets. Musical instruments – if any. Simple game (enjoy your time with other volunteers) ,cotton clothing,
long trousers, shirts/blouses with sleeves (could be bought locally – rather cheap)and a great sense of
humour would be very useful.
Travel directions: Kandy is Situated nearly 110 Km away from the central (Colombo) of Sri Lanka. The project
situated nearly 3 Km from SCI center where you can easily take a bus or if you are sporty person it will be walk
able distance.