Trip Details

Medical Volunteer in Sri Lanka

If you are looking for a medical internship abroad, then our Medical Volunteer programme may be ideal for you! In the highlands of Sri Lanka, famous for its tea plantations, you will volunteer at this busy hospital, which takes medical students from all over the world. Indeed, there’s scope to observe many medical techniques and procedures by experienced hospital staff in one of the biggest hospitals in Kandy.

Volunteer at a Historical Hospital in the Highlands of Sri Lanka

With over 2200 beds, Teaching Hospital Kandy is a training centre for student nurses who are coming from the Nurses Training School. However, it also conducts undergraduate training programmes for medical students looking for a medical internship abroad.  In fact, it is one of the oldest hospitals in Sri Lanka, and provides the entire range of medical and surgical specialities within its walls. During your time here, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in tasks commensurate with your level of experience.

Explore Sri Lanka’s Mountains, Forests and Ancient Sites

During your time as a medical volunteer, you will want to explore a little of what Sri Lanka has to offer!  Nature lovers will enjoy the Royal Botanical Gardens or Hortons Plains National Park for a great walk. Likewise, adventurers will want to get their hiking boots on and head to the Knuckles Mountain Range! Lastly, you won’t want to miss the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, which is a historic forest reserve with plenty of fauna and flora to discover. For some, evenings may be a quieter affair – especially after a long day of volunteering! So we have ensured that you will be just as comfortable at our accommodation, where you can mix with other volunteers and relax.

Why be a Medical Volunteer in Sri Lanka?

  • Gain new insights into the field of medicine as practised in Sri Lanka
  • Work with medical students and develop your skills and knowledge
  • Glean an understanding of the barriers which other countries face in medicine
  • Explore Sri Lanka and plan your own adventures with new-found friends
  • Relax in our comfortable accommodation with meals and beverages* included

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

The normal working hours for each day are usually from 8:00 am until 1:30 pm. However, these could change if it is deemed necessary by the hospital routines. Further, your working schedule will be arranged by the hospital staff when you arrive to ensure that you gain the best possible experiences during your stay.

Importantly, don’t worry about being thrown in at the deep end! Staff will be there to support you in your volunteering, and ensure that you are able to observe or engage at a level you’re happy with!

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise yourself with the surroundings as well as the local culture.

Orientation Schedule

Monday

  • Welcome, introduction to Sri Lanka and projects, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
  • Sinhalese Language Lesson
  • Cultural Lesson
  • Kandy City Tour

A typical weekly schedule may look like this:

Tuesday to Friday

  • Breakfast
  • Medical Volunteer Programme
  • Lunch
  • Medical Volunteer Programme
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Please note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Evenings and Weekends

After a day of medical volunteering, you can choose to explore the area or head further afield on the weekends. In fact, many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new volunteer friends during the week and plan their weekend adventures as they go!

Places to Visit

You will want to plan your own journeys with friends whilst you are here!  Therefore, we heartily recommend the Royal Botanical Gardens, Knuckles mountain range, Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, Hortons plains National Park – and don’t miss taking a boat ride on Kandy Lake!

 

Trip Accommodation

Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many ancient sites, Kandy is a vibrant city and bustling market town. Truly, this is a culturally diverse city, from traditional music, dancing and handicrafts to ancient temples and adventure activities to discover. This is, therefore, the perfect place to explore your own spirituality and wellbeing, whilst taking in the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

Accommodation

Our accommodation is comfortable and is located 2 – 4 km from Kandy centre, comprising single-gender rooms sleeping 4 – 8 people. Further, private rooms can be requested but are subject to availability, depending on the number of Sri Lankan volunteers. Consequently, if you would like to book these, please let us know at the time of booking.

Food Arrangements

Sri Lankan cuisine is delicious, and you can enjoy tasting a variety of dishes, with your meals (3 per day, 2 at the weekend) included in your programme. Usually, the meals are a mix of Western and Sri Lankan food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. However, you can also eat out at any of the local restaurants for some great authentic Sri Lankan cuisine!

Facilities

Our house is located 2 kilometres away from the city centre (a 15-minute walk), where you can find anything you might need for your Sri Lankan holiday. Further, you will find ATMs, and a supermarket there, where you can buy anything you might need for the week ahead.

 

Trip Country Info

Sri Lanka

Population: approx. 20 million
Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo
Language: Sinhalese, Tamil
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Time zone: UTC +5:30

Sri Lanka’s over 2000 years of history and culture can still be seen in every corner of its cities and the details of its ever-beautiful ancient temples. With eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and its short distances between the main sights, Sri Lanka is a country that, despite often being overlooked in itineraries, has left travelers filled with awe.

Visit the sacred home of the world’s oldest living tree in Anuradhapura, wander around the colonial architecture of Colombo, get sun-kissed at the untouched beaches that inclose the territory, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, head to the hills for a cooler temperature and get surrounded by lush natural, visit two thousand year-old temples or get overawed at the sight of hundreds of elephants in Minneriya.

While traveling through Sri Lanka you will experience adventures from the highest and chilliest mountains like the famous Adam’s Peak – a stairway mountain considered sacred in three different religions, thru the elephant shelters, to the most peaceful beaches up north near Trincomalee and their tiny- one floor- hostels facing the calm sea.

Tru Experience Travel welcome people from all over the world to join ongoing Sri Lankan programs and you can even compose your schedule the way you like it. With this flexibility it enables you to say when you are on site and when you spend time with the new friends you have made from all over the world.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Detailed CV/Resume
Letter from your University stating that you're studying in the Medical sector
A covering letter, requesting your participation at the hospital
Travel Insurance
DBS, Police Background Check

Additional Requirements

Scrubs
Stethoscope

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa