Volunteering

We very much welcome the help of local and foreign volunteers to Horizon Lanka. Those who wish to volunteer at the Horizon Lanka Foundation, Mahavilachchiya, can contact us. If you can teach English, ICT, management, sports, etc., you can contact us through info@horizonlanka.net. Students’ English and ICT knowledge was improved remarkably due to the volunteers’ help over the past few years and we encourage more volunteers to help the students and the youth in the village.  

You can read some of the tour reports by our former volunteers below.

Areas you can volunteer while at Horizon Lanka.

      1. Teaching English
      2. Teaching ICT
      3. Teaching touch system typing
      4. Help writing English language blogs
      5. Coaching soccer, rugby, cricket, netball, volleyball, martial arts, etc. to the children and youth, and organizing sports tournaments.   
      6. Working in the Montessori school.
      7. Teach public speaking to the children and youth
      8. Help in personality development
      9. Help fundraising for Horizon Lanka
      10. Help manage Horizon Lanka website
      11. Help in management of Horizon Lanka
      12. Landscaping the Horizon Lanka compound
      13. Initiating an organic garden and teaching children how to maintain it.
      14. Horticulture. Improving the garden of Horizon Lanka and teaching children how to grow and maintain useful plants and trees.
      15. Creating promotional videos, presentations, brochures, newsletters, etc.

Through AIESEC– Only AIESEC members can use this scheme and please contact www.aiesec.org

Through Global Vision International – Any of you can use this option. Please visit http://www.gvi.co.uk/projects/asia/sri-lanka/volunteer-teach-english-sri-lanka/home for more information on this scheme.

Other Volunteers – All other volunteers those who want to get in contact directly with Horizon Lanka, please see the details below.

 

Travel

The following information has been compiled from visitor experience. You will find it helpful to have a checklist before departure.

  1. Visas

    2. Sri Lankan visas are available at the airport on entry to the country. One month tourist visas are free. Those wishing to extend their visa while in Sri Lanka can do so in Colombo for up to a further nine months. Fees vary depending on country of citizenship but will be in the region of 100-200 USD for a further three month stay.
    Use the following information for your landing pass to be handed in at the airport.
    Address in Sri Lanka: Horizon Lanka Foundation, No 101, Left bank, Anuradhapura.
    Staying with Gangani Dissanayake and Achala Priyangani, friends.
    Reason for entry: Tourist.

  2. Travel from Colombo airport to Horizon Lanka.

    3. Depending on the timing of your flight you can either hire a taxi to take you to Colombo (this costs Rupees 2000/20USD) and stay there until you are ready to travel to Horizon Lanka or there are three options to travel to Horizon Lanka, Mahavilachchiya.

  3. Taxi to Horizon Lanka, Mahavilachchiya – 8,000-10,000 LKR/80-100 USD – (6-8 hours)

There are three main routes you can approach Anuradhapura.

        1. Colombo – Anuradhapura road through Puttlam – the shortest road with the least traffic. Goes through the Dry Zone –(206km).
        2. Colombo – Anuradhapura road through Kurunegala and Ella (214km).
        3.  Colombo – Anuradhapura road through Kandy and Kekirawa – The longest road through beautiful mountainous city of Kandy (254km).
  1. Air-conditioned bus from Colombo Bus Station to Anuradhapura – 400 LKR/4 USD (4-5 hours) and then a bus to Horizon Lanka, Mahavilachchiya (100 LKR/1USD) (1-2 hours)
  2. Train to Anuradhapura from Fort Railway Station.  - 400 LKR/4 USD (4-5 hours) and then a bus to Horizon Lanka, Mahavilachchiya (100 LKR/1USD) (1-2 hours)

Someone will be available to accompany you from Anuradhapura train station/bus station if you notify them in advance of your arrival. You will have to bear the cost of the bus fare from Anuradhapura to Mahavilachchiya.
If you intend to hire your own car you need to be in possession of an international driving license.

Please take note of the contact numbers below and be sure to advise us if there are any last minute changes to your travel plans.

Gangani Nimalika Dissanayake – Manageress, Horizon Lanka
Mobile: Local – 077-7159495 IDD – 094-77-7159495
Email address gangani@horizonlanka.net

Achala Priyangani Wanninayaka – English Instructor, Horizon Lanka
Mobile: Local 071-8266629 IDD – 094-71-8266629
E mail address: achala@horizonlanka.net

Food and Accommodation Expenses
Monthly accommodation and three meals per day costs around 4,000 LKR/40 USD, as the majority of the food is grown on the local farms. Accommodation is off site as Horizon Lanka has no accommodation facilities for volunteers at the centre itself. We can arrange for accommodation to be at a student’s house with a separate bedroom and access to the common toilet, so no expenses will be incurred. Horizon Lanka does not usually provide meals at the premises, but tea and coffee making facilities are available throughout the day. All three meals will be provided by the host; the volunteer can have the breakfast and dinner at the host’s house and can travel to the host’s house for lunch and back to the centre. A bicycle will be provided for travelling within the village by Horizon Lanka at no charge to prospective volunteers. In relation to drinking water, the hosts offer boiled water but if you are unhappy with this, bottled water (5 litre bottles are little more than one dollar) is available at the shops in the village. There are many small shops a short walk from the premises, selling various kinds of fruits and vegetables, drinks, bread, pastries and cooked food. The vast majority of necessary items are available locally. A bus ride to Anuradhapura (2 hours) puts you within arms of length of a more diverse selection of shops and other goods, providing for almost any needs that you may have.

Expenditure while travelling is minimal, as the cost of bus and train journeys is very low, even over long distances. Food, drink, and accommodation is very reasonably priced aswell, but research is advised to ensure the best accommodation in relation to your location and budget can be found with ease. American dollars are easy to change and accepted everywhere. Many shops only take cash but a credit card is a useful back up. There is a Bureau de Change at the airport which offers a favourable exchange rate for any currency conversions. There are ATMs in Colombo, Anuradhapura and all the major towns and cities.

Please note that Horizon Lanka is a not-for-profit venture which is mostly dependent upon the generosity of donors, therefore we try to keep expenditure to a minimum.

Health Needs
No travel vaccines are currently required by the Sri Lankan government, however it is advised that any volunteers are up to date on vaccinations for Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A and B. The World Health Organisation website will be able to provide any prospective volunteers with the necessary information and recommendations.
It is also advisable to bring strong bug/mosquito repellent to protect against Malaria and Dengue fever.

Medical Insurance is necessary upon arrival and you must have enough money to cover any excess. Medical treatment is very affordable for minor ailments but insurance is needed for major illness, long term hospital admission or repatriation.
Disclaimer: We are serving an underprivileged community during unpredictable times. You will not have the full attention of staff at all times, therefore, please plan on being as self reliant as possible. The effort that you put in will be rewarded in the impact that you make on these peoples lives.

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