As a first time solo traveler, it was scary. I was terrified going into this experience. Traveling hundreds of thousands of miles away from home alone can be quite intimidating. However, I am so incredibly grateful that I sucked up my nerves and got on the plane. This experience has changed me. I have been to third world countries and I have volunteered before, but I have never left already missing the place I was leaving. Sri Lanka truly is such a special place. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. From the driver who picked me up from the airport, to the tuktuk driver taking me to and from the hospital, to the people serving me dinner in restaurant, the people in Sri Lanka are so kind. I have never traveled anywhere that strangers have been so personable, genuine, and accommodating. When I think of my placement and all the things I observed and got to do, I can't help but reminisce. First, the hospitals in Sri Lanka are immensely different from those in the United States, which I was expecting. But, my expectations were different than what I observed. This opportunity has reshaped my perspective of medicine and has taught me things in the process. I have a new understanding and appreciation for my life, my education, and my career. I originally wanted to do this program as a way to travel to a new country, add another thing to my resume, and learn more in my career field, but as I left I realize that it has been way more than just a box to check or another resume builder. I will be dreaming of Sri Lanka's beauty and all the things I experienced forever.
Elephant Coexistence Volunteer Project in Sri Lanka - Ethimale
Purpose
Start dates
Duration
Volunteer hours
Age
Accommodation
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
This project is perfect for passionate animal lovers who are ready to roll up their sleeves and make a real impact. The work can be physically challenging, but every effort helps a community in need. If you’re eager to protect elephants while safeguarding crops, homes, and livelihoods, this will be one of the most rewarding journeys you will ever take.
Project details
Make a difference with International Volunteer HQ’s unique Elephant Coexistence Project in Sri Lanka!
Provide essential support to the local village of Ethimale as they address one or Sri Lanka’s most urgent conservation and community issues: Human-Elephant Conflict.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
In the heart of Sri Lanka’s elephant corridors lies Ethimale Village, a community situated directly along the daily migration paths between national parks. Here, families live alongside wild herds searching for food and water. While awe-inspiring, this proximity presents real daily challenges: farmers can lose up to 40% of their crops in a single raid, fences frequently collapse, and locals spend sleepless nights guarding their fields.
This program delivers practical, community-driven solutions to foster harmony between people and wildlife. As a volunteer, you will work side-by-side with locals to make a tangible impact through:
- Reinforce physical fences
- Plant bio-deterrents like lemongrass and citrus
- Build beehive barriers
- Repair elephant-damaged homes.
Beyond conservation work, volunteers also support education initiatives, women’s empowerment, and eco-friendly farming. The experience blends hands-on impact with cultural exchange, offering meaningful insight into rural resilience and sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife.
Please note: This is not a luxury experience. This is an immersive, rural program that requires resilience, flexibility and respect for the local way of life. Sightings of wild elephants are not guaranteed on a daily basis. Elephant visibility depends on several factors: weather conditions, seasonal moving patterns and human activity. Elephants may remain in forested areas and not be visible.
Why do Elephant Coexistence volunteering in Ethimale with IVHQ?
When you volunteer in Sri Lanka you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Tackling a critical conservation challenge on the frontlines of a vulnerable rural Sri Lankan community
- Delivering immediate, practical solutions for local families
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining an authentic, immersive cultural experience far off the typical tourist trail
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers need to be 16 or 17 years or over to participate on this project, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian, in which case the minimum age is 3.
Volunteers aged 16 or 17 on their start date, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead, and provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional document to the local team.
To respect the local culture and customs in Sri Lanka, volunteers should be aware that they’re unable to have anything obstructing their face while at their volunteer placement.
Volunteers aged over 18 on their start date are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
All volunteers must speak English and have adequate volunteer travel insurance.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Sri Lanka photo gallery
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditLocation
Location
Ethimale is a rural village in the Siyambalanduwa Division of Monaragala District, located in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province, about 270 kilometers east of Colombo and 60 kilometers from the district capital, Monaragala. Sitting at an elevation of around 96 meters above sea level, the area lies within Sri Lanka’s dry zone, where rainfall averages 1,200–1,600 mm annually, concentrated in the northeast monsoon season.
The community of roughly 1,500 residents depends heavily on agriculture, cultivating paddy, sugarcane and banana crops nourished by the historic Ethimale Wewa reservoir. Sinhala is the main language spoken, and Buddhism is the dominant faith shaping cultural life, with temple gatherings and harvest festivals marking the seasons. Daily life reflects both simplicity and resilience with families relying on local wells for water, small ‘kade’ shops for essentials, nearby Siyambalanduwa town for markets and clinics. While elephants frequently move through the surrounding landscape they serve as a constant reminder of Ethimale’s unique position at the crossroads of human settlement and wild nature.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Colombo on Sunday between 5am and 8pm to receive an airport pick up.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) on Sunday. Your airport pick-up on this day is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
After you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Kandy. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the Sunday night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Sri Lanka prior to your volunteer program, you can meet the local team at the airport in Colombo on the Sunday before your program begins, or make your own way directly to the local team’s office in Kandy.
Orientation is run by the local team in Kandy, beginning on the Monday morning of your start date. There are two options for orientation:
One-day Orientation: This provides you with all the key information you need, plus the chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing. It includes an introduction to Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan customs, rules and expectations, safety in Sri Lanka, travel opportunities in Sri Lanka, an introduction to your volunteer project and placement, Kandy city tour, cultural show and basic Sinhala language lessons.
After your 1 day orientation on Monday in Kandy you will then transfer to your home stay in Ethimale on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.
5-day Culture Week: This is a fantastic way to start your volunteer experience in Sri Lanka and gives you the time to dive deeper into the culture and activities. It will include everything on the One-Day Orientation as well as the following activities:
- Visit a local spice and herbal garden
- Herbal Massage
- Visit to a local tea factory and Ceylon Tea tasting
- Sri Lankan cooking lesson
- Visit to the famous Temple of the Tooth
- Lantern making
- Sri Lankan Dancing lesson
- Kandy City tour
- Gem Museum
- Sri Lankan Food Tasting
- Language and Culture Lesson
- Visit to the White Buddha
- Henna Painting with locals
If you wish to join the Culture Week, you can add this to your itinerary via your pre-departure checklist once you have submitted your application.
If you join the Culture week in Kandy first, you will transfer to Ethimale the following Saturday.
Transportation from Kandy to Ethimale is not included and must be arranged separately. By bus please budget around US$30 (approximately CA$44) or via taxi (5-6 hours), approximately US$100 (approximately CA$147). The taxi fare can be split if sharing with other volunteers.
If you would prefer to go directly to Ethimale after arriving at the airport, this is also an option. Our local team will meet you at the airport and assist you with your transfer. It is important to note that this is not covered in your program fee and you will be responsible for the cost. We recommend budgeting around US$115 (approximately CA$169) for this transfer and the drive is typically around 5 hours.
Volunteers joining the Elephant Coexistence project for 1 week and join the 1-day orientation in Kandy first, are able to spend an extra day in Ethimale to make up for the missed day. Departure day will be Sunday for these volunteers instead of Saturday.
Volunteer schedule example
Weekdays:
A typical day in the village might look like this:
| 8:00 - 9:00 AM | Breakfast. |
| 09:00 - 1:30 PM | Head into the fields to help reinforce fences, plant lemongrass or citrus as natural deterrents or support reforestation and eco-farming projects. On some days you may assist in building watch huts or repairing homes damaged by elephants. |
| 1:30 - 3:00 PM | Lunch Break. Enjoy a simple home-cooked meal with your host family or the local team. |
| 3:00 PM | Observation of elephant behavior or support school lessons, run English activities or help facilitate women’s empowerment workshops. At times, afternoons may involve cultural exchanges, awareness sessions or continuing renovation and farming projects. |
| 5:00 PM | As elephant activity increases, evenings are spent indoors with host families, resting, sharing meals, or joining community storytelling and discussions. Some nights, you may even sleep in tree huts as part of learning how villagers protect their fields. |
| 7:30 PM | Dinner. |
The program is hands-on and dynamic. Activities can change quickly depending on elephant movements, participants fitness level, weather conditions and village priorities. Flexibility, patience and adaptability are key to making the most of your time in Ethimale.
Please note that the schedule may occasionally change due to weather, public or school holidays, or other unforeseen events that could affect your placement. We recommend checking in advance whether your intended travel dates coincide with any public or school holidays.
Weekends: On the weekends volunteers are free to explore the surrounding area or travel further afield. There are many activities to do nearby such as local waterfalls, museums, yoga retreats, hiking and visiting temples.
Looking for more ideas of things to do in Sri Lanka? Check out our Sri Lanka Tours & Experiences!
Accommodation and WiFi
As an Elephant Coexistence volunteer, you will live with a local family in a community homestay, sharing gender-separated rooms with up to five other volunteers. Facilities are basic but authentic, featuring shared western and squat toilets, cold showers, and traditional well-drawn bucket baths.
Power outages are occasional in this remote region, and some project nights involve sleeping under the stars in field tree huts, making flexibility and a sense of adventure a must! The local village center is just 4 km away, with the larger town of Monaragala accessible within an hour’s drive.
Meals
Volunteers on the Sri Lanka program are provided with three meals a day during the week and brunch and dinner during the weekend. Breakfast includes toast, eggs, fruit, tea, coffee and milk. Sri Lankan foods served for lunch and dinner include roti bread, dhal, curries, vegetables and salads. Meat is rarely eaten except on festive occasions.
Bottled water is readily available in Sri Lanka and volunteers should budget approximately CA$7 per week for 2 liters per day. There are also water filters in the volunteer houses. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can discuss this with you. However, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. The local team will do their best to see that you are well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible. If you wish to supplement some of your meals with home comforts, there are basic kitchen facilities available to use.
Pricing
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$329 (approximately CA$484) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
|
Duration
|
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $675 Equivalent to $96/day |
| 2 weeks | $1,020 Equivalent to $73/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,505 Equivalent to $72/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,990 Equivalent to $71/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately CA$484) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Airport pick-up
- Transport to and from your volunteer placement each day
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country emergency support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
- Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular tours & experiences in Ethimale
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular tours and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Ethimale program.
Embark on an unforgettable weekend getaway to Sigiriya, where ancient history and breathtaking nature await.
This 14-day combo trip brings together the best of Sri Lanka’s cultural highlights and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sail the islands of the Maldives aboard a dhoni boat.
This is a fantastic way to start your volunteer experience in Sri Lanka and gives you the time to dive deeper into the culture and activities.
Check what's required to visit Sri Lanka
Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important you monitor this right up until you depart for your trip.
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte |
| Population | 21.8 million |
| Languages | Sinhala and Tamil |
| Currency | Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 |
Weather and climate
The climate is tropical and warm, due to the moderating effects of ocean winds. Mean temperature ranges from 17°C (62.6°F) in the central highlands, where frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a maximum of 33 °C (91.4°F) in other low-altitude areas.
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
It was nothing short of perfect. End to end, it was a seamless and fantastic journey. It certainly surpassed my expectations. With utmost gratitude, big thank you to the entire IVHQ team . Everyone in there is a good person with the right heart, if nothing- you’ll learn atleast something from the experience. It is 100% something I’d do again, and I will
Volunteering in Kandy with special needs project was a truly remarkable experience. It was an amazing experience where language and culture were not barriers. The joy of sharing knowledge and expertise, learning from working together with volunteers from other countries, sharing experiences and doing activities together, and travelling together was priceless. I am truly glad and grateful for this experience and would highly recommend this to those who are keen to explore. Appreciate IVHQ for facilitating this remarkable experience!! and looking forward for more!!
The Special Needs program was truly an eye-opening experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Although I was nervous about volunteering on my own, both the local community and the other volunteers were incredibly welcoming and supportive, making me feel comfortable and settled from the very beginning.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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