Perfect for compassionate, caring volunteers - no experience needed. Whether your interests are in education, sports, or construction, we’ll match you with a placement that fits.

Project details

Interested in being a Community Development volunteer in Sri Lanka? International Volunteer HQ’s Community Support project in Hikkaduwa allows volunteers to get involved in a wide variety of activities that benefit a low-income community. Volunteers can gain experience in one of the following: Teaching, Renovation, or Sports Development.

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

The Community Support project consists of 3 different areas of volunteer work:

Teaching
Restoration and Renovation
Sports Education

Volunteers can choose to work within 1 of these fields and can note this preference on their application so the local team can assign their placement accordingly.

The Teaching project within the Community Support program encompasses several different placements, including:

Pre-School/Kindergarten

As a volunteer teaching assistant in local kindergartens, you’ll help children ages 2–6 learn English through songs, games, crafts, and storytelling. You’ll support teachers with lesson planning and classroom activities, helping create a lively and supportive environment for early learning.

Teaching Monks

In the afternoons, you’ll have the unique opportunity to teach young monks at nearby temples. Lessons focus on basic vocabulary, reading, and conversational English. Teaching monks requires flexibility, as lessons may be interrupted by temple rituals or events.

Community & Adult Teaching

This initiative supports school-aged children (7–15) and adults such as fishermen, tuk-tuk drivers, and small business owners. Classes are informal, often one-on-one or in small groups, focusing on practical language skills for school, tourism, and daily life.

Restoration and Renovation

For volunteers joining the Restoration and Renovation work, you can expect to contribute your time and energy to cleaning, painting, and light repairs: whether that is refreshing classrooms with a new coat of paint, cleaning temple grounds, or repairing community halls, your contributions directly support families and children.

Sports Coaching

Combining physical fitness, language development, and cultural exchange, this project uses education and sport to inspire teamwork, personal growth, and positive change in Hikkaduwa’s local communities.

Volunteers lead sessions in cricket, badminton, and other activities, and deliver interactive English lessons that boost confidence and communication skills. Your time will be filled with moments that matter during this unique blend of teaching and coaching, giving you the chance to empower learners of all ages.

You can expect to be placed in settings such as schools, community centers, and sports clubs. In the mornings, you’ll teach conversational English to children and adults, helping them develop vocabulary, reading, and practical communication skills. In the afternoons, you’ll switch gears to sports coaching - from cricket to badminton, while leading fun, engaging training sessions that build confidence, teamwork, and fitness. Your energy and creativity will not only improve skills but also open pathways for children to thrive in both school and daily life.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Cities account for approximately 70% of global carbon emissions and over 60% of resource use, with low-socioeconomic areas hit hardest by overburdened infrastructure and worsening pollution. Cities must evolve to provide better access to basic services for all, including housing, transportation and clean air.

Why do Community Support volunteering in Hikkaduwa with IVHQ?

Why do Community Support volunteering in Hikkaduwa with IVHQ?

When you volunteer with IVHQ in Sri Lanka, you’ll be making a difference for local people while also developing personally and professionally by:

Supporting disadvantaged communities
Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
Developing your communication skills
Immersing yourself in Sri Lankan culture
Discovering Sri Lanka’s rich history

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.

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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.