Frequently Asked Questions

1) Why should I register with VSL?

VSL was established to resolve the dilemma faced by volunteers arriving in Sri Lanka - not knowing where to go or what to do. Based in Hikkaduwa, approx. 90 kms south of Colombo, we are well placed to support the numerous small international and local relief and reconstruction efforts in the southwest third of the island. 

2) I downloaded the form and returned it weeks ago. Yo! Why no response???????

We are still working on internet access at our office in Hikkaduwa, so for the time being we have to work out of cyber-cafes where it can be difficult and costly to download the forms. 

Two things you can do to help us:

• Make sure you send us a summary of your skills and interest in the email you send us with your application and include your dates of availability.

• Be patient and don't hesitate to send us another email - remember you have more bandwidth than we do!

Our ideal window for placement is three weeks before you arrive. Remember, the situation is fluid here. Anything longer than three weeks and we won't be able to predict the situation, anything less and we might not have time to get you in touch with an organization that needs your help.

 3) I have never been a volunteer before. I have never helped in a disaster situation. Can I register with VSL?

Yes. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and many different countries.  Their commonality lies in their universal desire to assist the people of Sri Lanka in recovering from this terrible tragedy.  We are now in a reconstruction and rehabilitation phase, and the need for volunteers is greater than ever! 

4) I can only spend a limited time, a day or two volunteering, would there be a point in my registering with VSL?

No. But give us a call when you arrive, we might know of day labor opportunities.

3) I can only spend a few hours on specific days for voluntary work, should I register?

No.

Although VSL encourages volunteering, we don't have the capacity to place people for less than a minimum of one month full time and it isn't advisable to get involved with a project for less than a month. The reason being that it is very difficult to hit the ground running here. It takes a full week to adjust to Sri Lanka's climate and working conditions. Another to observe and learn the dynamics involved in the different reconstruction efforts, and a lifetime to grasp the cultural nuances. We have found that volunteers who come for less than a month find they are just beginning to understand the problem before it is time to get on a plane and leave.

4) I am not a professional aid worker, would I be welcome?

Absolutely.

All sorts of volunteers are needed at the moment.  If you can use a hammer, pick up some trash, help hand somebody nails, work a computer, anything, you are needed.

5) What part of Sri Lanka will I be working in?

We are based in the southwest of Sri Lanka.  Most of the camps and projects we are placing volunteers with at this moment are small scale, volunteer-run operations.   

6) Can I find a place with any of the International NGOs - CARE,  Red Cross, WHO, World Vision, etc.?

It is HIGHLY unlikely you will find a volunteer opportunity with any International NGOs, any multinational (United Nations, World Food Program, UNHCR, etc.) , and bilateral aid agency operating on the island. They don't have the capacity or the desire to place volunteers.

7) Can I work only in specific areas?

Sure, but we will only be able to help you if you want to work in the southwest.

Keep in mind also that the East and Northeast parts of the island are extremely volatile right now. We suggest you leave these areas to the larger NGOs and Multilaterals whose employees are paid very well to undertake the hazards there. Don't worry, there is plenty of work in the southwest of the island.

8) Will accommodation be provided?

No. Volunteers have to pay for their own accommodation and travel expenses.  You should expect to pay around $10 a day for accommodation and budget an additional $10 for food.  In some cases we can intervene with local guest house owners to get you a reduced rate. In addition the project you will be placed with will likely have some long-term accommodation options. .

Think of it this way. There are organizations that charge upwards of $1500.00 to do what VSL does. Save that money use it to cover your expenses and help the organization you are placed with.

9) Will I be provided with transportation?

No. You will have to find your own transport. Again though, some NGOs you may work with do provide transport. Traveling around Sri Lanka is exceptionally cheap - you can take an air-conditioned bus from Colombo to Hikkaduwa for less than $2.00. Local transport in the ubiquitous Sri Lanka tuk-tuk will run $3-$4 per day, and local buses for pennies. Check out the Info for Volunteers page for travel tips.

10) Will there be food to suit my taste?

Not all the time. We encourage you to cultivate your culinary appreciation for the finer nuances of the Sri Lanka national dish - rice and curry, because if you haven't yet, you most certainly will by the time you leave Sri Lanka. Rest assured that in the southwest of the island the food is clean and delicious! There are also plenty of restaurants serving western food as well as some of the best seafood in the world.

Most restaurants will let you order with little or no spiciness in the curry.

If you are a coffee addict, bring your own coffee and a French press - the national drink of Sri Lanka is tea (with LOTS of sugar!). Feel free to donate the press at the VSL house in Hikkaduwa!

11) Is the water safe to drink?

No. But bottled water is available everywhere on the island.

12) Do I need visa?

No. But it depends on how long you intend to stay.

You can come into Sri Lanka on a 30 day tourist visa free of charge. VSL is purely a volunteer network and placement service, and as such WE CANNOT SPONSOR YOU, so please don't ask.

Another option, (one that you didn't hear about from us), is to come on a tourist visa and extend your visit here, as a tourist.  It is VERY difficult to get visas as volunteers.  In order to stay longer than 30 days you will have to obtain a letter of sponsorship from your project and it will cost you around $175. Another alternative is to fly to India for the weekend and then return, since flights to India are cheap and the 30 day clock restarts automatically once you leave and enter the country. 

Please contact the Sri Lankan embassy of your country for information or visit the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration website at www.immigration.gov.lk.

13) Do I have to undergo a special immunisation programme?

Again, this depends on the country where you are from. Sri Lanka has an excellent healthcare system and the southwest part of the island is free of malaria and most other diseases. If you still want to get shots, we have a long-standing relationship with a hospital in Colombo that can administer your shots for about 1/10th of what it would cost at home. The place is clean and very modern, and will know what shots you need to get.

Drugs are also cheap; available over the counter and without prescription in most cases. Seriously, save yourself a bundle and just buy any medicine you need here.