Volunteering on Clinical Psychology in Sri Lanka – Medical Program
The Clinical Psychology Internship in Sri Lanka allows volunteers to understand the clinical observations a busy public mental health hospital in Colombo.
Since you will accompany the local doctors and nurses of the hospital, you’ll get a deeper understanding of psychological therapy for the patients. The hospital offers both Out Patient Service and In Patient Service units.
Itinerary for Pre Medical Observation at the Hospital in Colombo
Arrival in Sri Lanka on Saturday
You will need to notify us of your arrival time at least one week in advance. Many international airlines offer direct flights to Sri Lanka. If you are not arriving in the scheduled date, you need to provide us the address where you are going to be hosted so we can pick you up on the program start date. We prefer to pick you up at Colombo. If you are staying outside Colombo please let us know in advance for arranging the pick up without any hassle.
Once you have arrived at the airport or bus station our team will be waiting for you with an Iko Poran Welcome Sign or a paper with your name on it. They will take you to the accommodation to meet the host family and to rest after a long flight, and/or to begin familiarizing yourself with the neighborhood.
The medical projects are running in Colombo (accommodation arrangements in Wattala), which is not far away from Colombo neighborhood or from Bandaraike Katunayake International airport. Formal orientation will begin upon your arrival. You will meet the country coordinator at the orientation session.
Orientations Session and Arrival at the Hospital of Colombo
The Orientation session begins after breakfast around 08:00 at your accommodation. Your coordinator will explain the details of your program as well as the schedule for the weeks ahead. The coordinator will take you the program location introducing you to the coordinator at the hospital. Then, after lunch we will take you for a short tour of the Colombo city so you can feel comfortable when you explore it in the afternoons or weekends.
Pre Medical Observation Program – Tuesday to Friday
The participants would follow the local doctors / nursing in charge of a busy public mental health hospital in Colombo.
The program would allow volunteers to understand the clinical observations at hospital.
The hospital has Out Patient Service and In Patient Service units.
Out Patient Service units: OPD – 24 Hour Out Patient Department, 24 Hour Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit for managing aggressive patients, Referral to Psychiatric Clinics if admission not needed, Community Psychiatry Program, Day Rehabilitation Centre, Day ECT Centre, Gender Based Violence Prevention Unit, Dental Unit.
In Patient Service Units: Acute & Intermediate Care, Long Term care, ECT Unit, Forensic Psychiatry Unit, Psycho-Geriatric Unit, Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Perinatal Psychiatry Unit, Learning Disability Unit, Medical Ward, Physiotherapy Unit, Nutrition Unit.
Volunteers will follow a medical roster program under the supervision of senior doctors / nursing in charges at the hospitals.
Enjoy your free weekend
For those continuing their program for subsequent weeks, Saturday and Sunday will be free to relax and explore the beauty of the project location and nearby touristic cities. If this is your final week at the program, it will finish on Friday and Saturday morning you should leave to the airport or bus station, or to continue your travels. It is your responsibility to organize the transfer back to airport. If you want help arranging it please talk with our staff. They will definitely be happy to assist you!!
Additional Information
Volunteers at Psychology program stay in Wattala. You need to have plenty of enthusiasm and confidence. It is important to keep good understanding with local staff at hospitals. Most of the staff can speak good English, however, with the minor staff, you might face communication issues. We mostly speak Sinhala, which is one of the main languages.
Working and living in Wattala is an incredible life experience. The accommodation is arranged at volunteer apartment with air condition facility. You will see the modern life of the real Sri Lankans, will be part of their traditions and will taste the local cuisine at the volunteer apartment. Take your free time to visit the museums, archaeological sites, and take incredible pictures in this beautiful Island during weekends.
Start Dates & Duration
Our volunteer programs in Sri Lanka start every 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, but we are flexible and may receive you in other days, if necessary.
The Child Development and the Art programs are not running in the months of April, August & December.
You may join the Childcare Orphanage program on those months. Other projects are available throughout the year
You can choose to volunteer from 1 to 12 weeks.
Location Colombo
Colombo – Accommodation arrangements in Wattala
Fees
- The program fee is paid directly to the host organization.
- All of the projects incur a registration fee of U$ 149.00 on top of the program fee.
What is included in the program fee?
- Pre-arrival assistance
- Airport pickup
- Orientation about project, country, and rules
- Accommodation (tri/dual sharing in a service apartment or with a welcoming host family)
- All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner). Authentic Sri Lankan Meals
- Project transportation
- English speaking project manager to assist
- In-country 24/7 emergency support if necessary
- Travel support in Sri Lanka
- Certificate of Volunteering
What is not included in the volunteer in Sri Lanka program fee?
- Airfare
- Visa
- All personal expenses
- Other tours and leisure activities
There are no hidden costs. These are the most affordable volunteer programs in Sri Lanka.
Iko Poran is an NGO based in a developing country. We are dedicated to helping you help others, at the lowest possible price.
We are interested in making volunteering abroad more accessible so that more people can help do really important work.
Participants in our cheap volunteer programs in Sri Lanka normally find US$ 50 to be sufficient for weekly expenses in the country.
The program fee should be paid directly to the host country and it is due 30 days before the project start date.
Accommodation & Meals
In Watalla volunteers stay in tri/dual sharing room in a volunteer apartment.
Both are great options and we’re sure you will have a fantastic time!
All meals are included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Volunteers joining the meditation program stay at the Buddhist monastery.
Requirements
Volunteers work 4 to 6 hours daily, Monday to Friday.
You must be at least 18 years old at the start date of your program.
All volunteers must have adequate travel insurance.
Language Requirements
At least intermediate English is required in all the projects to volunteer in Sri Lanka.
Safety
As a volunteer in Sri Lanka, you will have competent support and advice from the local team and project leaders.
There will always be a member of the local team working with you at the projects.
The local coordinators will give you all the information to have a safe and unforgettable experience as a volunteer in Sri Lanka.
More volunteer opportunities in Sri Lanka
Find the overview about all volunteer opportunities in Sri Lanka.
If you love nature and beautiful beaches, join our wildlife volunteer project to save the newly hatched sea turtles in Sri Lanka.
You can also do an internship as a volunteer parenting teacher at a kindergarten.
Regardless of whether you are pursuing a pedagogical career or working with therapy, you can do valuable work on the therapy at a special school for blind and deaf children. The volunteer project at the Dance Academy will also benefit these handicapped children.
In addition, medical students can take part in a pre-medical internship at the modern Colombo Hospital.
Last but not least, you embark on a spiritual journey to Sri Lanka and attend a meditation workshop in a Buddhist monastery.
Medical Volunteering
Read about all the medical internships abroad, we can offer in many countries.
For instance, you can join a medical internship at the Pediatric Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, or provide healthcare for children at the Pediatric Clinic in Cambodia.
Medical students can also work on healthcare volunteering in Thailand, Surin.
There is even a dental internship in Peru available, where medical volunteers can work at a healthcare centre in Cusco.
In South Africa, students can join a fascinating wildlife veterinary internship!
Moreover, we offer a new project on wellness coaching with the young students at a college in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
Volunteering Overseas
Find the overview of all our cheap volunteer abroad programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America.