Childcare and Community in Sri Lanka School Trips
Projects Abroad
Join us on our Childcare and Community Programme in Sri Lanka to improve early childhood development by working in local schools. The day-care centres, schools and kindergartens we work with are often overcrowded and don’t have the necessary resources due to underfunding. As a result, teachers and caregivers often struggle to give the equal attention to each child that they need to learn and grow.
With your help, children from disadvantaged backgrounds will be given educational support and develop a variety of skills. Through renovation projects, you will also help improve the children's learning environment, giving them a more inspiring space to learn and play in.
Teacher Checklist
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Example Itineraries for our 2026 trips
Days 1 - 2
You will land at Colombo Airport (CMB), where our local Projects Abroad team will be waiting for you by the exit with a sign. Depending on your placement school, you will then be taken by minibus to your accommodation in either Negombo or Colombo.
The first two days will focus on getting you familiar with your new surroundings. You will follow an orientation session to discover the city and your placement setting. You will also receive a thorough induction, which will include a security briefing, cultural awareness training, and finally, a review of the programme plan with our local team to ensure everyone knows their roles.
Days 3-6
During the next four days, your students will settle into their placements, observe the classroom staff at work, and engage with the children. Your group will support learning through tasks such as reading to the children and participating in arts and crafts sessions, as well as developing educational resources for lessons.
Projects Abroad has checklists for all the development indicators we hope to see from the children as they pass through the centres, and we will ensure your group has resources to use in their activities. Addressing these indicators will give your students plenty of opportunities to bring their ideas and talents into their day-to-day work.
In the afternoons, you and your students will start community work. Your group's project will depend on the school's current needs at the time of your trip, but it could range from planting a garden to putting together playground equipment for the children.
Social and Cultural Activities
In the evenings, our local team will ensure that the fun continues. From cooking lessons and an evening by the pool to shopping or sightseeing in Colombo, you will have plenty to keep you entertained.
Days 7-8
Over the weekend, travel to Dambulla, a beautiful city full of history in central Sri Lanka. As this journey takes six hours, you will leave first thing in the morning and have a few breaks for snacks and sightseeing.
On arrival, you head to the Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and discover its incredible murals, breathtaking views, and over 150 Buddha statues. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, this site has been sacred for two thousand years and is a must-see during your trip. In the afternoon, visit Sigiriya, another UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the "Eight Wonders of the World" by the local community.
The following day, your group will travel to Minneriya National Park and embark on an elephant safari aboard a jeep. You should also be able to spot other wildlife residing in this sanctuary, such as deer, monkeys, and vibrant bird species.
Days 9-12
Jumping back into your placement school in week two, everyone should be more confident about their classroom roles. You will learn more about planning and implementing lessons with the children with support from the class teacher. In the afternoons, continue to work hard on your renovation project. You should be able to see your positive impact as the week draws to a close.
Day 13
Last day at your placement. Head to the school for a farewell party and make some final memories with the children you have been supporting.
After the party, you will head into town to grab some last-minute souvenirs.
Day 14
It's time to wave goodbye to Sri Lanka as you return to Colombo Airport to catch your flight home. You've all developed a deep connection with the Sri Lankan community and now better understand the country's culture, history, and conservation efforts.
For a detailed itinerary, please contact us by completing the form.
You will land at Colombo Airport (CMB), where our local Projects Abroad team will be waiting for you by the exit with a sign. Depending on your placement school, you will then be taken by minibus to your accommodation in either Negombo or Colombo.
The first two days will focus on getting you familiar with your new surroundings. You will follow an orientation session to discover the city and your placement setting. You will also receive a thorough induction, which will include a security briefing, cultural awareness training, and finally, a review of the programme plan with our local team to ensure everyone knows their roles.
Days 3-6
During the next four days, your students will settle into their placements, observe the classroom staff at work, and engage with the children. Your group will support learning through tasks such as reading to the children and participating in arts and crafts sessions, as well as developing educational resources for lessons.
Projects Abroad has checklists for all the development indicators we hope to see from the children as they pass through the centres, and we will ensure your group has resources to use in their activities. Addressing these indicators will give your students plenty of opportunities to bring their ideas and talents into their day-to-day work.
In the afternoons, you and your students will start community work. Your group's project will depend on the school's current needs at the time of your trip, but it could range from planting a garden to putting together playground equipment for the children.
Social and Cultural Activities
In the evenings, our local team will ensure that the fun continues. From cooking lessons and an evening by the pool to shopping or sightseeing in Colombo, you will have plenty to keep you entertained.
Days 7-8
Over the weekend, travel to Dambulla, a beautiful city full of history in central Sri Lanka. As this journey takes six hours, you will leave first thing in the morning and have a few breaks for snacks and sightseeing.
On arrival, you head to the Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and discover its incredible murals, breathtaking views, and over 150 Buddha statues. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, this site has been sacred for two thousand years and is a must-see during your trip. In the afternoon, visit Sigiriya, another UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the "Eight Wonders of the World" by the local community.
The following day, your group will travel to Minneriya National Park and embark on an elephant safari aboard a jeep. You should also be able to spot other wildlife residing in this sanctuary, such as deer, monkeys, and vibrant bird species.
Days 9-12
Jumping back into your placement school in week two, everyone should be more confident about their classroom roles. You will learn more about planning and implementing lessons with the children with support from the class teacher. In the afternoons, continue to work hard on your renovation project. You should be able to see your positive impact as the week draws to a close.
Day 13
Last day at your placement. Head to the school for a farewell party and make some final memories with the children you have been supporting.
After the party, you will head into town to grab some last-minute souvenirs.
Day 14
It's time to wave goodbye to Sri Lanka as you return to Colombo Airport to catch your flight home. You've all developed a deep connection with the Sri Lankan community and now better understand the country's culture, history, and conservation efforts.
For a detailed itinerary, please contact us by completing the form.
Which Curriculum Subjects do we cater for?
English
During their placement, students will help to develop children's skills and confidence in the English Language. This will help the children as they get older and open more doors in their personal and professional lives. With support from staff, the students will plan and implement activities to help the children to learn the language in a fun and engaging way.
Art
Click to read full text While helping children at the care centres, students will learn to organise and run arts and crafts sessions. As the group teaches the children, they are helping them to develop their creativity and fine motor skills.
While bettering their understanding of the importance of art within early childhood development, the group will also learn how to take a lesson from planning to implementation, teach the subject, and communicate to students at different educational levels.
Volunteers will also get hands-on during their renovation project. In addition to building equipment and flower beds, students may also brighten classrooms with a lick of paint or paint educational murals for the children.
Cultural
Discover the local culture and customs by engaging in activities to learn more about the local communities. You will have the opportunity to visit incredible landmarks, learn how to cook local dishes, and develop your knowledge about the nation's history.
Community Projects
In addition to supporting local children's education by assisting teachers in the classroom, you and your students will also participate in renovation work. This will help improve the learning environment, providing kids with a more inspiring and stimulating place to grow and play.
What size groups do we cater for?
All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place with every 9 students.
Access for visitors with disabilities?
Disabled facilities can be offered on request.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Visitors with special educational needs can be catered for on request.
Anything else?
Projects Abroad provides an individualised service and schedule planning, which is backed up by excellent pre-departure preparation and by a dedicated and highly experienced local team in each destination.
We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student, promoting self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.
Get in touch today! Our partnerships team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student, promoting self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.
Get in touch today! Our partnerships team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
Who are Projects Abroad?
Projects Abroad arrange challenging, meaningful, educational, and safe overseas service and internship programmes.
We have been taking students overseas since 1992 and work in over 20 developing and emerging countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Key to our work is the dedicated in-country staff whose diverse skill sets, local knowledge and love of their community allow us to develop relevant, immersive and worthwhile schedules for school trips which give the students responsibility and teach them to see the world through a different lens.
We offer programmes in community development, conservation, construction, education, sports, empowerment, human rights, and healthcare, among many others. These projects are designed to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, broadening the student experience to see the contribution of a few to a movement for global change.
All school trips are individualised. We realise that each school has its own goals and interests, and the students have their own passions. We work with the school to develop a tailored itinerary that reflects their values and allows the students to make a connection with the community in which they serve.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Expedition Providers Association Tailor your trip Help promoting your trip Offset your trip carbon footprint
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