This literally changed my life. At first, I was extremely hesitant to do this alone as I am a young woman so obviously I was worried about safety etc. however, when you get to meet the local community all your worries vanish. The local team gives you advice on where you should avoid going in terms of safety, they had a trusted local tuk-tuk driver that could pick us up from wherever we were if we needed it. I stayed only 2 weeks but I wished I could have stayed more. The special needs program made me grow as a person and I know for a fact that nothing I had done in the past had the same impact in my life as this.

Keep In mind that you have to be extremely open-minded when choosing to do this as it is extremely different from what you are used to. if you know that you can't handle seeing extreme cases of special needs I would strongly advise to not do this , and go for animal volunteering which could be a better fit for you. Overall I would highly recommend the special needs program,

I am so happy that I could experience these two weeks in Sri Lanka. I met so many amazing people and started to think about how privileged my life is a lot more. I know, that you don’t choose your privilege, or lack thereof; you’re born with it. And that´s why I want to use my privilege for the greater good.

I loved to spend time with the local kids and families and was sad when I had to leave. Next time I will stay for longer, that´s for sure.

IVHQ made me feel comfortable within the first few weeks of getting mentally prepared for the trip. So much travel anxiety was reduced by the program coordinator and the online resources.

The local support team was amazing! They were more than hospitable and made me feel right at home. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my journey!

The volunteering itself made me realize how much more needs to be done, and that I wanted to be a part of it since I was only able to do so much. I will be doing another project in the near future.

The accommodation was more than comfortable and the food was SO GOOD!! I was so sad to go back home because all the local Sri Lankan dishes we had made for us every night weren't around.

I feel like I gained a sense of understanding a third world country and how many struggles they have to endure daily. It made me appreciate the things I take for granted sometimes, whether it's hot running water, a toilet, certain social programs or even just some constructs. This project opened my eyes to the world around me, and how much more I want to see and immerse myself into.

I feel I have gained a deeper insight into Sri Lankan culture and made a valuable contribution to the volunteer project by working with and supporting the turtles and the team who care for them. I would tell anyone who is hesitant to join that there is no need to be hesitant at all! You will have so much fun and learn so much, I cannot recommend it enough.

The pre-departure support and guidance was amazing, I felt well supported and all my questions were promptly answered.

The local team in Sri Lanka were absolutely wonderful. Warm, accommodating and they went above and beyond! I could not have hoped for a better experience.

The meals were healthy and they looked after me not being able to eat gluten. It is awful to have the need for dietary requirements and they didn’t make me feel bad about it. Overall, I am glad I took the leap of faith - it was the best way to experience the real culture and people of the country and to be able to give something back .

I gained so much insight about Sri Lanka , and had a deep feeling I had made an impact. The experience will stay with me for a long time and I will certainly be seeking out other IVHQ experiences.