Two Weeks in Sri Lanka: Elephant Sanctuary

Many of you are interested in doing an international volunteering experience and getting involved in projects related to animals.

Cooperating Volunteers has various projects spread all over the world: colobus monkey conservation, elephants, turtles, birds, wildlife…

That’s why today we’re sharing the wonderful experience of being part of the daily life at an elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka.

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Our elephant project is located in Rambukkana, and we collaborate with the Pinnawala Orphanage, one of the most famous in the country.

Participants assist at an elephant conservation center and a breeding sanctuary that was originally founded to provide care and protection to the many orphaned, injured, or rescued wild elephants found in the jungle, and the main goal is to help with daily operations under the guidance of the mahout (person in charge of care).

For two weeks or more, depending on how long you choose to stay, you will immerse yourself in a routine full of learning, cooperation, and respect for wildlife. This program not only allows you to get close to one of Asia’s most iconic animals but also offers the opportunity to actively contribute to their well-being.

A day at the sanctuary

The daily tasks vary but are always focused on the responsible care of the elephants and the improvement of their habitat. From food preparation and mud baths to walks for exercise, volunteers become essential allies to the local team.

There are also moments dedicated to cleaning the surroundings, maintaining facilities, and environmental education for both visitors and nearby communities. Each activity is guided by experts who ensure the work is done ethically, avoiding harmful practices such as the use of chains or tourist rides.

Example of a day in the elephant program:

7.45 a.m. – Breakfast

8.30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Help the mahouts clean the elephant enclosures, prepare food for the sick and old elephants, interact with baby elephants or wash the baby elephants.

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Lunch break.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Observe the elephants bathing and playing in the river, wash elephants in the river.

6.30 p.m. – 7.00 p.m. – Dinner

After dinner, participants have free time to spend as they wish.

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Beyond volunteering

Sri Lanka is a country full of history, spirituality, and stunning landscapes. During their free time, volunteers can explore Buddhist temples, enjoy paradise beaches, or visit tea plantations in the highlands. The two weeks go by quickly, but leave a lasting impact on those who take part.

Why choose this program?

* Ethical contribution: You support a sanctuary that prioritizes animal welfare and works toward respectful coexistence.

* Personal growth: You learn about conservation, teamwork, and cultures different from your own.

* Positive impact: Your help is part of a sustainable effort that benefits both the elephants and local communities.

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Seeing the elephants free and cared for is an exciting experience, and it’s one of those trips that changes your life.

So if you care about animal welfare and are willing to learn or contribute, this destination is for you.

Find all the information on our website.

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UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?

At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…

The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.

If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.

Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.

And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.

You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.

If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.

It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity. 

Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.

Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.

We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.

We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.

The advantages of corporate volunteering include:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.

If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. 

Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.

Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.

Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.

There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.

Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.

An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.

And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.

There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.

Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.

We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.

It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.

Some of the benefits include:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.

When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.

Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.

Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.

At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…

And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.

If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.