Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

Rebekah Jones — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:17:13 GMT

Hello,

I know this forum is a little old now but if anyone is still reading I need some help! I am a qualified veterinary nurse looking for volunteer work from september to december this year. I would really like to work with elephants and other large exotic species and am planning to fly out to either thailand or malaysia arounnd mid september (haven't booked the flights yet so quite flexible). I have seen the postings about the elephant centre in Sri Lanka which sounds amazing! I am looking to volunteer somewhere that isn't going to charge me to go there, and will provide accomodation. Everywhere I have contacted so far have either not replied or have required a lot of money. Could anyone give me any recommendations?

Thanks!

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

Lilly JB RVN — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:36:19 GMT

Hi there, Ive just found your web page online and would be very interested in volunteering with you!!. My boyfriend and I are hoping on a trip to Sri Lanka for a month or so around January next year. Im an RVN, he's doing a tefl course and generally a lover of all animals (wouldnt be my boyfriend if he wasnt! ) Do you take volunteers who find their own accommodation and feed themselves out of their own pockets instead of paying to eat and stay with you??

I hope to hear from you soon. Thankyou.

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

gemma wade — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:00:11 GMT

Hi. early next year is a great time of year to visit Sri Lanka. My previous visit before this was in early Feb and this is a great time of year to come, peak season. on average the cost of living here is very cheap so you don't need alot of spending money, which is good. Altho it does depend on the amount of shopping you do! But again this is cheap, and weekend trips away should also be accounted for.

For me this was a great experience just learning about elephants and being with them and the interaction. I wanted to be able to give this experience to other fellow vet nurses at a discounted rate.

Would be great to see you early next year?

Gemma x

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

EBee — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:35:14 GMT

Hiya I posted on here about a week ago about volunteering projects, and a fellow vetnurse.co.uk member also recommended this charity. I looked at your website and am really interested, I'm looking at starting my volunteering abroad early next year, mainly because i need time to save, are there particular months you would recommend to get the best of the weather? and the vet nurse 10% discount is also great idea :) x

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

gemma wade — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:44:51 GMT

it will be easier to have a look on our website and we update our facebook page regularly. you will receive a 10% discount as you are in the veterinarian field.

FB: Inspire Sri Lanka Elephant Volunteering

http://www.elephantvolunteer.org

Will be great to have you here :)

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

Victoria Whittaker — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:45:18 GMT

I have just finished my first year in the diploma, and I would love to do something like this once im qualified! would you be able to give me a bit more info?? thanks!

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

gemma wade — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:51:02 GMT

Also for all vet nurses we are giving you a 10% discount

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

gemma wade — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:25:15 GMT

Hi Josephine, Pinnawala are being very naughty and charging a ridiculous amount of money for probably the least elephangt experience in this area. They are not actually putting the volunteers at the Pinnawala orphanage at the moment and are sending then to Millenium elephant foundation where i was previously back in feb for 2mths. You may want to check this as this is just from my experience and from talking to volunteers that are currently at MEF that suppose to be at Pinnawala. The experience you will have if you are situated at Pinnawala would be literally Poo picking.

Its a shame you didnt book with us as we are the only volunteer program that teaches you mahout skills and you get to ride at least twice a week, we also teach skills like climbing the elephants leg to mount etc.

You could always come and visit us :) Hope this helps Josephine x

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

gemma wade — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:17:25 GMT

Hi there, it really depends on whether the project you choose supplies food/drink etc. most of the time this is not included on wkends. also wkend trips can differ in prices depending on where you want to go as entrance fees can be quite costly sometimes.

In general i lived very comfortably, travelling at wkends, shopping etc on £600 for 2 mths but it is always worth having a little extra just incase. :) x

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

Josephine — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:24:24 GMT

Oh no! I have just booked a 2 week volunteer holiday to work at Pinnawala in October with a uni friend. I was really excited about going but after reading your post I'm not so sure! Is it really that bad?

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

PHA86 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:14:18 GMT

Think i took about £500 spending money for the month. However, I did treat myself to a couple of nice hotels in Bentota on my weekends off, and think I came home with a bit left over too. You could survive on a lot less.

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

Cheryl RVN — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:31:59 GMT

I would love to get involved with a volunteer opportunity like this. However money is the issue.How much do you need roughly for 2 months?x

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

PHA86 — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:48:47 GMT

It was MEF that I worked at too. I became friends with Sandith, I told him about the Western perception of his sanctuary (which, having lived in the states and Australia he was fully aware of) over a few beers at his friend's holiday home I was invited to. He was in agreement with me, despite pointing out the cultural differences he said he was slowly working to change those things, so it's nice that you are still having input there. I wonder how much it's progressed in the 3 years since I've been there?!

How will your foundation differ?

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

gemma wade — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:14:51 GMT

no its not Pinnewella. this is a new foundation, we are also helping the mahouts with english skills and we are teaching them how to look after the elephants the best they can.

Pinnawela is not a great place to go to and i feel very strongly against this place and do not agree with alot of things that go on there on welfare grounds. we are hoping that people will see how much we do to help and see how loving, caring our mahouts are and come and see us instead. pinnewela is all about money, where we have the best interests of the elephants and we put back into the community the money that is earnt. the health care that is required for an elephant, mahout training. and we are also hellping orphan children.

i worked at MEF too. this is a much better place than Pinnewella and i am still friendly with the mahouts there. i tried to put alot of new ideas into that place to help stimulate the minds of the elephants there so they are not bored all day but the owner was a very hard man to convince, where as here they undertsand the needs more of the elephants and what we are trying to achieve and want the best for the elepahnst here.

would be great to see you here one day maybe :)

Re: Elephant Volunteering in Sri Lanka- Inspire Sri Lanka!

PHA86 — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:34:27 GMT

I did something very similar back in 2008 in Kegalle. Is it Pinnawela, MEF or another foundation?

I think what I did was an incredible experience, we have to respect cultural differences, but witnessed poor animal welfare in some instances.