Feel the life
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About the project
Feel the life
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Green Volunteers for Green Future (GV4GF) is a non-profit organization registered under the Government Company Registrar Act. Established in 2010, we've been co-organizing work camps since 2011, thanks to the kind assistance of Mr. Kaizawa, a founding member of NICE – Japan.
At GV4GF, we focus on cultural exchange through our work camps, which cover four main themes: agriculture, environmental protection, livelihood, and indirect education. We partner with local organizations to ensure our activities meet their goals and benefit the maximum number of people. Our area coordinators, who represent various community-based organizations, work in diverse fields such as agriculture, human rights, and women's development.
Since 2011, we've been partners with NVDA (Asian Voluntary Organizations Network), and in 2018, we became full members. That same year, we joined ALLIANCE as a guest organization.
Beyond voluntary work, we also support local communities and schools by providing meals, books, sports equipment, and helping schools to hire teachers. Our former volunteers often contribute directly to these efforts.
💼 What the programme involves
This project has been actively working toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) since its inception in 2023. It is organized in collaboration with the Cultural and Agricultural Organization.
The project is divided into two key components:
Support for Livelihoods: The first component focuses on supporting selected families to improve their livelihoods through various activities such as gardening, home gardening, plant nurseries, and small-scale domestic production. By enhancing their agricultural skills and providing necessary resources, we aim to empower these families to achieve self-sufficiency and sustainable growth.
Community Engagement: The second component, known as 'Visit Community,' offers volunteers a unique opportunity to connect directly with local women's groups, village youth, families, and kindergarten children. During these visits, volunteers share their stories and experiences, fostering cross-cultural exchange and understanding. This engagement allows volunteers to gain a deep insight into local culture and experience the true essence of everyday life in the community.
Through these initiatives, we strive to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the local population, supporting their journey toward a better future.
🏠 Accommodation on site
All volunteers will stay with a host family. Volunteers will share rooms, with separate rooms for males and females. Beds, pillows, and mosquito nets are provided. Water, electricity, and 3G/4G data connections are available. In some houses, toilet paper can be used. Clothes need to be washed by hand and hung outside to dry
🍲 Food
Our host mother will be cooking for us. Volunteers will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of local foods, sweets, fruits, and tea during their stay. Our host families take pride in offering delicious and authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. However, please note that pork and beef are not served. This provides a chance to experience the rich flavors of traditional dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are sourced from outside.
📍 About the location
Nawalapitiya, located in the Central Province, is a beautiful mountainous area with an elevation of 610 meters above sea level, situated 154 km from Colombo, the capital city, and 114 km from Colombo via Gampola. Known for its lush tea and vegetable plantations, the region also cultivates vanilla, black pepper, chilies, and cardamom. The South Indian Tamil community, brought over by the British approximately 200 years ago to work on tea plantations, is predominant in Nawalapitiya. The area is also in close proximity to the ancient kingdoms of Gampola (17 km away) and Kandy (46 km away), which adds to its historical significance. The climate in Nawalapitiya is generally cool and comfortable, although daytime temperatures can rise to between 30°C to 33°C during certain months. Besides its natural beauty and agricultural abundance, the region boasts breathtaking landscapes, majestic mountains, historic temples, and grand houses built during the British colonial era.
🎒 Leisure activities
Typically, volunteers discuss their free day plans and visit together. Some places may require entrance tickets. Hiring a personal vehicle helps minimize travel time and avoids unnecessary delays. Free day expenses are not included in the participation fee.
In Nawalapitiya, volunteers have the opportunity to visit several fascinating locations:
• Kandy: The second capital city in Sri Lanka and the last kingdom of Sri Lanka, known for its rich history and cultural significance.
• Waterfalls: Enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of the region's waterfalls.
• Sri Lanka’s First Tea Plantation and Factory: Learn about the history of tea production in Sri Lanka.
• Temple of the Tooth Relic: A sacred Buddhist temple that houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
• Gampola Biodiversity Center: Explore the diverse flora and fauna of the region.
• Elephant Orphanage: Visit this sanctuary dedicated to the care and protection of orphaned elephants.
⚠️ Requirements
During the project, we’ll be using English as our primary means of communication, so a basic understanding of English is necessary. Volunteers will be staying in rural areas, often in traditional villages. It's important to accept and respect the local culture. Being adaptable and flexible will make your experience even more rewarding.
Be ready to share stories about your country, city, work, and personal life with the local community. And most importantly, bring along a smiling face and a big, warm heart.
🤝 Meeting point
All volunteers will meet at the Colombo Government Central Bus Terminal, in front of the Galle (Route No. 2) bus stop, at 9:00 a.m. The camp leader will be there to greet you. Together, all the campers will then travel to the site by bus.
Please note that there is another bus terminal, the Private Bus Terminal, which we are not using. You can recognize government buses by their red color, while private buses are mainly light blue and white, though they come in other colors too.
ℹ️ Additional information
Our project is all about supporting local livelihoods. Some families are engaged in small activities to earn extra income. Our volunteers will be visiting two or three of these families, staying with them, and lending a hand with their daily tasks. It's a wonderful opportunity to build connections and make a positive impact.
Here, we are not organising any group camps. If some organisation is interested in organizing a group workcamp, first they asked us and then we organised it.
All these projects are International workcamps.
Volunteers can pay their participation fee in euros. This year we are accepting only euros
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
Feel the essence of life
17/06/2025 at 09:00 → 26/06/2025 at 16:30
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
255.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR / ₨)
Exchange rate
1 LKR = 0.002693 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
India Standard Time
Local time: 20:56 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken