Workcamp Details

Description: Daya Nivasa (House of Love) is an orphanage for differently abled children in the outskirts of Kandy. The place is also called Mother Teresa’s Home and is run by catholic nuns, helped by nearly 10 paid persons. It was created to balance the risk of abandon that children with disabilities are facing in Sri Lanka. Thus, families often do not have enough resources to support and raise those kids and have no choice to leave them. Today, Daya Nivasa welcomes about 90 residents of all ages among whom some are severely disabled and are confined to wheelchairs or bedridden. Many of them need individual assistance to do their daily activities.

Type of Work: The house regularly needs some maintenance work in order to remain as a welcoming place for children. The objective of the camp is also for volunteers to spend time with Daya Nivasa residents. In fact, the staff is already fully dedicated to insure that their basics needs are fulfilled and so can lack of time to do leisure activities with children. Thus, volunteers will organise games, creative workshops, educational activities… to stimulate the residents and make them have a good time.

Study Theme: The camp will be an opportunity to talk about the social treatment of disabilities in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in SCI SL Office in Kandy.

Language: The main spoken languages during the camp will be English but local language is Sinhalese and the camp coordinator is French.

Requirements: We need open-minded and patient persons who are aware that working with physically and mentally disabled people can be rough. A previous experience with this kind of public would also be appreciated.

Approximate Location: Daya Nivasa is located in Kandy, the former capital of Sri Lanka. As it is situated in the montainous part of the country, climate is cooler than in other areas.

Notes: The camp participation fee is not required from local volunteers who just have to pay the 500 Rs SCI SL membership fee.