Travelteer Mental Health Programme works in partnership with Sri Lankan healthcare practitioners in both local hospitals and community clinics. This programme gives psychology students insight into Sri Lankan mental health therapy methods.
The programme allows psychology students access into various forms of mental health therapy found in Sri Lankan communities. Volunteers shadow practitioners in both Western and Ayurvedic fields to gain understanding of different practices used. The placement is a combination of observational and hands on work giving volunteers opportunity to gain highly valuable experience from accompanying healthcare professionals.
Programme strategy
Short term
-Allow students access to local hospital and healthcare clinics
-Provides insight into Eastern treatment methods
-Provide students with experience by shadowing local healthcare professionals
-Support local community clinics through volunteer fundraising
Projects
-Local Hospitals
Our partnership with both the Karapitiya & Asiri Teaching Hospitals provide volunteers on our Mental Health Placement the opportunity to observe local Psychiatric consultants, doctors and nurses working on various mental health wards. The project is a fantastic way to gain insight into how Sri Lankan healthcare systems are run and gain experience through the observation of medical professionals. Mental Health volunteers will generally observe together as a group.
-Ayurvedic Treatment
Ayurveda is an eastern healing system developed over 3,000 years ago in India. These traditional treatments are based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. This project offers the unique opportunity for volunteers to see the making of Ayurvedic herbal medicine and the benefits it brings to local mental health clinics. Volunteers will observe a number of traditional treatments such Acupuncture to stimulate the nerves and Sirolepa – the use of herbalized pastes to treat stress and anxiety.
-Sambodhiya Disabled Centre
This is an amazing project and volunteer fundraising has already made a big impact in disadvantaged Sri Lankan communities! The orphanage is about 35 minutes from our accommodation and looks after children that are mentally or physically disabled. This high impact project provides volunteers with the opportunity to interact with the kids through a number of therapies including voice training activities, basic English lessons, assisting in physiotherapy and simply playing games!
You can join the team anytime from January to September. We offer placements from 2 weeks to 9 months! You will volunteer for approx. 6 hours a day from Monday to Friday each week – which means you have your evenings and weekends off to spend at the beach or travel!
Fundraising
Fundraising threshold is £75 per week you volunteer (max £300). 100% of this money goes to Travelteer Impact, our UK registered charity and then onto the projects in the form of equipment and facilities. Anything over this amount can be reimbursed towards your flights.
Cost breakdowns
Registration fee: £159
This is used to access our services and to cover our UK operation costs. Once you have paid this, you can start your fundraising and look at booking dates with our team.
Living Cost: £24
Accommodation: £10 a night
Food: £8 a day
Local transport: £6 a day
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