Past volunteer Comments
a big thanks again for accepting me on your program, truly an invaluable experience and hopefully a positive one for everyone we met along the way.
Volunteering with VESL was an absolutely invaluable experience that I know my partner Anna and I have taken a lot from. A big thank you! I have to add that I think Bharavi is a fantastic in-country co-ordinator, who is very considerate and goes out of his way to provide volunteers with the support they need.
Thank you very, very, very much VESL for giving me the opportunity to experience such great things, such a different life... such great memories.
I just want to say a huge thank you for accepting me on the VESL programme, I really, really enjoyed my time in Sri Lanka! I couldn't have hoped for a better project, the school was terrific, a lovely principal and really friendly English teachers. Never have I seen so many children eager to learn and the smiles and appreciation they showed for having us there made it even more worthwhile!
Our time in Sri Lanka was by no means easy... but looking back it was the most magical time and really fulfilling. An experience never to be forgotten. I will always be pleased I did it. The people are so warm and grateful and saying goodbye was so hard. I can guarantee any future VESL volunteers will have an amazing experience in an incredible place with gorgeous people.
Our main objective was to create an interest in English and to increase the confidence of our students. Most learning is done from books and by copying from a blackboard. We wanted to just get the students speaking to us and listening to us, in order that they could actually hold a conversation. Even the teachers in our school struggled to understand us, as most have not spoken to a native English speaker since the war started.
I learnt a lot while I was there. Making presentations to a roomful of people who speak the same language as me no longer seems daunting, and I feel like I understand the challenges of effective communication for a teacher, particularly across a language barrier. As for the children I was teaching, their spoken English did improve, either due to better pronunciation or increased confidence, while their listening was also better by the end of the month. They just seemed very enthusiastic and eager to keep learning.
The children were so sad when I left. They said 'you will forget us', but how could I? Working with them has been a real privilege. They absorbed everything I had to offer them like little sponges.
Challenging, fascinating, interesting and fun – my summer with VESL gave me an amazing insight into what life is like in the most isolated communities on a most beautiful island. I have never taught such enthusiastic students in my life (or eaten such unbelievably hot food!). But best of all was the sense that I was making a small but measurable difference to people’s lives. It’s not often you get the opportunity to do something so worthwhile.