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Teach English to Buddhist monks while having a unique Temple stay experience, Kuruwita, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
Last activity : 30 Apr 2025

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100 %
Last replied
30 Apr 2025
Reply rate
99.0 %
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19
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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

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Description
Are you fascinated by Buddhist culture and dream of spending time in a monastery? Would you like to visit Sri Lanka and teach English to Buddhist monks and school children while you are there? We are here for you. We help Buddhist monks teach English and teach English to school children in Batathota and Kuruwita ancient cave temple overlooking Adam's Peak in the middle of Sri Lanka. We also hope to give you some understanding about Buddhism. It can also help you meditate according to your wishes. It also gives you the opportunity to experience a very beautiful environment. You can go to nearby Adam's Peak and bathe in a beautiful river. Please note that we can only host male volunteers. A separate private place for female volunteers to stay can be discussed with us. thank you.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will have the chance to immerse yourself in a monastery and learn all about the inspiring and powerful Buddhist teachings and traditions. Your time in this project will be fun and exciting as you immerse yourself in life at a Buddhist monastery and learn about their faith, culture, traditions, and way of life. Our School is located in the beautiful town of Eheliyagoda . Volunteers can also travel to other historical Places like Adams Peak, beautiful river and Natural beauty around the area.
Help
The English language skills you teach these young monks will help them spread their message of peace, non-violence, and enlightenment to a world that needs these things now more than ever. In the project, you will have the opportunity to teach them conversational English as well as other subjects that might be of benefit to them. You will have conversations with the young monks and interact and connect with them as you help improve their English. While participating in this project to teach English to monks in Sri Lanka, you will be volunteering around 2 to 3 hours per day in the Piravena. You will be teaching young monks from 10 to 20 years old. You can teach poor school children.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Intermediate
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We provide a single room with a fan. Three meals and beverages will be provided.
What else ...
On weekends, the volunteers can travel around the area and enjoy swimming, jogging, and sight-seeing.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two

Host ref number: 158364321262

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Feedback (19)

23 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Aleks) for host

Thank you for this amazing opportunity! Everyone was so accepting and welcoming, from the Bhante in the temple to the beautiful family I was lucky to stay with. Wherever you went you were treated as part of the community and spoiled with delicious (spicy) food. The teaching for the Bhante was quite relaxed as most know an impressively high level… read more

(Excellent )

21 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Phillis) for host

We had a very nice time with you and were warmly welcomed. We stayed in the house of the main monk's family and felt very comfortable there. The little monks are all very nice and you can organize the lessons freely. We were there for far too short a time and would love to come again and for longer.
Mika and Phillis

(Excellent )

19 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Anthony) for host

I stayed for one week at the school temple and found it a very valuable and fun experience.
The accomodation, food and hospitality were all wonderful (expect it to be a bit spicy) and bhante was kind enough to organize some trips for us to other temples in the area and an amazing over night hike to sri pada (a buddhist pilgrimage spot).
However… read more

(Excellent )

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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(4.8)

23 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Aleks) for host

(Excellent)

21 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Phillis) for host

(Excellent)

19 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Anthony) for host

(Excellent)

18 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Alexander ) for host

The 2 weeks of living with and teaching the young monks were a worthful and heartworming experience. The hospitality from the very beginning is wonderful and enables a fantastic insight of buddhistic life.

(Excellent)

12 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Joseph) for host

An unforgettable experience. The monks were so welcoming and accommodating and the boys were a delight to teach.

(Excellent)

8 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Laura) for host

i had a really good time volunteering here! as a woman you aren't allowed to stay in the monastery but instead you live with a really wholesome and lovely Sri Lankan family that made my stay beyond amazing. they integrated me into their family from day 1. they really genuinely care about you and your well-being. they have one daughter and one son,… read more

(Excellent)

3 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Alban) for host

My experience was absolutely amazing. The monks were adorable—whether it was the children, the older ones, or the chief monks. Everyone was incredible and made me feel at home.

I had the chance to teach for three weeks, with classes lasting two hours per day. It was both extremely interesting and, at times, quite challenging, but it was a… read more

(Excellent)

3 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Briana & Joshua) for host

Living with a local family and teaching English at a Buddhist monastery has been an incredibly rewarding experience. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth and kindness by my host family, who made me feel like a part of their community. Their hospitality was beyond anything I could have imagined. Their house was very clean and the… read more

(Excellent)

1 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer (Amelia) for host

This was my first Workaway experience and it was my highlight of Sri Lanka. I was staying with the host family and it was so warm and welcoming. The two children because my good friends and we would play badminton and practice Sinhala together.
The little monks were curious and wanting to learn and talk to you. They were also so fun to be around.… read more

(Excellent)

10 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer (Sara) for host

Great experience! I was sleeping at the monk's family's house and they were very kind. They always tried to make me feel very comfortable. The food was really great and the brothers really funny and lovely!
The young monks are really great as well. Nice experience if you like to work with kids.
I have learned a lot of things about the culture and… read more

(Excellent)

28 Jan 2025

Left by Workawayer (Viktoria) for host

This was my first workaway experience and it couldn’t have been better. I spent one week teaching English to monks (Primary grade to Grade 4) but since females cannot stay in the temple, I stayed with second monk’s family and had the best time of my life. One week was enough to make me cry when I was leaving, I felt like I was a member of the… read more

(Excellent)

24 Sep 2024

Left by Workawayer (Max) for host

My first experience as a workawayer. exellent communication and wonderful care from host side. felt safe an immediately accepted into their comunity. I taught English by a funny way few hours a day mostly afternoon. The little monks were curious and very polite. I learnt from them a lot also. About the buddist way of life and lots more. Each monk… read more

(Excellent)

5 Aug 2024

Left by Workawayer (Reece) for host

I spent a wonderful 2 weeks with this program. You will find yourself far from the typical tourist circuit and in good hands: I was fed well and felt completely safe during the full duration of my stay. My work took place on weekday afternoons. I helped teach English to 6 grades visiting most every day for scheduled 35-minute slots. The younger… read more classes were more energetic whereas the older were a bit more keen to have a formal 2-way discourse. As soon as I would leave one class students from all of the other classes would try and pull me into theirs (literally!) and in the off hours when there was free time I was always invited to play in the various games taking place throughout the property.

I taught at one specific school for two weeks but got to visit two other temples and had great conversations with the monks who lived in their respective locations. Those with stronger English were always open to talk about mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhist principles. I found these discussions to be greatly insightful and I have left this program with new concepts that I would like to implement into my life going forward.

I was free to wander around the surrounding village and met many curious and friendly locals who mostly spoke little to no English but wanted to say hi. My stay was not located in a typical tourist hotspot which felt to me a more authentic travel experience. This marks my 10th completed work exchange, and I can confidently say it ranks at the very top of my list for the most unique and memorable experiences I've had.

Thanks for everything!!

~~

*NAVIGATING TO THE LOCATION*

What I wish I had known upon arriving to Sri Lanka was how the local bus system worked.

Pretty much all buses you will find on the roads navigate along a predetermined route between two bus interchanges. On Google Maps you will find many “bus stops” and specific times, but in reality you can flag a bus down as it’s passing you, alert the driver or money collector when it is time for you to disembark, and online timetables aren’t followed in the slightest.* When it comes to finding a seat or boarding a bus with heavy baggage it is imperative to start at a bus interchange (like Colombo Central Bus Stand) as the buses will be sitting and waiting for an initial group of people to board before embarking. When arriving to these bus interchanges/stations you may find men asking you where you need to go and either A will try and convince you the bus you need isn’t coming for a couple of hours but a friend’s tuk tuk is available for a” small price” of 10x your bus fee or B connect you with the right bus and ask for a tip of ~100rs. You can waive these guys off and look at the signs posted indicating the route and match that to what Google Maps suggests. There are more buses and routes in Sri Lanka than map apps know of and in these cases turning to a local for aid can be helpful, just be skeptical if it’s daytime and the next local bus “isn’t arriving for another 3 hours.”

*there are also a few “direct” buses that are more expensive and go to some destinations. I never used these (local buses get you to all the same places and beyond) but I believe they do have a more accurate posted start time. The train system in Sri Lanka is typically followed strictly as well.

(Excellent)

5 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Marcin) for host

I had great time in the temple. Little monks are very welcoming, eager to learn English and want to just spend time with you in general. The location is non-touristy so it's quiet and calm place. There is not much to do around the temple but it's possible to organise trip for volunteers to Sri Pada. I really recommend this place to everyone who… read more

(Excellent)

25 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Nikolay) for host

They actually have 2 locations, I volunteered at both. It was a nice experience and I enjoyed my teaching and my stay with the monks. The students are friendly and eager to learn not only English, but more about western countries and lifestyle. The classes are easy as you teach highly motivated students. The cave temple is located in the forest… read more

(Excellent)

11 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Mike) for host

The most respectful, kind and loving kids, you’ll meet. They will happily share their stories and buddhists views with you. This will forever be one of the best memories of mine. I want to go back already. BIG LOVE

(Excellent)

1 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Joel) for host

such a friendly caring welcome and fun talking with the young monks helping them with their English
I also had personal physical problems and they took care of me so nicely!
thank you everyone

(Very good)

13 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (William) for host

My stay here was beyond words. The young monks will forever have a place in my thoughts and heart - great boys with very special personalities and character. Miss you fellas!!

(Excellent)

21 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Jacopo) for host

My stay at this monastery was just extraordinary - if I could, I'd give it six stars! What was initially planned as a week turned into a month-long journey, and I only left because of visa issues.

During my stay, I had the incredible opportunity to teach English to a diverse group of young monks, ranging in age from 8 to 20. The best part was the… read more

(Excellent)

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Teach English to Buddhist monks while having a unique Temple stay experience, Kuruwita, Sri Lanka

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Reply rate

Feedback

Email verified

Badges (2)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (19)

Photos

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