Sri Lanka
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**Update** Due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty of when the airport will reopen, the cafe and gym is not looking for any volunteers for the foreseeable future. However, we are looking for help on our private lakeside land to look after our property, 4 dogs and 2 cats. If your visa allows you to stay until Jan 2021, we have a lovely glamping tent, camp kitchen and 1 acre of coconut plantation land to relax in, in exchange for looking after our pets as if they were your babies!
*****
Having been in the corporate world for many years, I decided to bite the bullet and head to my favourite place in the world to set up a business based on all my loves; fitness, food and travel. After a year of setting up, we launched in January 2018; a destination for fitness, sport & health enthusiasts offering a cafe, strength and conditioning gym, CrossFit box, calisthenics playground, a varied class schedule and international trainers right on the beaches of Sri Lanka in Kalpitiya.
The quiet tourist destination of Kalpitiya is more commonly known for its world-class kitesurfing which brings kiters in droves during the peak wind seasons. But this little slice of rustic paradise has plenty of other delights up its sleeve such as being a prime location for dolphin and whale watching, endless sandy beaches lined with swaying palms, a short trip from Wilpattu National Park with leopards, elephants, sloth bears and crocs, and beautiful mangrove forests for relaxing kayaking trips.
Whilst Kalpitiya is still developing as a tourist destination, it can sometimes be difficult to get healthy food, a good cup of coffee and meals created for varying dietary requirements. This was why the cafe was born, as well as to ensure our clients' diet is complimentary to their fitness goals serving protein smoothies, proper coffee, vegan/keto options & general fitness foods made from carefully selected, locally sourced, organic ingredients. Everything on the menu is homemade and helps supports the local community.
Our overall mission is to become one of the top locations for people to travel to from around the world in order to refresh and rejuvenate. To press the reset button and get in shape
. But we also want to become a credible voice in Sri Lanka educating on nutrition, healthy living and active travel
as well as working closely with the community to develop the area sustainably into a thriving tourist area.
We try to run the business as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible, with vigorous recycling and beach clean ups and hope to start recycling beach plastic into gym equipment and apparel as our long term mission.
The owner, Vicky
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Animal Care
Primarily it's the experience of living in a small picturesque fishing village. Kalpitiya is an exciting area with so much potential that needs to be unlocked. Be a part of this incredible movement and come see how your work can make a difference to this area. Untouched by major tourism, spend your days off going out to sea with the local fishermen, visit the local schools and hold a lesson in English, learn cooking skills from our local head chef or just spend time with the team here learning how we are working together to ensure kalpitiya develops as a tourism hub in the most sustainable way possible.
We are a small team consisting of a local Head Chef, 2 Kitchen assistants, Head Trainer and Cafe Manager. Use this opportunity to learn how to cook more local cuisine. Work closely alongside the Cafe Manager to learn how to run your own business sustainably and deliver high levels of customer service. Train alongside our head trainer in the gym to gain more experience and knowledge of how a gym operates, class programming, nutrition and body maintenance.
ARTISTS
We are currently looking for artists to come help us with some murals for the gym! We have around 2 feature walls that need painting. Experience in letter work would be best.
SOCIAL MEDIA GURUS
We always need people to help push stories and take photos during classes and of food to promote the business. I'm pretty useless at being active on social so any help would be greatly appreciated!
COOKs for the team
We are a fully staffed beach cafe and gym with local chefs and helpers, but extra help is always welcome with other important daily tasks. We are always looking for experienced chefs that can train our local team in innovative, international standard healthy cuisine, develop our menu and feed the workers. This does not involve cooking for customers in the cafe but instead help with greeting and entertaining, gardening, maintenance, and helping our staff in general. You can learn local cooking techniques, learn how to make the best coffee in the area using local coffee beans, and get to understand the daily needs of a cafe and gym.
PERSONAL TRAINERS
We sometimes need help in the gym as well to assist our trainer with programming, help maintain equipment, clean etc. Experience programming CrossFit and/or Calisthenics classes would be great!
English: Fluent
Accommodation will be provided in our glamping tent on 1 acre of lakeside land which has a large double bed, storage space, padlock, it's own cool camping kitchen, jungle outside bathroom and is 8 minutes from the beach. Food allowance is provided by your must do cooking yourselves.
Most places are accessible by walking, bicycle or by tuk tuk. During your time off, visit the UNESCO site of Sigiriya, take a boat to the jungle where you can swim in the river and have a picnic, or hire a jeep to discover all the wildlife of Wilpattu National Park which houses all of Sri Lanka's big 5! Or try your hand at kite surfing. It's very addictive once you get the hang of it! (although a little expensive). Or just build sandcastles, swing in hammocks or take walks along the endless sandy beaches with a fresh coconut in hand :)
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
We have a coworking space so very digital nomad friendly! Wifi is pretty stable and fast.
This host can provide space for campervans.
Two
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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