Work the World elective placements in Sri Lanka, South Asia
Although known colloquially as the teardrop of India, Sri Lanka could not be more different to its northern neighbour. The countries historical importance as a major trade route has left it with a heady mix of cultural influences and delicious spice-laden cuisine, whilst its geographical location offers miles of unspoilt coastline and world-class surf.
Kandy is nestled in the foothills of the lush green central highlands, where ancient civilisations lay amongst cashew and tea plantations. It's temperate climate, great travel links and fantastic placements in the large Government hospital, make it the perfect base for those drawn to Asia's heady mix of spices, festivals and golden sands. It is a chance to learn and discover more about healthcare and life in an island nation.
Where will my healthcare elective be?
Kandy is a bustling city with two of the largest government tertiary hospitals in the country. People are referred here from miles around for treatment and taking your placement here will give you a chance to specialise in a range of areas, whilst benefitting from staff who are well experienced in teaching students.
For many Sri Lankans, medical care comes secondary to holistic medicine. To help you understand more about the approach, and how it can complement your work in Sri Lanka, we run an Ayurvedic Medicine course as an add-on to our elective programme.
Where will I live?
With stunning views over the city, the Work the World Kandy house is close to the Temple of the Tooth, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is modern, bright and airy, with spacious communal areas and the best neighbours you could as for.... more Work the World students! Thats right - following the success of the programme we now have two neighbouring houses! Both have bedrooms that house up to 17 students and there is plenty of space in each to relax or brush up on the free Sinhala language classes. There are large living rooms and outdoor verandas and gardens too.
All meals are included during your placement and our caterers and housekeepers will make sure each student enjoys a hearty breakfast and dinner every weekday, as well as making sure you have a fully stocked kitchen and plenty of drinking water. We also run a fantastic weekly barbecue at each house, giving students and staff a time to socialise together. Anything else you may need is likely to be found at the markets in Kandy.
What can I do in my free time?
Kandy is very quiet during the evenings, but there is one favourite bar that students head to, and traditional Kandyan dance shows or the cinema are popular. Free afternoons are easily filled and you can spend hours wandering around temples or shopping for trinkets in the antique and jewel markets. Outside of the city a short walk will take you into the peace and quiet of the cashew and tea plantations, famous in this region. At 500m altitude Kandy feels a world away from the hot, humid coastline and the views are stunning.
Heading out of Kandy on weekends is easy. Many of our students group together to visit the world heritage temples nearby, the beautiful white sand beaches of the South West coast or to visit the throbbing city of Colombo with its exciting nightlife.
Our base in Kandy also offers students visiting at the end of the month of Esala (mid to end August) the amazing opportunity to witness the famous Esala Perahera festival - the biggest Hindu party of the year. Manager Kavinda knows all the best places to watch, and witnessing this amazing spectacle of dancing, drumming, fire-displays and elephant parades will undoubtedly be your travel highlight.
