Volunteering - Sri Lankan Style!

Judhika Ravindran Start Date: Jul 12, 2015 - End Date: Oct 19, 2015
  • TEFL/Teach Abroad
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Sri Lanka

My Travel Story

by: Judhika Ravindran Start Date: Jul 12, 2015 - End Date: Oct 19, 2015
  • TEFL/Teach Abroad
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
For those who know me well, the reason why this trip is more than just an SLV Psychology Placement is more than clear.

 As someone who understands the impact having a mental health condition can have, I chose to study psychology at University. This was in the hope that I could support families suffering MORE than they have to due to stigma especially within our community. The issue of mental health is still heavily tabooed in Tamil and Sri Lankan culture, leading to more anxiety, which worsens symptoms, leading to a lower quality of life and in some cases suicide.

Thus I wanted to understand this first hand, by visiting Sri Lanka and working within its mental health care system. SLV provides the perfect platform for this, as I will be given the opportunity to assist and give therapy within Samutthana, Kings College London’s Centre for Trauma, Displacement and Mental Health. With this first hand experience I will be able to support my aim to qualify as a psychologist and return to the more rural parts of Sri Lanka to provide free therapy and treatment to support families struggling daily.  

This would not be possible without the support of my family and friends, for which I am ever so grateful. I am reaching out to you to help me with your donations and well wishes while I embark on this journey. In return for your kind generosity, I will provide weekly vlogs so you can see what type of work I will be completing first hand. Additionally on my return I will hold a VIP event for all donators filled with treats and surprises! (For those kind donators living abroad, you will receive packages filled with my gratitude!)  

Thank you for taking your time to read this and be part of this special mission which lies close to my heart.
  • Sri Lanka

Updates

1

  • Half Way Through!

    Hello family and dear friends 

    I just thought I'd post an update. So it's now half way through my ten week placement here in kotte, Colombo. I am absolutely engrossed by the life here and feel like a true Sri Lankan. Everyday we catch the bus 10 mins down the road to meet the rest of the volunteers and then take another bus to our projects. Two days a week I'm with mentally ill patients which is really challenging. So far I have learnt that words aren't everything. I can't speak Sinhala and most patients don't know English. So using music, and sensory stimulation through touch and sight really gets through to patients who haven't had any attention in years. Most patients are so excited to see us because they know it means some attention! 

    The best part of this trip so far has been the field trip to kilonochi where we shadowed a psychiatrist named Dr Jegan. He is an absolutely phenomenal man and I have planned to come back as soon as possible to give me time towards his work in the war affected community. They have faced suffering that I can't even begin to imagine. Dr Jegan was so kind and treated each patient like his own family. Therefore the patients were more inclined to open up to him due to the level of concern he gave them. In Tamil the way he spoke was so gentle for example "sapadu neengala?" (Have you eaten?) Like a mother asking their child. Here the stigma is so immense and brings with it further suffering so much so the suicide rate is one of the highest in the world. I am so grateful that I am able to see this first hand and I am trying to make plans for the future so I can return and continue the process towards further awareness in mental health in Sri Lanka. This trip has really opened my mind to what can be done. I hope one day one of you can join me. This trip has truly been one of the most amazing trips I have been on in terms of learning and understanding.

    when we are not with patients we are teaching English to disadvantaged communities for example an orphanage. Here I have interacted with such torn up girls and boys who have lost their families to drugs, alcohol or war. It is devastating but to see  how willing they are to learn and better themselves is amazing. I feel so proud of them knowing they have learnt new things because we came there! 


    Thank you for believing in me. It's because of all your support I am here. Forgive me for not updating earlier. As you can imagine my day starts at 7am and doesn't end till 9. I love what. Am doing and thank God for giving me this ambition and task in life to help such people. 


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