Mental Health Placement in Sri Lanka

Erin Deehan Start Date: Sep 27, 2016 - End Date: Mar 26, 2017
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • TEFL/Teach Abroad
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Sri Lanka

My Travel Story

by: Erin Deehan Start Date: Sep 27, 2016 - End Date: Mar 26, 2017
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • TEFL/Teach Abroad
  • Volunteer Trip
Hi all!!

I'm fundraising because in June 2017 I will be volunteering in Sri Lanka for five weeks on a mental health placement wth SL Volunteers, a voluntary organisation created in 2010 by Psychology graduates for Psychology students and graduates. SLV runs projects to aid the local community in Sri Lanka (and now Bali), and I will be lending my skills to this organisation while also gaining valuable hands on experience that I will hopefully get to utilise when I return home. The project I will be with receives no funding from the government, so any money raised via this site will be going directly toward funding the running of the project. It is a completely voluntary programme and I will receive no payment during the placement. I will be paying for my own return flights from Dublin to Sri Lanka, as well as my entry visa and insurance. While I am on placement I will be living with other volunteers in the home of a local Sri Lankan family. I will be attending workshops run by Samutthana, the King's College London Resource Centre for Trauma, Displacement and Mental Health. Samutthana's main aim is to train and support organisations and individuals to respond to the psychosocial needs of trauma sufferers in Sri Lanka, such as survivors of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami,  many of whom were children then, and those who have experienced psychological trauma as a result of the Sri Lankan civil war. The lack of availability and accessibility of resources and facilities in Sri Lanka means that many of these individuals can be left untreated, and that those suffering from psychological trauma may end up facing other social barriers such as stigma, discrimination and isolation within their communities. During the week I will be working in a psychiatric facility and a rehabilitation unit with individuals suffering from mental health issues; I will also be working with individuals with special needs and teaching English to children and young people on vocational courses. My participation in this project means I will get to apply what I have learnt from my time at university and my time spent as a volunteer with Victim Support, and if I can help make at least one person's life that little bit better...well sure, isn't that what it's all about! Any donation at all is greatly appreciated, and many thanks in advance for your generosity and support..! Cheers!!

Erin

Thank you so much to those who have already donated and to those who still intend to. You're all beautiful beautiful people and I am so so grateful! xx
  • Sri Lanka

Updates

1

  • Flights Are Bought!!

    Flights are bought!!
    I've bought my return flights to Sri Lanka. It's getting all so real now.

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