Översikt
Join us on a Physiotherapy internship in Sri Lanka and learn by shadowing physiotherapists in hospitals. This will help you prepare for a career in the medical field, and add relevant work experience to your CV.
You’ll work at local hospitals, where you’ll shadow physiotherapy staff. Depending on your experience, you may also have the chance to help with the treatment of special-needs children. We also recommend seizing the opportunity to learn more about traditional Ayurvedic medicine!
Take the opportunity to apply the knowledge that you’ve acquired in your studies while learning new techniques from qualified local staff. You’ll live with a welcoming host family, immersing yourself in the local way of life. Explore this beautiful country and all it has to offer with fellow interns in your time off.
Is a Physiotherapy internship in Sri Lanka right for me?
Are you:
- A pre-university student who’s thinking about a career in physiotherapy and would like to see what it’s like?
- A physiotherapy student who would like to complement your studies with some practical experience?
- A recent physiotherapy graduate looking to build your CV?
If you said yes to any of these, then this is the ideal internship for you.
Your role at the hospital will be purely observational. However, you will be able to view a wide range of conditions, and ask questions about different treatments and procedures.
If you have physiotherapy training or qualifications, then you will have the opportunity for hands-on work. This will involve helping with the rehabilitation of children who have cerebral palsy or speech impairments.
We have a Projects Abroad medical supervisor who is there to ensure that your internship runs smoothly. You will also have a staff member who will oversee your work at each of our partner placements.
This internship is available year-round, from a minimum of two weeks. Our start and end dates are flexible, so you can choose a time that suits you.
What will I do at my Physiotherapy placement in Sri Lanka?
Depending on your experience and training, there are a number of different activities you can get involved in. At your physiotherapy placement in Sri Lanka, you can:
- Observe trained physiotherapists at work in hospitals
- Work with special-needs children to support their rehabilitation
- Train local staff to modernise and improve their techniques
- Learn about traditional Ayurveda medicine practices
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Observe trained physiotherapists at work in hospitals
You’ll encounter a wide range of different conditions while interning at a local hospital. These include elderly people, stroke victims, and those who’ve suffered some kind of injury.
On this internship, you’ll find out how physiotherapists assess and treat their patients. While hospital physiotherapists are often very busy, they will take the time to explain what they are doing wherever possible. You can show your willingness to learn by asking questions, and make the most of your time observing trained medical staff.
Work with special-needs children to support their rehabilitation
If you have qualifications or training, you can work at one of our partner organisations. You can choose to work with children who have cerebral palsy or speech impairments. You’ll assist in their rehabilitation and use physiotherapy sessions to improve their motor skills.
Train local staff to modernise and improve their techniques
If you’re a physiotherapy graduate, you can assist with training local staff. This is a way for you to share what you have learnt during your studies and training and help medical staff to improve their own techniques.
Qualified interns work at a home which cares for children and young adults with severe physical and mental abilities. Through training sessions, you’ll equip staff with updated information. Children will then receive treatment that better reflects the latest developments in the physiotherapy field.
Learn about traditional Ayurveda medicine practices
There is also the option to learn about traditional Ayurveda medicine practices. You need to specifically let us know if you’d like to choose this option, as it is not offered as part of our standard Physiotherapy Project.
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest healing systems. Treatments include herbal medicine, acupuncture, and special diets, to name but a few. Ayurvedic medicine is recognised by the Sri Lankan government, and there are special hospitals dedicated to the practice. You’ll be able to intern here, and gain insight into this unique method of healing.
Where in Sri Lanka will I work?
You’ll work in a number of different towns in Sri Lanka, depending on which placement you choose. The country has an extensive and affordable public transport network. This means it’s easy for you to get around and explore during your leisure time. There’s so much to discover in this beautiful island nation, whether you enjoy culture, history, or nature.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka, and the former capital. Several of our physiotherapy placements are based here. One of the options is the second-largest teaching hospital in the country, located in the south of the city. Our special-needs placements are also located in the surrounding Colombo suburbs.
Panadura
Panadura is a large town situated around 27 km from Colombo. Here you will intern at a busy district hospital, situated in the centre of the town. Alternatively, you may be placed at a base hospital in a nearby town, 18km away.
Galle
Galle is a major city, found in the southwest of Sri Lanka. It is situated around 120 km from Colombo. You will intern at a major teaching hospital. It is located outside of the city centre, but well served by bus routes.
A typical day on the Physiotherapy internship
On any given day, you’ll wake up and share breakfast at the home of your host family. After, you’ll travel to your work placement via bus, rickshaw or your own two feet, if it’s close by. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way.
For those who are placed in a hospital, a typical work day will run from 8.30am - 12.30pm, and then from 2pm - 4pm, Monday to Friday. These hours may vary, however. If you’re working at our partner placements for children with special needs, working hours are from 7.30am - 2pm, Monday to Friday.
If you’ve chosen to intern at a hospital, then you will spend your time observing trained physiotherapists at work. The government hospitals tend to be very busy. This means you’ll see a lot of different patients during the day. You’ll learn from physiotherapists as they assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of different conditions.
For those of you working at our partner placements for children with special needs, you’ll spend time with those who have cerebral palsy or speech difficulties. Your role is to provide physiotherapy, support, and general interaction, which form a vital part of their rehabilitation. This is an excellent way to put your knowledge into practice while helping to improve children’s overall abilities and wellbeing. It’s also a great opportunity to get invaluable physiotherapy work experience while in Sri Lanka.
At the the end of your working day, it’s time to sit back and relax. Sample delicious local cuisine, sharing dinner with your host family. Why not spend time with your fellow interns as you explore the city? You can also mingle with Projects Abroad staff and make new friends at our regular socials. Sri Lanka has plenty to offer in terms of adventure sports, geographical wonders, and cultural heritage. We encourage you to take the time to discover these.
What are the aims and impact of this internship?
Our aim at the Physiotherapy Project in Sri Lanka is to encourage cross-cultural exchange and share medical knowledge.
Many of the interns who join us are looking for additional experience in the medical field. Learn from skilled local physiotherapists and other care staff, who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Overall, this internship will be invaluable for your future career in the field, and will help to build your CV.
Depending on your experience, you will also work to help children with physical disabilities. While healthcare in Sri Lanka is free for all citizens, it can be limited or inconsistent. This means that people who need rehabilitation don’t always receive it. As an intern, you’ll work to improve children’s physical abilities and overall wellbeing through targeted treatments.
We’ve outlined four core goals for our medical placements in Sri Lanka:
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
- Improve hygiene standards
- Promote awareness of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Reduce the number of cases of Dengue fever
Join us on a Physiotherapy internship in Sri Lanka and gain international work experience while providing specialised care to children with disabilities.
Medical electives for students
This project is also perfect for university medical and healthcare elective students. The real-world insight and knowledge you gain will help shape you as a future medical professional. You will also learn to work with different people and get a broader perspective of global healthcare systems and issues. This benefits your career for years to come. We can organise a placement that meets all of your university's requirements.
Projekthandlingsplaner
Vi har utarbetat långsiktiga mål för våra projekt och dokumenterat målen i våra projekthandlingsplaner. Våra projekthandlingsplaner används också för att planera ditt arbete. Tack vare våra projekthandlingsplaner kan du vara säker på att du arbetar mot ett långsiktigt mål och vi kan kontinuerligt utvärdera och förbättra vårt arbete. Våra projekthandlingsplaner säkerställer att vi gör en verklig skillnad.
Läs mer om våra projekthandlingsplaner.
Vi mäter resultatet av vårt arbete varje år
Vi arbetar mot långsiktigt mål med årliga delmål. Varje volontär och praktikant som deltar på ett av våra projekt hjälper oss att nå dessa långsiktiga mål. På så sätt kan även de som volontärarbetar eller praktiserar en kortare tid göra verklig skillnad. Varje person bygger på arbetet som tidigare volontärer och praktikanter gjort. Varje år utvärderar vi resultatet av vårt arbete. Du kan hitta en sammanställning av vad vi uppnått under året i vår Global Impact Report.
För mer information om vilken insats våra volontärer, praktikanter och personal gjort under året, läs vår senaste rapport.
Mat och boende
Du kommer bo hos en värdfamilj i Sri Lanka. Din värdfamilj kommer välkomna dig som en familjemedlem till deras hem. De kommer lära dig mer om deras traditioner och om den lokala kulturen. Vi tror att det här är det bästa sättet att verkligen lära känna kulturen i ett nytt land. Du kommer få en unik upplevelse av Sri Lanka.
Vi försöker alltid placera dig så att du bor med en annan Projects Abroad volontär eller praktikant. Ditt rum kommer vara enkelt men bekvämt, rent och säkert.
Din projektavgift inkluderar tre måltider om dagen.
Läs mer om våra boenden.
Fritidsaktiviteter när du är ledig
Sri Lanka är känt för sina mäktiga landskap. Från stränder till tropisk regnskog, det finns något för alla! Besök Pettah Market som surrar av liv och rörelse. Här kan du småprata med vänliga handlare, köpa handgjorda souvenirer och njuta av den energiska atmosfären.
För att fördjupa dig i Sri Lankas kultur kan du besöka National Museum of Colombo. En höjdpunkt är även Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple med sin många artefakter. Vill du se vacker kolonialtidsarkitektur rekommenderar vi ett besök till hamnstaden Galle med sitt nederländska arv.
Du kan även utforska inlandet för att vandra över böljande kullar, simma i svala vattenfall och besöka traditionella byar. Sri Lanka har många nationalparker och safariparker där du kan se vilda djur som leoparder och elefanter. Är du morgonpigg kan du åka på fågelskådning i någon av de fridlysta våtmarkerna Det finns även möjlighet att utforska artrika regnskogar.
Vi har många volontärer som åker till Sri Lanka, så du kommer garanterat lära känna nya vänner. Det gör att du kan välja att utforska Sri Lanka självständigt eller i grupp.
Säkerhet och personalstöd
Din säkerhet är vår första prioritet. Vi har många processer och system på plats för att se till att du har all hjälp och support som du behöver. För oss är det viktigt att du ska känna dig trygg när du reser med oss. Vår egen Projects Abroad personal finns tillgänglig för hjälp och stöd 24h om dygnet. De kommer se till att du trivs i ditt boende och känner dig hemma på din projektplacering. Om du skulle stöta på något problem, finns vår personal alltid där för att hjälpa dig.
Läs mer om support och säkerhet.
Meet the team in Sri Lanka
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