Volunteer at MKCYM

Join us on our 66-acre training campus in Rakwana, Sri Lanka, and build something real alongside Sri Lankan youth.

Ceylon Youth Movement is a youth-centered volunteer initiative dedicated to creating meaningful connections between local and global communities. Our main training center, MKCYM, is a 66-acre campus in Rakwana, Sri Lanka, and it's happy to host volunteers as part of our journey. MKCYM acts as CYM's main hub for youth to connect, learn, and work together.

Our volunteer programs are flexible, and we always try to build a program in collaboration with each volunteer — considering what's needed at the campus at the time and what interests you. We're considerate of the value of your time, so our goal is an experience that's genuinely useful for both sides.

What you might work on

Every volunteer program is built together — here are the areas MKCYM projects usually draw from.

Planning & Research

Creating project proposals for upcoming MKCYM projects, building location-based inventories, updating the campus map, and exploring the surrounding forest to collect data.

Social Media & Content

Analyzing and improving CYM's social accounts, writing/editing/publishing content, translating and subtitling video, and graphic design.

Tourism & Landscaping

Maintaining and repairing buildings, roads, and the swimming pool, beautification projects, marking hiking trails, video-documenting the campus, and road/landscaping development.

Agriculture

Tea plantation and nursery work, chena cultivation, pepper plantation, comparing farming methods with MKCYM staff, and proposing new agricultural projects.

Research on Youth

Assisting as a research assistant — coordinating with resource persons, running surveys, and reporting on youth-focused research topics.

Training & Development

Supporting MKCYM's training programs and youth development sessions.

Daily life at MKCYM

Volunteers work a minimum of three hours a day, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm. Weekends are free — join a group outing, relax at MKCYM, or head into a nearby town.

Daily chores

Cleaning your lodge and surrounding area
Cleaning common areas — kitchen, training hall, roads if necessary
Preparing meals
Doing laundry (Saturdays)

Downtime

City or community tours
Hiking
Bonfire nights

The terms

Unpaid

Volunteering at MKCYM is unpaid. The specific work you'll do is planned together with you, based on what the campus needs and what you're interested in.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks with the rest of the MKCYM team are available for $4 a day, paid weekly — or cook your own using the shared kitchen for free.

Consent

By volunteering at MKCYM, you agree CYM may use photos and video from your time there to promote our vision and mission on our own channels.

Frequently asked questions

Is volunteering paid?

No — volunteering at MKCYM is unpaid. Meals are available for a small daily contribution, or you can self-cater for free.

How many hours will I work?

A minimum of three hours a day, Monday to Friday, any time between 9am and 5pm. Weekends are yours.

What kind of work will I actually do?

We build your program together based on MKCYM's current needs and your own interests — anything from agriculture and landscaping to research, content, and social media.

What happens with photos taken during my stay?

By volunteering, you agree CYM may use photos and video from your time at MKCYM to promote our vision and mission.

Apply to volunteer

Ready to join us? Tell us a bit about yourself and we'll be in touch to build a program together.