I volunteered with SLV for 5 weeks on the Psychology placement and was based in Kotte. I would describe my time in Sri Lanka as a volunteer as one of the best experiences of my life. It was everything I hoped for, for my first time travelling alone and I think this is largely a result of how organised and caring SLV are about their volunteers. Knowing that they are on call 24/7 is very reassuring, however I never experienced any issues whilst out there. The placements that have been set up in Sri Lanka are phenomenal and even in the first week it is clear to see how much impact they are having on the local community and the service users. I was blown away by the solid relationship that had been built with the projects and as a volunteer this is amazing to be a part of. As with everything, there was a slight negative to the psychology projects in the sense that what was implied with the role wasn't necessarily as hands on and psychology orientated as I expected. However, the experience of going into psychiatric wards and working so closely with patients is something that's very hard to come by in the UK which makes the volunteering experience so unique. When I first saw my timetable I was slightly disappointed at there being two half days a week psychology based projects, however I began to realise that this was necessary as anything more would've been too intense after a number of weeks. The other placements that were offered alongside it were something I thoroughly enjoyed, especially the teaching. Alongside the placements I'd like to commend SLV on how great their setup in Sri Lanka is, the idea of volunteers living with families is an excellent aspect and was something that made the trip what it was. It is clear to see that the families who have been selected have the volunteers and organisations best interests at heart and are all genuinely lovely people. Living with the families and other volunteers really made me feel at home whilst being in Sri Lanka as well as feeling truly immersed within the culture and customs of the locals. Overall I would say my time in Sri Lanka was incredible and I'd simply like to thanks SLV for facilitating this amazing experience, I'd recommend people considering it to go in a heart beat.