Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

DS wants to go to Sri Lanka

61 replies

11112222 · 05/04/2021 17:03

DS is on a gap year and wants to go to Sri Lanka volunteering through an organised scheme.

Dh and I can't decide if it's a good idea or not. DS just about has enough money to pay for hotel quarantine on return if necessary, but that would clear out all his money before heading off to uni in Sept.

Obviously, he is nearly 19, and will make his own decision, but as a parent, what would be your advice to him?

OP posts:

FTMF30 · 05/04/2021 17:06

Well what are your concerns?

skeggycaggy · 05/04/2021 17:06

What support do the volunteer scheme organisers offer?

MajesticWhine · 05/04/2021 17:07

Obviously I would look at the likelihood of hotel quarantine because that is an awful waste of money but also how reputable is the organisation and are the volunteering activities properly and safely arranged? But overall I would probably be inclined to encourage the trip if it looks like it's well organised.

FannyChops · 05/04/2021 17:07

I think it's up to him if he's 19. But I would strongly advise him to wait until he's fully vaccinated.

zeddybrek · 05/04/2021 17:08

It's a beautiful and very tourist friendly country. To experience travelling in far and exotic countries without the responsibilities of a job, family etc is wonderful. Character forming even. He will learn so much and might be mentall better equipped for uni, I would fully support him and then he can try and get a part time job when he is at uni. My 4 month back packing stint changed the way I looked at life. Sounds dramatic but at that age it can be. It's not just the same once you leave uni or as a sabbatical during employment. I say that from my experience. I really hope my children are like your son when they are older.

Original poster

11112222 · 05/04/2021 17:08

My concerns are that 1) he might get Covid in Sri Lanka where he'll be on his own, and health care might not be so good, 2) He'll have to pay for quarantine if Sri Lanka turns 'red' in the 4 weeks he's over there for.
3), Is it a good idea to travel in a Pandemic?

OP posts:

Shopliftersoftheworldunite · 05/04/2021 18:00

I mean, he might get covid here too. Or a myriad of other illnesses might befall him.

That being said, seems a bit pointless to go travelling when the world is going in and out of lockdown at a moments notice. Is not like many countries are at their best at the moment. Why doesn’t he wait til next year when things might be more certain and go in the summer break (most undergrad finishes in May and doesn’t resume until September if I remember correctly?).

VictoriaLudorum · 05/04/2021 18:05

My niece volunteered in Sri Lanka for 3 weeks at an elephant sanctuary (not the tourist one) and loved it. I have been going regularly to Sri Lanka for over 20 years. The whole island was locked down until a few weeks ago, so there were relatively few cases of covid.
Under normal circumstances I would be all for it, beautiful place, lovely people etc. but at present, as others have pointed out, there are still too many variables, more to do with lists and quarantine than the travel aspect.
As soon as I can, I will be going back, but that will be after I have been vaccinated, so later on in the year. I missed my trip last year.

Original poster

11112222 · 05/04/2021 18:37

His plan for next summer is to be doing relevant work experience rather than travelling. His course does not have a year in industry, but does expect them to gain work experience during the holidays.

OP posts:

B33Fr33 · 05/04/2021 18:41

Volunteering in Sri Lanka? Is he going for the work experience or as a means to holiday? It's all a bit white saviour ish AND irresponsible to travel with the pandemic. If he wants to volunteer for his CV he'd be better off doing something in the UK to show his commitment rather than looking quite rule bending right now.

Original poster

11112222 · 05/04/2021 18:42

He wants to go for the travel. It is one of the allowed reasons to travel at the moment.

OP posts:

Sceptre86 · 05/04/2021 18:46

I went to Sri Lanka on my gap year for 6 months and it was amazing I wouldn't however go in a pandemic. My concern would be of he was to fall ill there and couldn't get home and you couldn't go to him either. I think I would be advising him against it he won't get much out of the experience if he ends up having to quarantine or in a lockdown. I think he would be better off volunteering in the UK and then revisiting Sri Lanka in uni summer holidays next year.

Ellmau · 05/04/2021 19:20

Volunteering for four weeks isn't long enough to really contribute. Basically he's going for a holiday.

It's a bad idea on a number of factors. You can't actually stop him, but make it clear if she spends all his savings on this, there will be no bailouts during uni.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 05/04/2021 19:21

I agree with the suggestion of going next year not now.

percheron67 · 05/04/2021 19:32

I have been to Sri Lanka twice and had a wonderful time. I helped at an Elephant Sanctuary. However, no way would I go there until the pandemic has calmed down more in the wider world. Awful to be taken ill out there away from family and home.

therocinante · 05/04/2021 20:04

If it's one of those schemes where you 'volunteer' (go on holiday) and build a bit of a wall while you're there, he is BU, as they're often very damaging for the communities they supposedly serve.

But generally, I don't think it's a terrible idea if he can afford to pay for quarantine (or you can).

Original poster

11112222 · 05/04/2021 20:13

It's a teaching english over scheme he's looking at.

Next summer he is expected to be doing relevant work experience, as his course does not have a year in industry.

I kind of think he's worked super hard at school these last few years so deserves to have some fun, has worked to be able to afford to travel, but….there is a pandemic happening. I have a feeling he'll go anyway, and I hope he will have a really lovely time and meet some lovely people.

OP posts:

moochingtothepub · 05/04/2021 20:14

Sri Lanka is one of the safer exotic destinations. Covid is being taken very seriously and they have been in lockdown with curfews a lot. He'll need good insurance with repatriation for health ensuring covid is included. I've got several friends there, it's quite a good choice I think - wish I could get my dd interested in going there! Quarantine is a risk for any of us going abroad but it's probably lower risk than some countries

drpet49 · 05/04/2021 20:15

4 weeks volunteering is pointless. Too short to make any kind of impact.

OnWednesdaysWeWearMink · 05/04/2021 20:21

I think he should go. Backpacking before uni changed my life, and will help him build social skills and get some life experience that he’ll have missed out on due to the pandemic. If volunteering is allowed by the UK government and if Sri Lanka are welcoming tourists then I think covid-wise that’s fine.

LemonRoses · 05/04/2021 20:24

It’s on an established programme.Sri Lanka is a lovely, generally, very safe country. Fabulous opportunity and he should jump at it.
He’s very low risk of serious illness even if he catches the virus- healthcare risks are more for other diseases. Get all his vaccinations, take out good healthcare experience and go. It’s a beautiful country with a lovely culture and incredible food.

That said, he might be surprised that there is very good healthcare and education. I’m surprised they are still accepting white saviour children as volunteers to teach the ‘poor native’ children, given most are very well spoken and able to speak English well from a young age.

SparklingSaskia · 05/04/2021 20:24

Volunteering in exotic places is very often just a fancy dress holiday. Let him go if he can afford it, but don’t indulge too much in the “you are doing important work” BS.

TechnoDino · 05/04/2021 20:31

What SparklingSaskia said.

If he does go, please make sure he is aware of the rabies risk, and considers being vaccinated beforehand (expensive but potentially life saving. A French child died last year after being scratched or bitten by a dog in Sri Lanka)

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 05/04/2021 20:36

Voluntourism is a bit rubbish for communities and now isn’t a great time to travel. If he wants a holiday in Sri Lanka, maybe he could go next year during uni summer holidays? We used to finish around May and not go back until early October, so he’d have a few months to see the place.

Wasn’t Sri Lanka advised against pre-pandemic because of the terror attack in a church? Might be worth also checking if it’s safe outside of COVID.

Plumedenom · 05/04/2021 20:47

Sri Lanka is really safe and lovely place to visit. The covid risk is really not better or worse than anywhere else and given your son's age I'd not see it as much of a factor.

Flip

1 2 3