AIESEC in University of Kelaniya Partners with Baw Baw Animal Welfare to Protect Sri Lanka’s Stray Animals

In a powerful step toward safeguarding Sri Lanka’s vulnerable animal population, AIESEC in University of Kelaniya has partnered with Baw Baw Animal Welfare through its flagship environmental initiative, Project Rooted. This collaboration brings together youth leadership and compassionate animal care, creating a meaningful impact on the lives of stray and disabled animals across the country.

For years, Sri Lanka has grappled with a rapidly growing stray dog and cat population, a challenge that affects communities, public health, and most importantly, the animals themselves. Baw Baw Animal Welfare, founded in 2015 and now one of the country’s leading voices for animal rights, has been working tirelessly to change this reality. From operating a sanctuary for disabled animals, conducting urgent rescues, and running free spay/neuter and vaccination programs, their mission is simple yet profound: to bring about a future where no animal lives homeless or unloved.

Through Project Rooted, AIESEC is giving young people from around the world the opportunity to actively contribute to this mission. Foreign volunteers joining the program spend six weeks at the Baw Baw sanctuary, engaging in hands-on work that strengthens empathy, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding. Their daily responsibilities range from cleaning and organizing the sanctuary, bathing animals, administering medication, and feeding and caring for disabled dogs, to participating in rescue missions that often determine the fate of animals in crisis.

But the project goes beyond immediate care. Volunteers also help support Baw Baw’s long-term solutions. Spay/neuter campaigns, community education, and awareness-building around responsible pet ownership. These initiatives are essential to reducing the cycle of abandonment and improving animal welfare across Sri Lanka.

The impact of Baw Baw’s work speaks for itself:
• 724 animals sterilized
• 1,358 vaccinated
• 2,357 rescued and re-homed

With AIESEC’s global volunteer network and youth-driven leadership development model, the partnership aims to scale these efforts even further.

“Our goal with Project Rooted is to protect biodiversity, promote sustainable communities, and give young people the chance to create real social impact,” said AIESEC in University of Kelaniya. “Partnering with Baw Baw allows us to address an issue that is both urgent and deeply human, showing that leadership begins with compassion.”

As this partnership continues to grow, both organizations hope to inspire more young people, institutions, and communities to join in creating a Sri Lanka where every animal is treated with kindness, dignity, and care.

If your organization is willing to take part in socially impactful projects like this and host foreign volunteers, you can contact:

Danindu Ransika

Vice President – Incoming Global Volunteer (AIESEC in University of Kelaniya)

+94 78 445 2322

danindu.ransika@aiesec.net