sri lanka: determination, prayer and perseverance

Around the world, many student movements use rented rooms or borrowed offices to hold activities. FOCUS (the IFES movement in Sri Lanka) was no exception, and maintained that living in dependence from year to year and from one lease agreement to another was a vital part of their growth and collective learning. However with each passing year, more graduates joined the FOCUS family, the number of fellowships increased, more programs were held, more staff joined the team, costs for meeting places and transportation increased, safety and security issues emerged and the need for their own space grew.

The property committee found an ideal place on the edge of Colombo city. And so began the search for funds to buy the building. Property prices were rising phenomenally due to increased intensity of the civil war causing an influx of people renting and buying properties in Colombo. With the encouragement of the Regional Secretary of IFES, however, an invitation was sent to all those who had in anyway been impacted by the FOCUS ministry to come alongside the movement and raise the funding. So they reconnected with many people who had lost touch with the ministry and raised the funds.

It was pure determination, prayer and a willingness to persevere in the face of what felt like disinterest from outside organisations that led to the movement's investment of time and energy in raising funds for its much needed headquarters entirely from its own sources. Out of a difficult situation came a wonderful story of success. Not only does FOCUS have a great base for their activities in Colombo and throughout the country, but there is a deep sense of ownership among students and graduates of the movement both in the work and in the building they have worked so hard to purchase.

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