Lakshan Madurasinghe’s life-changing journey at Habitat for Humanity
View(s):In a rare development, a volunteer at an international non-governmental agency has risen to head its Sri Lanka unit.Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka (HFHSL), in the backdrop of International Volunteer Day which was celebrated universally on December 5, used this opportunity to highlight the story of its current Board Chairman and President – Lakshan Madurasinghe, who started as a volunteer.
In a media statement, HFHSL said Mr. Madurasinghe’s unique journey, started with him volunteering at a Habitat Build event, and thereafter led to over a decade long partnership with HFHSL.
“That single experience fueled a deep love for volunteering within him, that he has since then shared with countless colleagues, friends, donors and communities. Today, a key member of HFHSL’s leadership team, Lakshan not only continues to volunteer while encouraging hundreds of others to do so as well, he has applied his corporate, PR and management expertise to shape the vision and mission of HFHSL and aid its ongoing commitment to providing shelter and homes to hundreds of families in need,” the statement added.
Since its formation in Sri Lanka 23 years ago, the organization has enabled 24,600 families to achieve strength, stability and self-reliance and rebuild better lives.
Recognizing that donors may not always understand the immense value of building homes, or even consider building a house to be a feasible or practical form of charity, Mr. Madurasinghe said: “A typical Habitat home will be a 550 sq.ft lockable home with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a toilet, and constructing a home of this nature would generally cost approximately one million tupees. Having worked in Sri Lanka for over 23 years, wherever we work, we witness tangible evidence that strong and stable homes help build strong and stable communities”.
Mr. Madurasinghe began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity when it started in 2005 while serving as the Head of Public Affairs and Communication for Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd.
“As part of my responsibilities, I also led the company’s strategic CSR efforts and community engagement initiatives. Following the aftermath of the Tsunami, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity in 2005 to rebuild homes in Galle. Our company volunteers were able to actively engage with homeowners and help them build their new homes and regain a sense of normalcy in their lives in the aftermath of the disaster. I was deeply moved by the warmth, hospitality and kindness that was extended to us by those homeowners. They had lost everything, and were so grateful and moved that we had come all the way, to help them rebuild their lives.”
After volunteering and engaging in HFHSL’s fundraising activities for many years, he was invited to serve on the National Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka in 2009. In 2012, he was selected as the Vice-President of the Board and in 2015 he was appointed as the President and Chairman of the National Board of Directors.