A Life Changing Opportunity for Two Sri Lankans

As it turns midnight on the 19 Jan 2007 and we’re sitting in Doha airport awaiting our connecting flight to Gatwick, Lucky’s uncontrollable smile lights up his face as he turns and reminds us it’s his birthday.  “On my birthday, my life changes, my future is good, I know my future is going to be very good” he says emotionally. 

Lucky lost his motor bike business in the 2004 boxing day Tsunami. Although A.R.C. proclaims to take aid only to children, Lucky gave us so much help with most of our projects in Sri Lanka that we had to try and find him help to re-build his business (Lucky's story) 

When we first met Ajith he had only a shed, where he, his wife and their new born baby daughter slept, there was room for one bed only.  Ajith explained how his dream was to build his own house for his family.  Seeing a new born baby sleeping in a shed we agreed this was a project we would take on.  We raised enough money for Ajith’s house and gave him the same amount we give to all our carefully chosen projects.

Ajith and his brother built his house which saved a lot of money usually spent on contractors. Ajith also saved money by using land we thought couldn’t possibly be used on the slopping drop at the side of his fathers house. Ajith has built a spectacular home but now wants to finish it off with the nicer touches, like tiles, indoor bathroom, nice windows and doors, all the things you don’t usually find at the home of a waiter, which is Ajiths occupation. A.R.C. could not give any more funds to Ajith, it wouldn’t be fair.

We then made a light hearted suggestion that both Lucky and Ajith should come and work in Guernsey to build on what they had.  They both jumped at the suggestion and started planning how they could make this happen.  Both Lucky and Ajith cannot give enough thanks to those in Guernsey who have already helped them but are so happy that they now have the opportunity to help themselves.

Leaving for the Airport

After doing some research and a little running around we managed to get job offers for both of them at ‘Oatlands Brasserie’ and with a lot of help from Val Scowen, the owner of ‘Oatlands’, managed to secure work permits.  Applying for visa’s in Sri Lanka was a little more tricky but we got there in the end.

Lucky is now well on the way to building a bigger and better motor bike hire business and Ajith is saving towards finishing his house and building a more secure future for his young family.

In just three months they have made so many new friends, they look forward to going to the Hampshire Lodge meat draw every Friday and love their independence now they have bought a scooter from a colleague. 

In Lucky’s words “this is the start of my new life”

On behalf of Lucky and Ajith A.R.C. would like once again to say a big thank you.