Shiyamani Obeyesekere Ekanayake will tell you, “What I learned at the Haggai Leader Experience was mind blowing to me!”

Her training at Haggai International opened the doors to a wide-ranging ministry, through which she supports women’s work in the Methodist Church, Baptist Church, YMCA, YWCA, and even in prisons.

As a result, she says, “I have been asked to develop an evangelical tool and mentor a group of women who will rescue young industry workers from prostitution.”

She calls the project A Space to Dream.

Sri Lankan factories serving the export market employ large numbers of young female staff as machine operators. These women come from rural areas and are easily dazzled by the big-city life. As a result, they are easy prey for so-called “big sisters” who befriend them and introduce them to prostitution.

Shiyamani’s organization seeks to break the cycle, releasing caregivers who can rescue the women, restore them, and lead them to find purpose in their lives. The same model, she says, can be used in many different settings: in schools, hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centers, universities, among the homeless, during disasters, and in refugee camps.

She says, “My life has not been the same after Haggai. I am truly grateful for the work that was put together for us by the faculty, volunteers, and sponsors. You can be happy that the effort has been well worthwhile. It has paved the way for many, many people to start their journeys with Jesus.”