Bridging Lanka harnesses the expertise and resources volunteers to benefit the Mannar community in northern Sri Lanka. Projects include livelihood support, business development, community advocacy, urban planning and social cohesion projects. Our Australian Board of Directors support operations, along with additional consultants for a range of skills and networks. Our volunteers are connected across Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and in between. All our work begins with listening and learning about a diverse range of people and perspectives. We support a range of the most vulnerable people and places, employ a local staff team and make a real difference by working with community on their most pressing needs. Our capacity to make progress in a complex, dynamic context has been the subject of Australian research papers and an international conference based on our approach. We must be able to adapt rapidly and effectively in a changing environment, and with a vast range of factors. Past and current volunteers find that working with this approach also has significant impact on their capacity to adapt and be effective in their day to day jobs.