Blood Donation Campaign

The Annual Blood Donation campaign was organized by the Rotaract Club of Kandy in collaboration with the Interact Club of Gateway College and their Alumni Association on the 15^th of December from 10am onwards at Gateway College, Kandy.

It was conducted under the project avenue community service with the help of the doctors from the Kandy General Hospital for the benefit of the public. The project was successfully completed as the target amount of donors for the day was achieved.  

It was a pleasure to see the enthusiasm of the organizers including both Rotaractors and Interactors and also the donors which included a majority of the youth.

Christmas Giftbox Project

The annual Christmas Giftbox  project is an annual community Service project organized by the Rotaract Club of Kandy to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful manner. This time it was held on the 2^nd of December 2017 at the Daliwala Maha Vidyalaya which is a rural school in Rikillagaskada. 

The school has classes from grade 1 to 5 and a total number of 35 students. A donation of thirty five packs which included twenty different necessary stationary items were made. The students were given some snacks as well.

The most touching part of the project was when the students of the school performed a concert for us. It was a really memorable day where we were able to bring happiness to the ones in need.

Multi Religious Offering

Among the annual projects done by the Rotaract Club of Kandy, The Multi Religious Offering project is a significant project. This project is conducted to acknowledge the club charter celebration and to get blessings from all four religions. During this project the members of the club visit a selected Temple, Kovil, Mosque and a Church.

This time the project was held on the 26^th of November 2017. We visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic, The Meera Maccam Jummah Mosque, The Christ church and The Katharagama Dewalaya. It was both an educational and a spiritual project where the members were given the opportunity to learn about other religious practices which was a blessing indeed.

The project was successfully completed after worshipping religious places representing all four religions. 

The Temple of the Tooth Relic

The Meera Maccham Jummah Mosque

The Christ Church

The Katharagama Devalaya

Rotaract Awareness Program

The Rotaract awareness program was successfully conducted on the 25^th of November 2017 at the Trinity College Junior Hall by Past President Rotarian Ravindra Thammita, Past President Sachinthani Meeriyagalla and Past President Tilani Subasinghe.

This was a very interactive session where they shared memories from their journey until now as most experienced members of the club. Their work as responsible rotaractors is evident as all three of them took the club to greater heights by making it the most outstanding club to the district in their respective years by organizing signatory projects.

The club members were also enlightened by things like the value of being a Rotaractor, the individual roles as the members of the executive committee and the importance of team work and spirit. 

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Program

The Rotaract Club of Kandy organized a Professional Development Project for the members of the Club which was an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Program.  The program was conducted to raise awareness among the rotaractors and to educate them on the correct use of antimicrobial agents to avoid any consequences.

The project was held on the 25^th of November 2017 in the Trinity College Junior Hall. The lectures were conducted successfully by the lecturers of Medical Faculty, University of Peradeniya. To give a briefing, Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of a microorganism to stop an antimicrobial working against it, especially due to the misuse and abuse of antimicrobial agents. This poses a serious threat to human health and it requires immediate action.

The focus of the program was on the precautionary methods that need to be taken to avoid health issues. It was very productive and an eye-opener to all the participants. The project was a remarkable success.

The Mojito Sale

The Rotaract Club of Kandy organized a mojito sale on the 5^th of November 2017 under the project avenue Community service. The stall was held in collaboration with the Interact Club of St. Sylvester’s College Kandy as it was a part of their annual project “Walk of Fame”. The mojito sale was done at the end point of the walk and was quite refreshing for the participants.

The main aim of this project was to raise funds for the upcoming projects of the club. Apart from being a fund raiser this project helped us in bonding with the young interactors and fellow rotaractors from Kandy. The most interesting fact was that the lime mojitos were made by the members of the club itself which was a unique experience indeed.

We as rotaractors felt proud of being a part of this project to redefine friendship in its true sense.

Joy of Hearing - Phase 1

The annual community service project “Joy of Hearing- Phase1” organized by the Rotaract Club of Kandy was held on the 7^th of October from 12.30 pm onwards at the Christ Church Hall, Kandy where over eighty hearing aids were donated to the needy patients.

The project was initiated by having discussions with the ENT clinic doctors and nurses in the Kandy General Hospital. After making necessary arrangements under the assistance of the responsible entities the contact details of the patients were collected. The receivers of the hearing aids were confirmed after obtaining the necessary legal documents from the respective individuals.

The donations of hearing aids were contributions made by Mr.Gunta Volkmaan from Denmark  which were collected with the help of Rtn. John Baskaran from the Rotary Club of Kandy. Both these wonderful individuals were present with us during the project. 

The project was very satisfying and saw a successful end.

Hopes of Paradise - Phase 2

The second phase of the community service project “Hopes of Paradise” organized by the Rotaract Club of Kandy was held on the same day as phase 1, the 1^st of October within the school premises of the Daliwala Maha Vidyalaya to celebrate the World Childrens’ Day with the students of the school. The intention of conducting this project in a less privileged school was to take measures in order to ensure the welfare of the students.

We donated a first aid box to the school as any sort of medication was not available in case of an emergency. This was an initial step made by us to improve the health facilities of the school and for the welfare of it’s students. The principal of the school and the staff members were grateful for this contribution and appreciated our efforts to make the school a better place for the students.

We saw the end of the project with the hope of conducting more sessions to improve the school in whatever way within our abilities in the near future. 

Hopes of Paradise - Phase 1

The first phase of the community service project “Hope of Paradise” was held successfully on the 1^st of October 2017 at Dalivala Maha Vidyalaya. 

We, the Rotaract club of Kandy planned to initiate a project on the world  Childrens’ day in order to celebrate the special occasion with 25 children from the above mentioned school. It is a less privileged school which needed assistance for the better performance of its student body. The shortcomings of facilities were discussed in detail among the club members and then we began to implement our plans to help them in two separate phases.

To begin with the first phase of the project, we organized a small event for the entertainment of the children. We were given a warm welcome by the students of the school who escorted us to the school premises by a vibrant parade. We were then introduced to the college principal and the staff members. The celebration began with a speech given by Rtr. Mohamed Rehan and some snacks were distributed among the students sponsored by Rtr. Rukshan Kularathne.

They took us all by surprise as they performed a few dramas, musical events to entertain us and this also assured that they were multi-talented. It was a great pleasure to see the smiles of these children who are god-gifted.

The project saw a remarkable end and the members of the club greatly contributed towards it’s success.

The T shirt and the Cap for the new term 17/18

The T-shirt and cap project of the Rotaract Club of Kandy for the term 17/18 was completed on the 29^th of September 2017.

Initially, the proposed design for the T shirt and the cap of the new term was discussed in the club meeting with all the members and was eventually approved by all. The sizes for the t shirts of every member were collected by the project chairperson through the official whatsapp group, calls and through personal messages.

The order for printing the t shirts and the caps were given to Windus Weeraratne Industries (Pvt) Ltd in Kandy. Later, after the completed items were delivered they were distributed among the members accordingly.

The t shirt was admired by everyone for it’s unique outlook which was proof for the commendable completion of the project.

The 35th Installation Ceremony of Rotaract Club of Kandy

The Installation Ceremony of the Rotaract Club of Kandy for the year 2017/2018 was held on the 9th of September 2017 at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy.

The event saw its successful completion after days of persistent work by all the members of the club. It marked an end to a remarkable year of great service paving way for a new year with unique aspirations to be achieved through Rotaract.

The occasion was graced by the presence of our Chief Guest Rtn. PHF. Gnanaraj Rathnapandian, our Guest of Honour, Co- DRCC Rtn. PHF Geshani Dias Desinghe and many representatives from other Rotaract and Interact Clubs, parents and friends. The traditional oil lamp was then lit, followed by the recitation of the flag salutation, Rotaract invocation and the four way test and the singing of the Rotaract song.

Team Kandy continues to uphold the dignity and the honor of the club by completing thirty nine projects in all avenues and looks forward to achieve more with the guidance of the incoming president, Rtr. Samindhi Unamboowe and her executive board. The appointment of the new president was undoubtedly the highlight of the day. Her speech as the newly appointed president where she shared moments of her life as a Rotaractor, was very motivating and exemplary as it was an inspiration to all the members of the club to do their best in the upcoming year. 

The induction of the members of the executive board was followed by the President’s speech. Given below is the list of names of the incoming board of Directors and their respective positions.

President: Rtr. Samindhi Unamboowe

Joint Secretary: Rtr. Jalinie Nanayakkara

Joint Secretary: Rtr. Mohamed Rehan

Vice President: Rtr. Niran Jayawardane

Treasurer: Rtr. Tilani Subasinghe

Assistant Treasurer: Rtr. Kavindya Samarakoon

Seargent at arms: Rtr. Haleem Akmal

Joint Director for Community Service: Rtr. Rukshan Kularathne

Joint Director for Community Service: Rtr. Dilshan Ilankoon

Director for International Understanding: Rtr. Rahma Mashood

Director for Professional Development: Rtr. Rasika Baskaran

Director for Club Service: Rtr. Kenneth Cottling

Joint Director for IT: Afkhan Ahamed

Joint Director for IT: Ushan Malshika

Director for Public Relations and Sports: Rtr. Dedunu Akarshanie

Editor: Rtr. Fairoza Fairooz

Team Kandy didn’t forget to pay tribute to three members of the Rotaract family, PP. Wajdi Siraj, PP. Pradeepa Anthony and Thilan Samarakoon who bid farewell to their journey as Rotaractors this year.

The outgoing President Rtr. Heshan Wickramathilake was commended by everyone for his year of service, for being a leader and a friend who took the club to great heights. The ceremony saw its end by opening the evening for felicitation and fellowship. Team Kandy received many compliments for completing the installation ceremony in style. 

Vibes of Perahera

The Kandy Esala Perahara also known as ‘The Festival of the Tooth’ is one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned festivals which takes place during the month of August in Kandy. It is held annually to venerate the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. 

We, the Rotaract Club of Kandy as members who belong to the Kandyan Hill Capital, which is at the threshold of a region rich in cultural experiences, has stepped out with "Vibes of Perehera" to celebrate and be a part of this colourful pageant with great devotion.

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This annual community service project was held for the second consecutive time on the 7th of August 2017. Around 2300 buns were distributed among the spectators who travelled a pretty fair distance in order to watch the Perahara which is indeed a blessing and was seated on the streets for hours to catch a spot to view the procession. Most of them are people who are less fortunate and haven’t quite prepared themselves with meals to make it through the evening and hence Team Kandy thought to lend a hand this way.  

The project was successfully completed in a large-scale and was praised by many who saw the worthy cause.

Hosting a Group Of Students from Australia

The Rotaract Club of Kandy had the honour of hosting a group of students and two professors from the University of Wollongong (School of Economics and Finance), Australia to meet the proprietor of the largest Gem and Jewellery showroom in Kandy, Tiesh by Lakmini  on the 17th of July 2017.  

These students were studying on Sri Lanka's economy and development of businesses and how the country's economy effects on the new businesses.

Also we were able to get special permission from the Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Peradeniya to make a personal visit to the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University including a discussion with the Head of Department Prof. Vijesandivan and a few students.

Tamil Workshop

Sri Lanka being a bilingual country, we believe that as responsible citizens we ought to make efforts to learn all three languages in use. Hence, as the majority of the club members were unfamiliar with the Tamil language, we organized a work shop to practice speaking Tamil so that it will serve as a great advantage for their future endeavors. 

Under the project avenue Club Service, the Tamil Workshop was held at the Kandy Club on the 16th of July 2017 where the members were taught the flag salutation in Tamil as well as simple Tamil vocabulary like the names of animals, birds, vegetables, and fruits.

It was a very productive day as all members learnt new things and also had fun.

Donation of Clothes and Toys to Daya Niwasa

The Rotaract Club of Kandy donated clothes and toys to the children at the Daya Niwasa, Kandy on the 8th of July under the project avenue of Community Service.

With the help of the family members and friends of Rotaract we were able to make a satisfying donation for the kids.

At the end of the day it is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.

"We make a living by what we get,

but...

we make a life by what we give"

President's Lunch

"Don't wait for someone to be friendly, show them how"

Keeping up with the tradition of the club, this year too the newly appointed president Rtr. Samindhi Unamboowe gave a “special treat” to the club members as a way to step in to the upcoming year with new hopes and aspirations.

This reunion also is a gesture to thank all the members for trusting and giving the opportunity for her to head this prestigious club. 

It was a great evening indeed on the 2nd of July 2017 at the Dinemore Restaurant, Kandy, where all  the members had a good time in improving fellowship among each other.

The Goals Project

The first project for the new term 17/18 of the Rotaract Club of Kandy under the Avenue Club Service, namely, "The Goals Project" was held on the 2^nd of July 2017 at the Kandy Club. This is an annual project where this time too, the incoming president explained her goals for the upcoming year, and provided the Board of Directors and the team with guidelines and made them aware of their respective responsibilities.

In the course of the discussion, new project ideas were pooled in by the members and the board of directors which were later discussed.

As the saying goes, Team Kandy wishes to,

“Stay focused, chase our dreams, and keep moving towards our goal to move ONE STEP BEYOND AMITY”

Tamil workshop

Tamil workshop which was organized at the Kandy club Premises on the 07^th May 2016 saw a successful completion, which became a new practical experience for the club members in learning Tamil. This was organized aiming at developing the understanding and Tamil speaking ability of our club members.

Conducted by Rotaractors Nuskey, Rasika, Rehan, Harsha, Akmal and Chavithra. The workshop became interactive and was useful for the member to learn some Tamil vocabulary and conversations for day to day usage.

Tamil workshop concluded with two beautiful songs “Nenjukkul peididum maa malai” & “Chinna chinna asai” by Rotaractors Harsha & Akmal which added more colors to the workshop end.

 

Article by Rtr. Nuskey Farook