It is the year 2024 and the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya is getting ready for its annual SDG oriented competition RotaTomorrow for the fourth consecutive time. This is the place where group 5 gathered as a team bearing the name APEX for the first time. The organizing committee of group 5, Team APEX was swiftly chosen following the bid for SDG goals in which microfinance became our theme. After brainstorming and voting for ideas together with everyone, සියාත්‍රා was chosen as the project name symbolizing how our goal is to lead the community into a secure path that will enable people to row their own way even in a turbulent sea.

Then began our journey working towards a better future for the community specially focusing on these target groups: women and youth. After a thorough research and with unique ideas from the team a project outline was drafted for සියාත්‍රා. It was decided that the project is going to consist of two phases: first focusing on women empowerment and green environment development, and second on youth development and career guidance. 

The first phase of the project සියාත්‍රා was held on 9^th of March 2024 at the picturesque Kohomada village that is located in the Kandy District. This location was assessed by our team members as a place that needs assistance that our team is fully capable of offering. It was undertaken in two parts: women empowerment and green environment development. For the first part of phase 01, we planned an awareness session that would empower women to aim for financial security in their lives not as bystanders but as active members of their families. Team APEX took the initiative to reach out to Miss. Shermila Rajapaksha, former Director General of the Department of National Zoological Gardens who is passionate about women empowerment and has more than enough experience under her belt to elevate her fellow mothers, sisters and daughters. Finally, in the 9^th day of the month of March we gathered the women of Kohomada to the Kohomada Ruwanpa Muula Maha Viharaya and gave the stage to Miss Shermila Rajapaksha to conduct an informative awareness session on “Starting a Small Business”.  

After the successful conclusion of the session we moved on to the next part of phase 01 which was the donation for individuals. Before when we explored the village to measure whether there are suitable individuals for our project, our members identified two ladies who showed interest in starting a small business. We reached out to them, informing them that we could provide assistance for their business dreams. The first lady was Mrs. Krishanthi Wanigarathna who had to completely stopped her wicker business due to the loss of suppliers while the second was Mrs. Shehara Weerasinghe who wished to expand her chicken coop and turn it into a financial source. We donated services such as contacting reliable, trustworthy contacts for Mrs. Krishanthi and miscellaneous donation, equipment such as mesh wire rolls for Mrs. Shehara to kick start her new business. Lastly, we reached the green environment development segment of phase 01. Here, we organized a plant donation of over 60 plants, giving away them to the betterment of the Kohomada Village ensuring that project සියාත්‍රා will continue to serve Kohomada even after the end of the project. 

Then it was time for the second phase of project සියාත්‍රා. Team APEX’s vision for the phase 02 was centered on youth development and making the younger generation ready for the future 

With that in mind we visited Kudabuthgamuwa Rajasingha Central College on 14th of March 2024 with the plan to hold an awareness session for the youth that is on the cusp of leaving school education system. Mr. Sajeewa Kulathilaka, a senior program officer of the VTAS stepped on to conduct an engaging career guidance session. He showed the students all the paths and opportunities they have that most go unaware in all their lives asking them to think deeply about which one they wish to follow that would undoubtedly suit their own abilities and what they want to do in the future. The students were asked to align their needs with the career path instead of randomly charging at life without a plan. Informative pamphlets of vocational training were distributed in the session and it was with humble joy in our heart that we witnessed young students having a positive change of heart about their future and how many expressed they are going to try their chance at VTAS. The phase 02 wrapped on that joyful note and we said goodbye to the students wishing them luck in their future endeavours. 

At last the story of සියාත්‍රා came to a successful end with the sweat and tears of the Team APEX. As the project conclusion reached us our hearts were filled with pride and satisfaction that we were able to immensely help two vulnerable groups in our community. There were countless obstacles that we faced yet our resilience speaks for itself with the positive end results we brought to the table. In the end, සියාත්‍රා achieved the goal of becoming a beacon of light in people’s lives.