Several factors can make a decisive difference in one’s life. Being a Rotaractor can be pointed out as one of the main things that influenced the change in the direction of my life!
I came to know about Rotaract in my first year. I joined the Rotaract Club of the University of Kelaniya (RACUOK) because of a Facebook post I saw by chance in August 2020. Although I had to stay as a Prospect Member at first, I was actively involved with the work of Community Service Avenue. ‘Clean Hands’ and ‘Snehadana’ are the community service projects that gave me many experiences in my life. With the experience I obtained from them, I got to execute the project ‘ALERT,’ which was a sub-project of the project ‘RotaTomorrow 1.0’ for the 2020-21 RI year.
However, as I entered my second year, I have been able to support RACUOK for the 2021-22 RI year as the Member Relations Director. Therefore, the member recruitment related to the 2021-22 RI year for RACUOK was done by me. Moreover, in the first half of the 2021-22 RI year, I was also able to execute the project ‘AvoiDelta,’ which was a highly outstanding project in our RID 3220. This project was also nominated to the top ten projects under the category of ‘Most Outstanding Initiative Focused on Stop the Spread’ related to the 2021-22 RI year in the RID 3220.
Also, after that, I executed the ‘RotaTomorrow’ project for the second time. This project enabled RACUOK to win the Silver Award under the category of ‘Most Outstanding Club Service Initiative – Membership Expansion’ 2021-22 RI year in the RID 3220. The RACUOK also received many awards related to the 2021–22 RI year for the sub-projects carried out under this. There, the project ‘Charitha’ received the Silver Award in the ‘Most Outstanding Public Image Initiative’ category, the project ‘Prathishta’ received the Silver Award in the ‘Most Exceptionally Executed Professional Development Initiative’ category, and the Bronze Award in the ‘Most Outstanding External Partnership Based Initiative’ category, the project ‘Meet the Need’ also won the Bronze Award in the ‘Most Outstanding Initiative in line with Rotary Focus Area Water Sanitation and Hygiene category. Also, receiving the Bronze Award under the ‘Most Outstanding Membership Development and Retention Effort’ category under the RID 3220 Award for the 2021-22 RI year was my best gift for contributing to RACUOK!
According to my thinking, the significant advantage of Rotaract is that you get to move to the part of solutions from the number of problems. Rotaract provides us many benefits when you involve with the organization and not merely being a member. I would emphasize that my Rotaract journey offered me the following advantages.
• L – Leadership
• U – Understanding
• N – Networking
• CH – Chance
As a Rotaractor, I gained the above advantages throughout my journey, and I can briefly explain them as follows.
• Leadership – Rotary and the world views Rotaractors as future leaders. Rotaract will invariably put you into a leadership mindset during meetings and projects. You get to learn about leadership experientially. If that is not enough, many formal leadership training/skill development programs help you become a leader in your profession and society.
• Understanding – Rotaract offers you an excellent perspective to look at your community needs. Rotaract is a platform for you to understand your community needs better. You have enough resources, time, and goodwill to understand the apparent and factual issues of society. You can develop the understanding to provide a sustainable solution.
• Networking – Rotaract allows you to meet like-minded young people in your society, country, and the world. This networking opportunity helps you to develop international and inter-community understanding in a much better and more straightforward manner.
• Chance – Rotaract allows you to evolve and experiment with your ideas. You are provided with enough support to make your idea successful and also enough freedom to learn from your success or failures.
I have learned many things from the Rotaract work I have done, and my Rotaract journey has been a turning point in my life. Although my Rotaract journey has been temporarily stopped due to my studies, I am eager to get back into Rotaract as soon as my studies are over.
Finally, I want to say something to those who are currently in the Rotaract movement, who are waiting to join the Rotaract movement, or those who don’t know anything about the Rotaract movement.
“To serve society by volunteering, you must join the Rotaract movement. Because the Rotaract movement can make one’s future a reality while doing good for the community, join and work with the Rotaract movement with honesty and justice!!”
I sincerely hope what I have gained through Rotaract will be the same for you!
Viva La Rotaract!!!
