Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

NEWSLETTER May – June 2011

INSIDE

President’s Words

Congratulations

RotaractMora

Are You Ready?2011

HandZ. The Journey

Continues..

Gift A Smile

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

PRESIDENT’S WORDS Rtr. Dilina Fernando

It is with great pleasure I write these parting words in the final bulletin of the

Rotaract Year 2010/11.

This year has been a wonderful year for the Rotaract Club of University of

Moratuwa. We have carried out over 40 quality projects throughout the year

including 16 Community Service projects. This year we have carried major

projects in all avenues of services. Our main strength Professional Development

was taken into new heights with one of the best “Are You ready?” programs and

an innovative “Ideas Forum”. Community Service has gone into new heights with

“Handz” not only becoming the district’s best project but also winning the

“Outstanding Rotaract Project- South Asia” from RI; “Hand in Hand” being recognized as the best

Community Service project in the district. And International Understanding where we traditionally fell

behind was brought into new heights with the hosting of the 16 rotaractors from Hong Kong.

The strength of the club has been its members. I must thank all of them for the wonderful contribution

made to the club and my Board of Directors for supporting me throughout the year. They have brought

this club into whole new level.

Finally I must write a few words about this bulletin. This is the 6th “Rotaract Mora” bulletin published in

this Rotaract year. It has served in spreading the good word about “Rotaract Mora” to Rotarians and

other clubs. Its success was recognized by the district as the “Best Bulletin” of the district. I must thank

Rtr. Sandamali ably supported by many rotaractors who went an extra mile to make this bulletin a huge

success.

Vive La Rotaract Mora!

Congratulations Rotaract Mora The 21st Rotaract District Assembly was concluded on the 26th of June with the Rotaract Club of

University of Moratuwa winning many exciting awards for its excellent service throughout the year. The

awards are,

Best University Based Rotaract Club Citation

Rotaract District Citation

RI Presidential Citation

Overall Best Rotaract Project "Handz"

Best Community Service Project "Hand in Hand"

Best Reporting Club

Best Bulletin

Recognition of 'Building Communities - Bridging

Cultures'

Recognition of 'Are You Ready? 2011

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

Are You Ready? 2011

Graduation is merely the beginning. The journey of life is ahead of you. Change is not likely. It’s

inevitable. The question is Are You Ready?

If you came by the University of Moratuwa on Thursday, the 12th of May you would have witnessed

more than 600 students all dressed up, smartly and neatly, just about to face their very first interview to

step into the world of the industry. That is the very core of ‘Are You Ready?’

Are You Ready? is the official careers fair at the University of Moratuwa. The project with its humble

beginning of less than 10 companies and 140 students have become a venture of over 50 companies and

500 students from all faculties of University of Moratuwa. “Are You Ready?” has laid the foundation for

other universities to organize similar careers fairs in their respective universities.

Over the years “Are You Ready?” has evolved with ever changing requirements of the corporate world

for graduates. Sessions had been modified, scrapped and added to offer a better “Are You Ready?”

program every year. Are You Ready? 2011 was appreciated by all as the best in the history of “Are You

Ready? “

The starting session of the Are You Ready?2011 was Milestone. It was indeed a milestone for the

undergraduates who are just about to witness the world. The eminent speakers of the day, Mr. Jayantha

Fernando and Mr. Jagath Peris , the Directors at Global Talent Coach & Consultants (Pvt)Ltd.; Ms. Inoka

Dias, HR Business Partner at Unilever Sri Lanka Limited; Ms. Diana Johnson, Group Human Resources

Development Manager at Richard Pieris & Company PLC; and Mr. Arjuna Sirinanda, the CEO - ERP

Shared Services at Brandix; won the audience through their excellent presentations. They taught on

preparing resumes, facing interviews and many other soft skills that an undergraduate must

process.

Professioanle 2011 was an interactive discussion with top ranked

individuals from the corporate world. This proved to be a golden

opportunity for the young undergraduates to discuss and pave the

path of their career success. Mr. Chathura Dissanayaka, the Head

of Supply Chain of Fonterra Brands Lanka Ltd., Mr. Janaka

Kurukulasuriya, the Chairman, Urban Development Authority, Ms.

Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya, the General Manager(HR) of

Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC and Dr. Sanjiva

Weerawarna, the Founder Chairman and CEO of

WSO2 were present and made the discussion a

memorable day.

One of the most interesting sessions of Are You

Ready? 2011 was iBrand, a workshop conducted on

personal branding. This taught the undergraduates

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

of the importance of branding themselves in order to build up their own reputation and stand unique

among the rest. Mr. Niresh Samaranayake, from John Keels Holdings and Mr. Ravi Jayawardane, the CEO

Sales and Marketing Maliban Biscuit PLC. , guided the listeners to

find out their true potential.

The most important and the eventful session was the Flagship Day.

Company officials from 51 companies were present to conduct

interviews, for the passing out batch of the university. Around 1000

interviews were conducted during the entire day, showing out to

the world the capabilities of the undergraduates. The chief guest of

the day, the Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, Deshamanya

Dr. Roland Silva was very much impressed by the

programme and shared his thoughts with the

students on becoming an a successful

individual. Guest of Honour, Rotary District

3220 Governor Rtn. Imitiaz Ismail shared his

thoughts and appreciated what the Rotaract

Club of University of Moratuwa has achieved.

Distinguished guests present included Vice

Chancellor, Prof Malik Ranasinghe, Deputy Vice

Chancellor Prof Niranjan Gunawardena, Dean-

Faculty of Engineering Prof. UGA Puswewala and

Chairmen of DIMO, Mr. Ranjith Pandithage.

Dining Etiquette and Grooming workshop was the

final event of the ‘Are You Ready? 2011’ program

which was held at the Grand Oriental Hotel, where

the participants received a hands on experience on

the art of dinning. The speakers Mrs. Shiru

Wijemanne owner of The swiss finishing school of

Colombo, Mr. Kanishka Jayathunga Senior Lecturer,

Food & Beverage of Sri Lankan Institute of tourism and hotel management and Mrs. Surakshi

Siriwardane, from Sri Lankan Airlines focused on customs and rules of polite behavior at professional

standards.

Are You Ready?, the official careers fair at the University of Moratuwa, which gained a lot of praises by

university intellectuals, industry representatives and the students became a reality through the efforts

of the Rotaractors. Rtr. Chinthaka Dharmasiri and Rtr. Lahiru Gawramanna Co-Chaired the project and

expressed that they had a once in a lifetime experience in organizing a project of this magnitude.

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

HandZ: The journey continues……………… Geethange Wijesinghe

The final phase of HandZ for the year began with the Health Camp which was held on Thursday, the26th

of May. Six Rotaractors from our club took part and around 230 students from Kalugala Vidyalaya were

benefitted. A doctor and MOH took part in this session in which students were properly vaccinated and

diagnosed and given medication in cases where necessary.

We left the university premises early in the

morning of Saturday, the 29th of May, around

3.00a.m. and headed towards Anuradhapura,

with high hopes for experiencing something

new and worthy. But, never had we thought

that the experiences would be so much

interesting and invaluable as this. As a level

one student, it was the first HandZ session I

was attending and I had been told in advance that it would be a life-changing experience. Considering

the things I gained, it surely was.

We arrived at the Galewela junction around 8.00 a.m. and the mathematics teacher for O/L classes at

Kalugala Vidyalaya was waiting to guide us from there to the Kalugala Vidyalaya. Students were

gathered there and gave us a warm welcome together with teachers and parents.

As soon as we arrived we committed ourselves to carry on with the project. As it was scheduled earlier,

second day of this three day programme was dedicated to teaching English. The students were divided

in to four groups considering their grades. Groups were Grade 1-2, Grade3-5, Grade 6-8, and Grade 9-

11. And we, all 35 of us, spread out and taught those students giving them much personal attention than

they would receive in a normal class room. And that was one of the most significant features of HandZ.

We pay more attention to and appreciate generously the efforts taken by, the students and that makes

them work more ardently and enthusiastically. From 9.00a.m. to 4.00p.m. we taught and then we

visited the nearby temple and took part in a Shramadana together with villagers of Kalugala in cleansing

the temple premises.

In the evening we put up a camp fire, which dragged on till 10.30p.m. The students, their parents and

teachers took part in. It was a novel experience for them and there were many an item which inspired

and entertained the participants. I am sure that it was a red letter day for the inhabitants of Kalugala.

The third and last day was for teaching Mathematics for O/L schools and these workshops were

conducted in four schools, Kalugala Vidyalaya, Galkiriyagama Central College, Plallagama Vidyalaya and

Buduge Inna Vidyalaya. We got into groups and visited those schools and conducted seminars there

from 9.00a.m. to 3.30 p.m. and then packed up to come back, giving those students much to think and

inspiring them.

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

The purpose of this phase of HandZ was to promote the living standards of students in remote areas and

inspiring them and encouraging them to set up higher goals and strive to achieve them was certainly

mandatory and through those workshops we were able to accomplish that noble task. Those children

were truly motivated and inspired; a fact which was evident from the feedback we received.

And the cherished memories and valuable experiences we got through HandZ was instrumental in

broadening our horizons and make us more understanding and sympathizing and finally making us

balanced individuals.

Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa

Gift A Smile Chandima Thamali

Gift A Smile, one of those numerous projects done by the Rotaract club of University of Moratuwa,

simply speaking is the way we Rotaractors spend our birthdays in a really worthwhile and a meaningful

manner. Rather than spending our birthday allowances on parties or picnics we prefer to dedicate that

money to present a nice big smile to homeless, parentless children in orphanages. So last month we

decided to visit Sangamiththa Development Centre, a children’s home in Pamankada which gives a roof

above their head to about 30 girls of ages ranging 5 to 17.

As is the custom twenty or so of us got everything ready and arrived the place at around 4 o'clock

looking forward to experience yet another delightful evening filled with joyful and pleasant moments.

The children were overjoyed to see us clad with presents and greeted us warmly. We could see what our

humble gesture of kindness, little though it may be, meant to them from their radiant faces. First we had

a nice tea party with them and went on to play few games which were immense fun. Not only to these

children but amazingly it was fun for us too. It was a nice experience to watch those shiny faces filled

with laughter, happiness radiating from their innocent souls. In the end we gave presents to the winners

and after that for all of them. Afterwards we sang to them and they sang to us in turn which was really

nice to listen. We could see they all were very talented and not

a least bit shy to come forward.

By and by the evening came to an end, even before we

realized and soon it was time for us to say good bye to them

at last. If the truth to be told we just did not have the heart

to leave them after sharing so much with them, to ruin their

happiness. Thus we bade them farewell and

returned home our ears still ringing with

their joyful laughter, our hearts filled with

joy and immense satisfaction. That I think is

the best part of Gift A Smile, we are not just

giving them a chance to enjoy, in truth it

gives us too a wonderful and a memorable

evening, the best birthday present one can

ever have.