05 June, 2017: Rotaract which initially began as an International Youth program in 1968 in the United States of America has over 9,522 clubs spread around the world and 291,006 members. With the focus of developing young adults as leaders in their communities and workplaces, today Rotaract has developed leaps and bounds and has come a long way since its inception.
Currently in Sri Lanka, 60+ Rotaract Clubs are headed by The District Rotaract Representative Mohamed Husni and his team for the year 2016/2017. With this year’s theme being ‘Vision to Action’, Sustainability has been a key focus pointer in this year. And all the clubs were encouraged in carrying out projects that were sustainable in nature and also to make sure that the year theme of ‘Vision to Action’ was implemented one way or the other.
The Rotaract Clubs of Australian College of Business and Technology (ACBT), Academy of Design (AOD), Colombo Regent together with the Rotaract Club of Wattala have joined hands to carry out a ‘Vision to Action’ project which revolves around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout this project the following SDG goals will be addressed, Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure as well as Reduced Inequalities.
The project has been divided into 4 phases, in order to ensure that extensive attention is given in incorporating these goals successfully.
Phase 1 of the project is involved with Releasing 17 videos featuring notable district officials along with Rotaractors, addressing the Sustainable Development Goals in order to reduce the knowledge gap. And this will be an ongoing activity till the completion of the project. This is a stepping stone as it brings everyone together to decide and to engage on new paths to improve the lives of people everywhere.
The construction of two wells in Jabalnagar, 4 km from Muttur, Trincomalee, marks the 2nd Phase of the project. This phase was completed as of 31st of May 2017.
Conducting of a Model Youth Parliament that addresses key topics such as the “Role of young individuals in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Sri Lanka” marks the 3rd phase of the project, and this was conducted in collaboration with the Interact club of D.S. Senanayake College.
The Final phase of the project involves the construction of a classroom and the donation of books and computers to a school.
The overall project has been constructed in such a way that the phases 1-3 represent the Vision in the promotion of the SDG Goals while the phases 4-5 represents the Action aspect of it, through its implementation.
On the 25th of September 2015 when the countries agreed to take up a set of goals to end some of the fundamental issues that are plaguing the world today, such as poverty, climate change and inequality to ensure that there is prosperity for all, it became the responsibility of not only the government but also the private sector, the civil society and people like you to do their part. DRR Mohamed Husni’s theme for Vision to Action embodies this message. And it is highly commendable that the Rotaract Clubs of AOD, ACBT, Colombo Regent and Wattala are following suit and adopting this to make a better tomorrow.