This year, young aspiring leaders of the future around the world celebrate Interact week from the 31st of October to the 5th of November to commemorate the establishment of the first Interact Club in 1962. The week has been specifically arranged to show how the Interact Club creates a difference among the communities. Further, Interactors around the world get together with Rotary International by conducting joint projects with their respective sponsoring Rotary Club to commemorate this special occasion. This week is an excellent opportunity for all the Interact Clubs to spread awareness about their exceptional work towards community development to glorify their motto, “Service Above Self”.

The name ‘Interact‘ came from combining the words ‘international’ and ‘action’. Interact Clubs mainly consists of young people between the ages of 12 and 19 brought together to develop leadership skills and make new friends and connections while discovering the power of “Service Above Self”.

Centred around schools, Interact Clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Rotary Clubs sponsor, mentor and guide Interactors as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills.

At present, nearly 15,000 interact clubs have been established in more than 140 countries around the world with a member base of more than 300,000 Interactors.

The Interact District 3220, Asia zone via Sri Lanka and Maldives, consists of more than 100 Interact Clubs established with an outstanding membership base of nearly 8500 young individuals. It is comprised of eleven zones including Kandy, Kurunegala, Negombo, Gem City, Tea Country, Jaffna, and Kegalle and each Interact club consists of five avenues namely; Community Service, International Understanding, Club Service, Green Life, and Finance.

Being one of the most active Interact Districts in the world, the Interact District 3220, with the theme “Unity over Diversity”, and always valuing “Service above self”, serve the community by building mutual understanding among cultures and communities both locally and internationally while empowering youth.

The Vision

To inculcate the vigorous ethos of “Service Above Self” in the mentality of every interactor, whilst ensuring that the “Core values of Rotary” and the “Four-way test” are imbued in the actions of all individuals of the Interact movement. To create an understanding that true prosperity can only be achieved in service to others

The Mission

To create a platform of unity amongst diversity with one aspiration, the spirit of “Service Above Self”. To nourish the growth of every interactor to become respected and responsible citizens of the future. To instil the traits of leadership, honour, humility, and altruism in the hearts of every individual in the interact movement, while pursuing the goal of making the world a better place.

Goals

Creating an atmosphere of belonging and family, among interactors from all walks of life irrespective of to which club they belong and joining together in the name of “service” as ONE MOVEMENT aiming to make the country and world a better place.

Amongst the numerous Interact Clubs in Sri Lanka, a few selected clubs’ contributions towards community development are mentioned below.

Interact club of Dharmapala Vidyalaya

The Interact Club of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya is the official Interact Club which is based on one of the oldest and biggest mixed schools in South Asia. Its sponsoring Rotary Club is the Rotary Club of Battaramulla. It was chartered by the Interact Club of St. Joseph College and the Interact Club of Mahamaya Girls College Kandy.

As one of the newly revived clubs in the Interact District 3220, the Interact Club of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya has been playing a vital role in the interact arena since its inauguration in 2020, where Int. Samiru Aponso was appointed as the president. Since then, ICDVP has climbed to the top of the newly revived clubs in the Interact District 3220 and has been working in all five avenues for the betterment of society.

In less than two years, the Interact Club of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya has done significant projects such as Toy Story, Intermeet, Digvijaya, Superfan etc. The club managed to organize its first-ever District event in 2022, which was the 9th District Meeting of the Interact District 3220 for the year 2021/22.

Current Board of Directors

• President – Int. Janindu Kaveen
• Secretary – Int. Sethumi Dissanayake
• Treasurer – Int. Kalana Weerakoon
• Vice President – Int. Nividu Biman
• Vice Secretary – Int. Methni Ruwanara
• Sergeant at arms – Int. Rajitha Anjana
• Co-Editor – Int. Risandu Wanasinghe
• Co-Editor – Int. Senithu Kemsith
• Finance Director – Int. Lakvin Dulnaka
• Director of Club Services – Int. Didula Gethmin
• Director of Finance – Int. Kalana Weerakoon
• Director of Community Services – Int. Nulan Senevirathne
• Director of Green Life – Int. Usara Kalhan
• Director of International Understanding – Int. Tumali Akithma
• Director of Public Relations – Int. Dilsara Praboth
• Director of Media – Int. Hiruka Hemal

Project Swaranadee

Swaranadee organized in collaboration with “Gimana artistic society”, was a project done under the theme “To make a calm and peaceful mind”. It was done at the Purana Rajamahaviharaya, Godagama. The chief guest for the event was, Mr. Sampath Ududumbara who is a famous police officer currently serving at the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau. It was a program dedicated to the appreciation of songs talking about topics such as child abuse, women abuse and mental health problems. The project was a huge success with an audience of 245 people.

Interact Club of Royal College

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Colombo, the Interact Club of Royal College was chartered on the 18th of November 1965. The first Interact Club in Sri Lanka was the St. John’s Interact Club, Jaffna which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Jaffna.

The Interact Club of Royal College is the second Interact Club in the island and the third in Asia, and now the oldest functioning Interact Club in Sri Lanka.

The President of the Club before receiving the charter was Int. Raj Bar Kumara Kulasinghe. The Charter President of the Club was Int. Nande Palihakkara, who served as president in 1965/1966 & 1966. The Charter Secretary was Int. P. A. De Silva. The First Staff Advisor of the club was Mr. Lenny De Silva.

From the beginning of its inception, the Interact Club of Royal College has grown to be the most active and innovative Club at Royal College, carrying out projects and programs in all the avenues of service benefiting the school and the larger community in Sri Lanka.

Throughout the years, the Royal College Interact Club has gained a reputation for pushing the boundaries of efficiency and professionalism imposed on student organizations, and the club hopes to carry out a multitude of highly successful projects to reinforce itself as a long-standing interact club in the island.

Current Board of Directors

• President – Int. Talal Sabry
• Secretary – Int. Niven Dorabawila
• Vice President – Int. Sanuka Wanasinghe
• Club Service Director – Int. Charith Ahangama
• Community Service Director- Int. Buda Cumaratunga
• International Understandings Director and Sergeant at Arms – Int. Shankarshana Ratnasabapathy
• Finance Director – Int. Aaqib Mohideen
• Green Life Director and Editor – Int. Dinidu Salgado

Main Projects hosted by the club

Drama Comp

Drama Comp is the annual inter-school drama competition organized by the Interact Club of Royal College. This project has had an illustrious history of over 30 years. This project provides an opportunity for students to develop team spirit, their keen sense of shouldering responsibility and organizing abilities through organizing the event. It also gives a platform for the participants to showcase their talents and nurture their capabilities in performing arts.

Abstract

The Interact Clubs of Royal College and Bishops College co-initiated the project Abstract, which has been carried out for many years. This falls under one of our main avenues, community service. With the thought of “Service above Self”, the clubs organized a fun day for about a hundred orphans from different orphanages. This fun day would include a magic show, a variety of team building and exciting games and conclude with a concert including performances from local artists.

Spectrum

One of our long-running finance projects is Spectrum. Spectrum is an event with thousands of attendees each year which features notable names within the music industry as well as showcases the talents of some up-and-coming artists. During the event, we have various stalls and exciting games to try out among other activities.

Other key projects

‘The Bradby Souvenir’ is organized annually for the Royal Trinity Rugby encounter.

‘Accolade’ is a project organized annually to appreciate the minor staff of our school.

‘Band Heroes’ is an event where young music artists can showcase their talents as well as feature prominent local music artists. There are various games and stalls available during the event as well.

‘Kick-off’ is a tap 7s rugby tournament open to all Interactors and non-interactors. The tournament will be open to spectators to view the live action, and a carnival will be held for their entertainment.

‘Funduhmental’ is a project held as a fundraiser for our community service projects by conducting a talent show for school students from various schools.

‘December to Remember’ is a project where we give back to the community during Christmas time by donating to various institutions or individuals in need of support.

Indeed, by looking at the works done and contributions made by the above-mentioned Interact Clubs and all the other Interact Clubs in the country, there is a ray of hope that the young generation today has the ability to change the future of our nation for the better. Their efforts should be highly appreciated as they have stepped forward fearlessly to fulfil their duties as responsible youth.

In the contemporary context, we can see how poor leadership leads to the downfall of the community. We have come to a time where we thrive to improve our younger generation so that they will in return be successful and productive citizens, rational and empathetic leaders. To fulfil these motives, a properly organized institution must take the forefront to develop our potential leaders in various aspects to establish a proper balance in this dynamic world. Interact Clubs all over the world get together as one organization to develop these aspects and boost the value in our younger generations.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we felicitate the invaluable contribution of Interact Clubs by celebrating World Interact Week.

Written by: Rtr. Supun Rasanjana

Graphic design by: Rtr. Malithi Fernando

Special credit goes to the Interact Club of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya and the Interact Club of Royal College for providing us with the required information.