“ROTAMATES- Beyond the Boundaries” was a cross- cultural extravaganza organized by the International Service Avenue of the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura. It was initiated to intensify the friendship and bonds among the Rotaractors from all around the world and to share, promote the cultural diversity, cross-cultural differences and similarities within us.

Hence, we conducted this project collaborating with other 10 International Rotaract Clubs with the intention of exchanging 12 cultures and serving 12 communities on one platform.

Thus, It covered four SDGs including Good Health and Well-being, Reduced Inequality, Peace, Justice and Strong Institution and Partnership for the goals. Economic and Community Development, Peace and Conflict Prevention were the target Rotary Focus Areas of our project.

There were more than 30 Local Rotaractors from RACUSJ and more than 40 International Rotractors, who were divided into 10 teams to work on the project.

Rotamates was carried out in 4 phases covering both International Understanding and International Service aspects. And we expanded our horizons with the following Rotaract Clubs.

• Rotaract Club of AIHSHEW, RID 3201 representing South India
• Rotaract Club of Sariaya, RID 3820 representing Philippines
• Rotaract Club of Alexandria Renaissance, RID 2451 representing Egypt
• Rotaract Club of Phoenix South of Tunis, RID 9010 representing Tunisia
• Rotaract Club of Manta Spondylus, RID 4400 representing Ecuador
• Rotaract Club of Federal University of Technology Owerri, RID 9142 representing Nigeria
• Rotaract Club of Delhi Femina, RID 3011 representing North India
• Rotaract Club of Antakya, RID 2430 representing Turkey
• Rotaract Club of Winchester, 1110 representing England
• Rotaract Club of Ica Sur, RID 4455 representing Peru
• Rotaract District 2223 (Rotaract Club of Omsk Dostoevsky, Rotaract Club of Ekaterinburg & Rotaract Club of Ufa) including the District Rotaract Representative Rtr. Natalia Baranova participated representing Russia

FOOD CULTURE EXCHANGE AND GLOBAL FOOD DONATION DRIVE

As for the 1^st phase of the project we have exchanged our authentic Sri Lankan recipes with the countries which were appointed to each of our groups.

Regardless of the location and culture we all dine for the survival of ourselves but having a range of diversity in our food will create the enthusiasm towards the food culture. Not only sharing the recipe, we also prepared all the loving dishes. It was a great experience more than preparing food because we have learned how we can experience our culture through different tastes.

And also it was a YUMMY YUMMY TIME!!!!

• TEAM UNITED – “Kurakkan Roti” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Pongal” from South Indian cuisine
• CHARMERS – “Kiribath and Katta Sambol” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Champorado” from Filipino cuisine
• THE PHAROH – “Sri Lankan Tomato and Onion Salad” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Egyptian Salad” from Egyptian cuisine
• SHABI MITURO – “Aggala” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Tajine” from Tunisian cuisine
• BANANA REPUBLICS – “Sri Lankan Potato curry and Pol Sambol” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Tonga” from Ecuadorian cuisine
• 6 MATES – “Kiribath” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Nigerian Vegetable Soup” from Nigerian cuisine
• FLAMIGOS – “Hoppers with lunumiris”, “Kottu Roti”, “Bread Kottu” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Samosa”, “Aloo Paratha” from North Indian cuisine
• TEAM AEROS – “Kiribath” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Menemen” from Turkish cuisine
• TEAM AMIGOS – “Kottu Roti” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Causa Rellena” from Peruvian cuisine
• RSL6 – “Cutlets” from Sri Lankan cuisine and “Dumplings” from Russian cuisine

The Global Food Donation Drive which was the Service component of “Food Culture Exchange” took place from 9th – 16th of January 2021.

Both Local and International buddy Rotaractors in each team donated food items such as Rice & curry, Vegetables, Essential Groceries, Paratha and Roti, etc. to the needed such as street people, beggars and for the orphanages.

“IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AND LEARN THE DIFFERENT CULTURES. WE ARE HOPING TO VISIT SRI LANKA NEXT TIME”

– RTR. MARIA RUIZ FROM ROTARACT CLUB OF ICA SUR –

AESTHETIC CULTURE EXCHANGE AND THE WEBINAR ON “IMPORTANCE OF ART & CREATIVITY IN LIFE”

‘Like a language, music is a human universal with culture-specific properties, making it a potentially useful marker of group membership in all cultures.’

As humans, we are in an era where we must open our sensitivity towards other cultures more than ever. So, with the aim of intensifying the objectives of the artistic creations including Sri Lankan cultural music, dances, arts and crafts with their teammates and vice versa and perform it via virtually for the second phase of project Rotamates.

All the participants from different countries were amused and impressed about the diversity of aesthetics in every culture shared by all 10 teams.

The webinar on “Importance of Art & Creativity in life” was held on 7th of January 2021 as the service component of “Aesthetic Culture Exchange”. Both Local and International Rotaractors as well as Non- Rotaractors participated for the webinar. As the facilitators, two Sri Lankan artists joined with us; Mrs. Kaushalya Fernando – Sri Lankan actress, director and a producer. & Miss Thaji Dias – Principal dancer and teacher at Chithrasena Dance Company, Sri Lanka.

TRAVEL DESTINATION EXCHANGE

Travelling to another land which is foreign for us is our life’s greatest privileges. Before the pandemic all of us were physically able to cross the boundaries and explore the different cultures around the world, but now we all are crippled in the house obeying the safety precautions against Covid-19. Therefore, the 3^rd phase of exchanging travel destinations was conducted via virtual platforms but still saving the utmost feeling of real sensation of the travelling. We shared, discussed and explored the history behind these amazing places and educated ourselves about our planet’s evolution.

On the other hand, we were able to share the most eye catching and inspiring creations of nature and man around the world.

“IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE GOT TO SHARE ALL THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY”

– RTR. DAVID DELGADO FROM ROTARACT CLUB OF MANTA SPONDYLUS –

Finally, as the service aspect of 3^rd phase a travel brochure was prepared including all the travel destinations of countries which belong to our partnering International clubs as well as Sri Lanka. We shared our travel brochure Facebook link with more than 500 Rotaract Clubs all over the world.

SOCIO- POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES DISCUSSION AND THE WEBINAR ON “THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN OVERCOMING SOCIO- ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF COVID-19”

As the fourth phase, socio-cultural, political, economic or any kind of issue of one’s own country was exchanged by the all members of each team with their partnering International club buddies. Thus, everyone could know what’s happening in other countries and had an understanding regarding the issues they have. Every group came up with very descriptive and intellectual solutions for the problems they have identified. They were guided to discuss the problems and find solutions as groups and finally to present at the final ceremony. From the beginning to the end we have astonished how a better communication would help to create a reconciliation for our socio- political and economic problems.

The objective of this was to encourage the both Local and International Rotaractors to initiate new projects addressing these local and global issues.

“NOT ONLY WE GOT KNOW ABOUT SRI LANKA BUT INDIA, OUR OWN COUNTRY. BEFORE ALSO WE KNEW ABOUT INDIA. BUT WHILE PREPARING THE PRESENTATIONS AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS THINGS STARTED TO BE SEEN IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.”

– RTR. STUTI KANDPAL FROM ROTARACT CLUB OF DELHI FEMINA –

The webinar on “The Role of Youth in Overcoming Socio-economic Challenges of Covid-19” was conducted on 7th of February as the service aspect of 4^th phase. The webinar’s main focus was on how to battle with the prevailing situation of COVID-19, how to live productively as well as on how can we overcome these issues as the youth. All Local and International Rotaractors as well as Non- Rotaractors participated for the webinar. The facilitator for this webinar was; Chiranthi Senanayake; Youth Empowerment Incubation Advocator, The Founder of HYPE Sri Lanka, The Founding President of YLPA Sri Lanka, United Nations Youth Delegate, Global Ambassador for Youth Opportunities.

FINAL CEREMONY OF THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE

During these past two weeks, Rotaract buddies of all groups were given the chance to chat via their WhatsApp groups, Zoom Meetings or any other virtual platform. They communicated through voice calls, video calls and arranged fellowship meetings according to their preferences. Thus, all Rotaract buddies got the chance to strengthen their bonds and friendships while having fun as well.

The closing ceremony of the cultural exchange held on 3rd of January 2021 via Zoom, and it included the “Socio- Political and Economic Issues Discussion”. Rotaractors from RACUSJ and all the fellow Rotaractors from Partnering International Clubs joined for the closing ceremony. All the team members prepared a video and a presentation by including what they have exchanged within their groups, and then it was shared at the end with all the others. Finally, all Rotaract buddies in each team were given the chance to exchange their experience that they got from this project.

“I MADE A LOT OF MEMORIES AS IN 2020 WAS NOT GOING WELL, BUT THEN MEETING YOU GUYS WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THOSE MEMORIES”

-RTR. RUCHI SHARMA FROM ROTARACT CLUB OF DELHI FEMINA –

ROTAMATES was all about fellowship and friendship among Rotaractors from all over the world which is the truest essence of the whole Rotaract Movement. We hope that ROTAMATES- Beyond the Boundaries has made a huge impact on the Rotaractors and the society while making lifelong friendships within the nations and the Rotaractors around the world gifting them with memorable experiences for a lifetime.

Written by Rtr. Sanara Gamage & Rtr. Neruni Bigun