Written by: Rtr. Buthma Menali

Gather ’round, my dear Rotaractors! It’s time to give a round of applause for each and every effort, idea, and smile that added life to RACUSJ in the RI year 2024-2025! As the curtains fall on, we welcome you to celebrate the 14th RI year, which was nothing but a masterpiece until its very end!

If someone from the university ever asked me. “What’s the club you most appreciate in the university?” I wouldn’t even blink before saying, “It’s definitely the Rotaract Club, without a doubt!!” Why? Because this club isn’t just about projects, volunteering, meetings, and having fun. It’s about people. It’s about humanity. It’s all about friendship, showing up, supporting each other, and serving with a smile even on the hardest days.

This year was something to actually celebrate! Behind every success, there are unseen heroes, from our awesome members who kept showing up no matter what, the Assistant Directors, Co-Directors, and the Executive Committee, who had our backs through thick and thin. So, let’s take a moment to look back on the beautiful moments of the 6 avenues and 3 committees of the RACUSJ, where they carried the weight of dreams, the sparkle of friendship, love and dedication, and cheer for the ones who made this year worth remembering!

What’s a club without its people! Right? The smiles, the inside jokes, and those moments that make you feel like you’re part of something bigger! That’s the real heartbeat of RACUSJ. And keeping that spirit alive, Rtr. Imandie Madanasinghe led the Club Service Avenue, creating memories. They warmly welcomed the newbies mixing some Holi vibes at RACUSJ HoliFest, which was a part of I’m A Rotaractor, an initiative which recognizes and familiarizes newbies into our club. A Memorable December 5.0 and Rota Avurudu both were collaborative events that kept the festive fun along with the good times rolling! And let’s not forget Uni Three 2.0, where the rotaractors teamed up once again with the Rotaract Clubs of University of Peradeniya and Ruhuna that felt like a mini vacation in the middle of the semester! To wrap up the year, Razzle Up 2.0, a stand-up comedy show, brought the laughs and reminded all that sometimes a belly laugh with friends is the best therapy! 

As with every year gone by, if there’s one thing the Community Service Avenue never fails to do is, reaching hearts! Led by the amazing joint directors of the avenue, Rtr. Manushi Rathnayake, Rtr. Burny Zaneeta, and Rtr. Nithila Iriyagolla, the Rotaractors have made some seriously meaningful impact that touched lives in the best ways. Reachout Initiative was the start, which took a huge step in breaking the stigma around mental health and offering support also for those who are undergoing treatments. Then came Diviyata Diviyak 4.0, which stood tall as one of the most outstanding and heartfelt projects. It was focused on maternal health in underprivileged communities. It wasn’t about distributing aid, but was about empowering women, educating families and creating long-term change! And in a remarkable spirit of unity, RACUSJ joined hands with eight other Rotaract Clubs in Neth Peheli, which educated many young minds around important societal topics.

Guess what? One of our very own projects of the Professional Development Avenue made it to the South Asian spotlight! Venture Voice 2.0 proudly brought home the UGRAM Award for “Inspiring Rotaract Club Projects of South Asia” for the RI year 2024-25—and honestly, we’re still not over the excitement! Under the leadership of the marvelous joint directors, Rtr. Udari Perera and Rtr. Vindula Vidarshana, the avenue gave experiences that helped members grow both professionally and personally. Through the projects Venture Voice 2.0 and Vanguard 2.0, they built up the leadership skills and professional grooming of the participants. YES ’25 the signature project of the avenue, was truly a next-level event for young entrepreneurs to connect with industry experts. It became a launchpad for tomorrow’s changemakers. And Scholastic Coach 4.0 opened doors to bring value to the RI year from career opportunities and global scholarships for both undergraduates and postgraduates.

When it comes to connecting beyond borders, the International Service Avenue truly spoke the language of unity. Under the leadership of Rtr. Hafsa Omar and Rtr. Ifrah Riyas, they created the bridges among RACUSJ and other international Rotaract clubs. Global Chapters ’24 contributed uniquely to fostering cross-border friendships and deepening cultural understanding. Health A Plenty 4.0 taught us that both mental and physical health have no borders. The Heal the World 4.0 project was none other than the previously mentioned one; it inspired us to think bigger to inspire the individuals to build a future full of harmony. And let’s not forget Ceylon Fest, the true cultural heartbeat of the avenue, which was held more vibrantly with a mixture of cultures, flavors, and music. It was a moment where boundaries faded and brought people together under one roof!

Among all the work done this year, there was a quiet strength moving gently but powerfully. That was the Environmental Service Avenue, which focused on what really matters—our mother nature! As the co-directors of the avenue, Rtr. Nimesh Fernando and Rtr. Yevindi Uthara brought the attention to the voiceless through the projects Aquatica Wave 5.0, Animalia 5.0, and Earth Reborn. The Rotaractors turned the environmental awareness into a meaningful impact by highlighting ocean health, marine biodiversity, animal welfare for both wild and domestic animals, and today’s climate changes, and youth empowerment. Just before the 14th RI year ended, they also managed to raise awareness of the society, on cloud forest restoration through the project Amidst the Foliage.

Among the assignments, deadlines, and boring lectures, this avenue always finds its way to bring adventure, excitement, and tons of energy for all the university students. Similar to the vibes given by the name Sports and Recreational Activities Avenue, the co-directors of this avenue, Rtr. Bimalsha Samarasinghe and Rtr. Chanuki Abeysinghe, are also friendly and give those happy vibes not only for the Rotaractors but also for other undergraduates and outsiders while doing their job well! This avenue got our adrenaline rush through the projects Triunfo 3.0, our annual recreated sports day; Path Venture, the hike we went on while exploring the beautiful scenarios, and for some, this was their first ever hike! Then there was Amigo 3.0, the talk of the club, which gave the experience of a mini games fiesta, packed with beach games, pickleball games, and laughter. Finally, 4 Score 7.0, which brought cricket fever among the club members

On to the Public Relations Committee, who are out there relating to the public for real. The joint directors, Rtr. Lochana Bandara and Rtr. Chamodh Jayalath, made sure our club didn’t just exist; it mattered to the people. In this RI year, Someone’s Daughter Vol. 7 took the spotlight once again, continuing the legacy of last year’s award winning project. It gave the space, through voice and visibility, to talk about gender-based violence and the things no one wants to say out loud but need to be heard. And on the creative front, Design Warrior 5.0 came with fewer fancy flyers and videos and more about helping beginners to level up their creative game in it!

With a perfect blend of fun and finance, co-directors of the Finance Committee, Rtr. Renish Perera and Rtr. Onasha Alagiyawanna, managed the work smoothly in a nice way! They kept the festive spirit and warmth by teaming up for A Memorable December, a Christmas celebration. But if there’s one project that stood out with financial finesse, it was Biz Icon! It empowered young minds, especially A/L commerce students, through interactive sessions and pulled up 20+ sponsorships for this single project! I must say, Finance Avenue truly delivered a masterclass in financial management. 

And, just like that, we have reached the end! 

Hold up, you didn’t think I’d finish writing this without giving a big shout-out to the crew that keeps the energy going through the year?! Rtr. Jayasi Jayodya and Rtr. Prabhani Rashmika gave life to the Membership Development Committee in the RI year 2024/25. They worked on the projects from the grand 14th Installation Ceremony, which introduced the new term of the new executive committee and the board of directors. HoliFest and Rota Avurudu were collaborative events that kept the fun going on. To keep the club’s financial side strong, the Cinema Galore ‘24 gave the movie experience to the undergraduates while creatively uplifting the fundraising. And of course, Splendour ’25, the event that celebrated all the hard workers in the club, was all about giving value where it should be given!

So, just like that, as this beautiful year draws to a close, it’s impossible not to look back with full hearts, proud smiles, and tears in eyes. We didn’t just go through another RI year; we built something real and lasting! It was about doing them together. So, here’s a round of applause, because you guys did that! The RI year 2024-25 chapter ends here, but the roots we’ve grown will keep blooming in everything we do.

To every single soul who made this year what it was, thank you!