FORUT’s youth organisation, 4U held its biannual general meeting on Friday 30th April 2010 at the La Sallalian Training Centre, Colombo with around 250 youth representing the districts of Hambantota, Colombo North, Galle, Gampaha, Kegalle, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Puttalam, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Jaffna and Vavuniya participating at the 2 day programme. The event also included a seminar on the first day, focusing on the topic ‘mobilizing youth at community level to work on preventing alcohol, tobacco and drugs’.
Following the handing over of nominations the previous evening for the positions of chairman and secretary, a formal election was conducted involving the supervision of FORUT officials. Nalin Samarasekera Bandara was elected as the Chairman while Dharmashri was elected as the secretary along with 15 other Directors representing various districts. The appointed officials will serve the club for a period of two years in their respective capacities.
Impressions from the newly elected officials :
“I am very happy that I have got the opportunity to serve the youth of this country through my new appointment as the chairman of 4U. Even though I am employed in the food and beverage division of a 5 star hotel in Colombo, with my great desire to do social work from my childhood, I enjoy being involved in 4U activities during my spare time”.
Quipped 4U’s new chairman - a jubilant Nalin Samarasekera Bandara representing the Athwela 4U club from Nelundeniya, Kegalle after the official results of 4U’s new board officials were announced at the AGM held on 30th April 2010.
According to Nalin, “I have been actively involved in various community development activities in his village through spiritual schools, children’s clubs and other societies. When the 4U concept took off in our village, I was very eager to be a part of the preventive measures in alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption. It was a new experience for me personally and just by being involved I learnt so much about so many hidden realities of this social vice.
Looking towards the next 2 years, Nalin claims that he plans to work out a productive work plan towards fulfilling the 4U objectives and is very keen to begin work as soon as possible through collaboration with all district clubs.
4U’s outgoing chairman Wasantha Kumara proved himself to be an exemplary leader when he stated “I am extremely happy for Nalin and glad to hand over my role on to him. The extent of knowledge I have learnt over the years during my involvement with 4U cannot be measured in dimensions or value. Personally I have acquired better confidence in every aspect – Little things like the art of handling and communicating with different people, adopting the right approach I have learnt and found myself to be different in calibre, than when I began my involvement with the club initially.
Wasantha a student Royal College, Polonnaruwa has also been involved in village level community activities and has a keen interest in community development. His first encounter with 4U was the participation at the youth camp held in Anuradhapura. “I am extremely fond of 4U and even though I am not the leader anymore I will continue to be involved in the club activities and support Nalin and all others in whatever capacity I can”.
Dharmashri originating from Puttalam has been involved in community work since 2006 and during this time was introduced to 4U. As the newly appointed secretary he is mindful of the fact that planning after 2013 will be a crucial aspect for 4U, as the challenge for the board and members will now be to explore sources to raise funds and continue as an independent entity. Being a teacher in a spiritual school in his village Dharmashri is confident if strategic planning is undertaken the club could reach greater heights.
“Creating the right awareness on alcohol and cigarette consumption”
A seminar conducted by 4U, the youth organisation of FORUT Sri Lanka was held on Thursday 29th April 2010 at the La Sallian Training Centre, Colombo 15. The seminar focused on ‘creating the right awareness on alcohol and cigarette consumption’ will base its contents on Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe’s publication “what needs to be done about alcohol and tobacco”
The primary objective of this seminar, was to gear the various 4U club leaders to be able to implement mini projects that would carry out preventive strategies in their respective villages. FORUT Sri Lanka’s Programme Director-Shakya Nanayakkara, Programme Officer (Alcohol Drugs & Development) Mahendra Jayasinghe along with some of the senior 4U club leaders were the resource personnel at this seminar. |
