Get your global compass and plot the coordinates, because today, we are talking about the Architects of action.

They don’t just pick a project, they maintain lasting friendships between continents and guide our goodwill to places where it’s needed most, and often to communities we’ve never met. They are the human connection that links our local efforts to a global need.

Join me in welcoming the heart and dedication that drives our service around the world, our Co-directors of International Service Avenue.

Rtr. Senadi Gamage and Rtr. Heshanya Wijedasa

In the world of Rotaract, we meet many committed people, but once in a while, someone comes along whose dedication to service feels like a superpower. Senadi is one such person.

She truly has a heart of gold. She vouches to help people without a second thought. With her calm and gentle voice, you will always feel loved and cared for. She’s the kind that gives food to strangers and never passes up a chance to feed a dog, making it abundantly clear where her love for volunteering stems from.

While she would tell you her greatest contribution is simply serving the community as a Rotaractor, we think having her in the movement is one of the best things to happen to our club.

It’s an absolute wonder how she manages things from being appointed as a Co-Director to getting selected for the Dean’s List, all while facing many obstacles along the way. That sort of dedication is what will make sure she achieves her goal of becoming a very successful person in the future.

When you get to know this heaven on earth person, you will find a loyal and honest soul who is also a whole lot sweeter, funnier and a little bit awkward. To see all these qualities in her in one go, ask for that ‘IS boat’ sticker. She’s the queen of overthinking about many things at the same time, constantly running scenarios in her head. But just like the way she juggles all her tasks, she always manages to stay calm and find a solution.

Given her gentle persona, the biggest comedic spectacle is asking her to shout at someone. It goes against everything that she is and I would bet 9 times out of 10, she starts crying before they do.

The quality that most admire about her is that she has a different focus in a world obsessed with possessions. She is an experience > materialistic things kind of person. She collects experiences like infinity stones, determined to get every last one of those.

But her vibrant life doesn’t take a pause because she’s too busy completing side quests. She loves to speak Japanese and knows some Korean, which reflects her love for connecting with people and putting the effort to do it in a language familiar for them.

You don’t truly know Senadi, if you don’t know her iconic voice messages. Before she even starts talking, her cute and playful nature comes through with her unmistakable laugh. The message itself is a whole theme park sort of experience, usually lasting over five minutes consisting of a million “mmm”s, laughing at her own jokes without a care in the world, her family’s chatter, and everything you need in minute detail.

And speaking of priorities, she has to take a nap after waking up.

Read that again if you have to.

I mean, fair enough I guess. The world is the heaviest after waking up so hitting the universe with the sleeping equivalent of a double-shot espresso is the best solution. This blended with listening to BTS keeps this queen in her element where we need her. So let her take her post-sleep naps.

If there is anything that she loves more than her naps, it’s her mom’s caramel pudding. The way she describes and talks about it makes me crave this piece of comfort. (Be nice and share it with us too, Senadi)

Senadi is the very definition of consistent excellence, the kind of person who makes big things happen with a gentle touch. But if you want to talk about someone who keeps you on your toes with sudden, brilliant bursts of action, then you are ready to meet Heshanya!

When you talk about Heshanya, those who know her best can tell you she is worth hearing about.

Coming from a well-known school in Colombo (which she never stops talking about), she has built up quite an impressive profile for herself. But sometimes, this sweet girl forgets to take a look in the mirror and realize just how great she is, instead always doubting the depth of her own skills. This almost caused us to lose her to the world of quiet excellence! Because the only thing that held her back from applying to the Rotaract Board of Officials despite her incredible knowledge in International Services was because she. was. shy.

Yea, I know. I give you permission to roll your eyes.

But after a lot of discussion and heavy persuasion, she was finally convinced to step up. You may ask why the effort? Because her unwavering dedication and raw potential makes her an exceptional Co-Director in Rotaract. She was pushed because it was obvious that the club absolutely needed her unparalleled commitment, the kind that will leave permanent footprints all over the world.

If you want to be her friend, you have to be ready for all the moments when her brain is clearly in airplane mode. You’ll be talking to her, but the last thing she’s doing is, listening; instead, she’s simply off somewhere peaceful and untroubled. But here’s the catch, she can instantly flip into detective mode and zero in on whatever is needed with lightning speed. That’s the thrill of it. It’s like the dive an airplane takes suddenly, changing from calm cruising to sharp descent, only in this scenario, you’re not dying but actually being saved by her brilliance.

She is someone who loves travelling to any corner that her heart finds peace in, always seeking out new perspectives and inspiration with the perfect soundtrack for her life playing and her boyfriend taking countless aesthetic pictures of her. (They’re so good! As a photoholic, I die everytime)

The irony of all this is that she is actually advised to use spectacles, and without them, she has trouble seeing unless people come close to her. So the vibrant, beautiful world she sees as she travels will be a whole lot different to ours, maybe that’s the vibe she’s seeking or perhaps she will finally take up wearing them? Tune in to find out.

Regardless of all her mood swings, airplane modes and blurry visionary, she manages to do her work perfectly and most times, more than what the club expects. She never fails to step up and pick people along the way and drag them over the finish line (non-violently that is) making sure that if she succeeds, so do you. You will never see her lacking or giving anything less than the very best which is why having her in the club this year is an absolute honour of ours.

Ultimately, what you get when you combine Heshanya’s flawless determination with Senadi’s heart of gold and incredible talent is the perfect storm of passion and precision, ensuring our International Service Avenue will go far beyond this year. (Fingers crossed, Heshanya will be able to see it)

Penned By:

Rtr. Rana Rilwan

Editor 25.26