It's all about Rotasia 2012

Nahid Tamanna

Mahatma Gandhi upheld the idea of “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. By participating in Rotaract one lives up to this idea by learning, serving and finding solutions to today's challenges. Kalyan Banerjee, the President of Rotary International, echoed this message in Rotasia, Kathmandu, Nepal during January 26-29, 2012 focusing on the theme Unite, Serve and Celebrate.

A team of 37 Bangladeshis, mostly students, with more than 700 participants from India, Srilanka, host country Nepal and Indonesia, participated at the annual conference of Rotaractors from South Asia region aims to provide a platform for fellowship and networking together on common issues and agendas of this region. Here all rotaractors found themselves on a platform of blending together in and out of discussion forum and interaction programs with fellow members from home and abroad. “The chance to meet so many new people and enjoying the beauty of Nepal is really awesome! I am proud to have been a part of Rotasia”, says Eka, an Indonesian Participant when she was describing her experience.

The participants at Rotasia.

Kamala Rokka, Minister for Youth and Sports, Nepal inaugurated the programme. The Rotasia Chair, Anil Sreshtha gave the welcome address. Others speakers included Robert Pipe and PDG Sashi Varvandkar. The speakers stressed on the role of the youth in development. The inauguration day closed with a cultural programme performed by Nepali Rotaractors which included Bhairav dance, Jhayure and Damphe nach.

The second day was the business day with a plenary session which gave Rotasia a different meaning, as it added the professional development component within the rotary banner. The topic of the first plenary session was 'Rotary and New Generation' chaired by Rtr Ratna Man Shakya. RIPR Sashi Varvandkar and Rajendra Bahadur Shrestha were the key note speakers. They focused on the vision, challenges and opportunities of young generation.

The topic of the second plenary session was 'Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship.' This very session was chaired by DRCC Vishu B Karkee. In this session, participants of each country had to figure out the issues and constraints of youth employment in their own country and propose possible solutions. Then one representative of each country had to present it.

The Rotasia 2012 panelists.

The theme of the first concurrent session was 'Entrepreneurship and vocational skill development for youth' by Anil Chitrakar. Sunil Sharma, Manager of Nepal Tourism Board led the second session that highlighted the scope of tourism and opportunities for youth. The session came up with agendas to develop policies for the development of regional tourism. Mr Prashanal Sing led the third session that represented "The zero carbon: opportunities for youth." The session brought some new and buzzing concepts to attention, such as energy audit, going green, carbon footprints etc. Meanwhile a grooming session for the participant of Mr and Miss Rotasia was conducted by the renowned choreographer Prashant Tamrakar.

The third day started with a shivering cold in Kathmondu. It was also the day of sight seeing. We went to Dhulikhel to climb up the thousand stairs of Kali Mondir in Shanti Ban where the statue of Lord Buddha situated. In the evening there was a mega blood donation camp conducted at the premises of Nepal National Academy.

The fourth day was the last day of the event. After the penalty mate session, all eyes were glued to the stage to watch the glamour of Mr and Miss Rotasia competition.

After calling dignitaries, it was the time of bidding for Rotasia 2013. Bangladesh will be the host next year. We all bided adieu to Nepal National Academy with a joint cheer and vowed to make Rotasia 2013 a dazzling programme of young people.

(The author is a student of M.B.A, Department of Finance at the University of Chittagong.)