AIESEC is a place where thousands of reflections of a young leader’s attitude, behavior, and personality lies. A place where thousands of introverts turned into extroverts in a blink of an eye. That magical place where we learned to approach each and every obstacle we confront with optimism and without hesitation. Basically, the place where you, me, and we were brought up to stand in the society as a true leaders.

“Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is.” -Mae West

We will almost certainly meet numerous leaders throughout our lives, and they may have kinda similar thoughts to share with us. However, when it comes to AIESEC, we all have our unique tales to share, which is why leaders born in AIESEC are always exceptional.

I’m pretty sure my fellow AIESECers will agree with me on this, such as how our personality changed once we became AIESECers and how we rose to such lofty heights, and so on. Aside from that, this place makes our lives more exciting by presenting us with new opportunities. As individuals with various personalities, we are able to form a large network of professionals, yet young people, who will undoubtedly lead the world in a great manner.

At one point in time, AIESEC is a massive mediator that connected the bridge of cross cultures across the globe. We are able to meet with other young leaders from many nations thanks to AIESEC, and this allows us to become a better version of ourselves.

In that process of sharpening up personalities, AIESECers can gain an ample amount of opportunities to be a better version through having a good team spirit along with great confidence irrespective of the origin. So as you can see, not everything you acquire from AIESEC needs to be structural or materialistic. We fellow AIESECers receive lifelong education and experiences thanks to this global youth organization.

All of this makes it clear that AIESEC is always pushing young people to deliver the highest quality performance in everything they do. Being an AIESECer makes our practice to let go of what is comfortable and take entrepreneurial and innovative risks to improve how we operate not only as an organization but as individuals as well. So AIESEC is, in the fullest sense of the word, a place where many strive for excellence.

Authored By,
Ridmi Senarath
Content Writer, CMT
AIESEC in University of Colombo

My name is Amasha Kalyanapriya. I’m an undergraduate at the University of Colombo from the Faculty of Arts. I’d like to describe myself as a sociable, ambitious, and entertaining girl who enjoys collecting new experiences.

So, I found out about AIESEC before I joined the university. I heard a lot of amazing stories about AIESEC, and the first thing I wanted to do as soon as I started the university was to join hands with AIESEC. I couldn’t stop myself from applying for volunteer opportunities after joining AIESEC.
I was also aware of AIESEC volunteer projects when I was in school. I used to think it was just about teaching projects, but it has a lot of them based on the SDGs. Once I joined, I had a complete idea and received solid information. Also, I had the opportunity to work with foreign visitors in Sri Lanka, so I understand how valuable that experience is.

My project focused on the 4th SDG, quality education, and the volunteer program in Turkey was called “Global Classroom.” It’s crazy to bring it up, but it happened all of a sudden. At university, I study TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language)  which is related to teaching, and I wanted to travel overseas alone and gather as much life experience as possible, such as traveling, making friends, trying new cultural experiences, and so on. These were some of the factors that influenced my decision to apply for this opportunity. 

I was very nervous because it was my first time traveling abroad all alone. It was winter in Turkey. It was my first experience of winter. My first day in Turkey was a thrilling experience. I’d like to emphasize that my life was turned completely upside down on the first day, and I became a completely different person.

That experience made me stronger and more mature. I enjoyed working at the school and making memories with the students. It makes me happy that the students still talk to me, and I feel very lucky. I met people from around the world and became good friends with them. In any case, it wasn’t perfect all of the time. I encountered a lot of hurdles, and I was in a lot of horrible circumstances that made me sad, but all of them were worthwhile. Those experiences taught me a lot of valuable lessons. So, I`m happy about that too. I’m grateful for the wonderful friends I’ve made who have always stood by me and treated me like a sister. By traveling and hanging out daily, we were able to create so many wonderful memories. I found the best hosts in the world, who made me feel like a part of their families. It was so lovely. Turkey has some of the best cuisines in the world. Of course, I enjoy the food and drinks. In Turkey, I had the opportunity to taste every traditional and unique cuisine. My mind is full of wonderful and unforgettable memories.

When it comes to my project experience, it was fantastic. It helped me grow as a person and taught me different teaching strategies. It was also nice because the school had other foreign teachers, so I was able to make friends with them as well. And it had a huge impact on my social experiences. From the beginning to the end, all of the experiences were fantastic. Everything makes me extremely happy. I’m glad I decided to volunteer abroad instead of just traveling since it’s a completely different kind of experience.

I’d like to invite you all to join AIESEC and apply for these fantastic opportunities to gain internati
onal travel experience. It will, without a doubt, transform your life. Making new friendships in different countries and experiencing new cultures is a wonderful experience. AIESEC offers the best opportunities, and they will look after you from the time you apply until you safely return to Sri Lanka. Don’t miss out on this opportunity because time is running out. Take advantage of opportunities and improve yourself since, at the end of the day, all you need are memories and experiences.

Authored By,
Amasha Kalyanapriya
Member, iGT
AIESEC in University of Colombo

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a very prosperous time for all Sri Lankans. This year the prince of Avurudu came not only to Sri Lanka but also to AIESEC in University of Colombo, giving our CCers a golden opportunity to have fun with an unprecedented experience. The event was even more special because it was a physical event that happened long later. So, all the CCers celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 24th April 2022 at Subodhi Institute, Piliyandala.

The place was decorated, presenting prominence to both Sinhala and Tamil traditions, and everyone dressed in traditional costumes as new year princes and princesses. The event began to unfold with rituals such as Kiri Ithirawima and the New Year food table.

After the traditional rituals, the most exciting time of the day arrived. All the delegates were divided into six groups and allowed to play Sinhala and Tamil New Year games. The event was full of zest and energy. The games round started with some joyful relay events, and it showed off how strong and fast our CCers are. It seemed how eager the delegates were for their team to win. Avurudu games were held throughout the day. The premise was filled with the happy laughter and cheers of CCers. In the first half, the team Kokis was ahead with their competitive styles, and gradually the team Pani Walalu and team Dodol showed off their spirit with their active engagement in the competitions. The game “Pani Bambare” was super fun, and everyone overjoyed that contest with their cheerful souls. Jives, the must-have feature for AIESEC events, were perfectly harmonized with that fun-filled Avurudu atmosphere.

The strength and endurance of CCers were superlatively demonstrated in the game Tug of War. The most spectacular and attractive segment of the whole event was held in the evening half. It’s nothing other than the Avurudu Pageant; Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya selection contest. One thing everyone realized here was how talented our CCers are. Everyone comprehended that they were simply a package of advanced knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The evening cool breeze blowing across the lake, the sunset view alongside, and the light reddened sky created the best scenery for the crowning of Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya.

As all good things come to an end, the end of the fabulous day approached slowly, leaving a long-lasting impression on everyone. But it was not the end of the ceremony. The day ended with a DJ that everyone was mesmerized by, which was super fun.

CCers were not the only ones attending this Sinhala and Tamil New Year event. External participants from Project Aquatica participated in the event and enjoyed the day. They seemed to be very fond of the customs and traditions of Sri Lanka. Also, former Executive Board members of AIESEC in Colombo Central, members from MC, and some external participants joined hands with “Avurdu with CC” this time around.

The successfully concluded event  “Avurudu with CC” proved something. That is, AIESEC is a place where potential leaders always emerge. All those who faced every moment with enthusiasm and acted tactfully and systematically in every competitive occasion proved it without leaving any doubt. And there is another set of people that should be appreciated. And they are none other than the organizing committee who sacrificed a lot to make the event a success.

Authored By,
Chamudi Sandunika
People Management Team
AIESEC in University of Colombo

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