AIESEC in Jayewardenapura Local Committee Sri Lanka: 2016

My Experience at JXDS 5.0

8:38 AM
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Participating for JXLDS 5.0 was a turning point in my life. Being a newbie to AIESEC, I did not understand much about how the organization work therefore my aim was to learn about it and to explore areas that I can develop myself. The experience was better than I ever hoped for because I not only got the learning that I was looking for but I also had so much fun through the sessions that was conducted. I was able to recognize my strengths and weakness and most importantly I learnt how to let go of the weaknesses and motivate myself to achieve a goal. At the end of the day I’m happy to say that I found a family through many people that I met in the conference and I’m determined to work in my function to make JLC family proud. It is true to say that I fell in love with AIESEC because of JXLDS 5.0

Athmi Gamage.
Team Member
Outgoing Exchange function

JXLDS was the first ever conference that made me challenge myself and also it was the first conference I facilitated as well as where I worked as the agenda manager. From JXLDS 3.0-5.0 the journey has been amazing and these three conferences made a huge positive impact on me. Being a facilitator for this conference was a big challenge. We needed to give our best to deliver a great conference. There were many sleepless nights spent on thinking, arguing and designing the ways to make this a success. But it was all done with pure love to present a life changing conference to our young blood. The end of JXLDS 5.0 was an emotional roller-coaster because it being my last conference and also the overwhelming responses from the delegates attended, made it impossible to leave the JLC family. The conference was a combination of so many emotions, energy, positive vibes and also a lot of dancing! At the end of the conference I decided to be a change agent in untouched issues in Sri Lanka; that is the sort of impact you have after a truly amazing conference. For me, JXLDS was my life changer.

Damith D. Mahaliyanage
Local Committee Vice President for Talent Management 15/16

[Damith D. Mahaliyanage ( a.k.a DD ) began his AIESEC career in JLC as a Team Leader in OGX and out of many positions he has held in his career, includes LCVP OGX 14/15, FACI JXLDS 4.0 and Agenda manager JXLDS 5.0. As he bids his adieu to the JLC family we wish him well for all his future endeavors.]

Story of AIESEC in Sri Lanka by First Member Committee President of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

10:09 PM
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Dear members of AIESEC Singapore, members representing AIESEC Sri Lanka, Supporters & Friends,

I have been requested to share my AIESEC story with you, and it is with pleasure I do so, as it might make a difference to someone’s life.

It has been over 18 years since I joined AIESEC, but I feel I have never left it! I joined AIESEC at the University of Sydney in the early 1990s. Why did I join AIESEC?- because it was different – it challenged and encouraged us youth to realise our potential through providing a platform to try things out. It allowed us to learn by doing things, it accepted diversity and promoted the fact that we are all the same. I thought this was brilliant.

I was on the LC executive team at AIESEC Sydney responsible for the exchange program. I enjoyed the opportunities given to me by AIESEC and felt very privileged. I am a Sri Lankan born and completed most of my secondary education there. So, I realized what the Sri Lankan university students were missing out on . It was a time of turmoil and instability for Sri Lanka. I felt that AIESEC will bring a lot of opportunities and hope for young students, as they are the future of the country. I felt that they could make a contribution towards achieving peace and harmony.

Thus, as soon as I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney in 1994, I grabbed the opportunity to spend a year in Sri Lanka creating AIESEC. I only had a vision and everything else depended upon conditions on site. I had a group of about 60 committed members from Sri Lanka who supported me tirelessly. We became the 85th member nation of AIESEC at IC ’95. But it was very tough going, as we did not have any sponsors, supporters or resources to begin with. We had to start everything from scratch. There was a lot of leg work. At times it was frustrating and tiring, but we always had a vision. We kept out spirits high. Those of you who have met AIESECers from Sri Lanka would know that they work hard and also party hard, if not harder!

Our motto was “Daring to Dream”. It was the same motto as IC 1995, which was hosted by us that year. The year 1995 really tested my courage and determination. I was hopeful that one day we will reap the fruit of our hard work. I knew I wouldn’t see big results during my term. My intention was to lay a strong foundation.

Fifteen years later, I feel that this had been one of the best decisions of my life. I recently heard from the MC that AIESEC Sri Lanka has raised 50 trainees in the last 6 months and they have another 6 months until end of term. Their goal is to raise 200 trainees by end of term. This was a moment of triumph for me. I was overjoyed! Back in 1995 this was only a dream. Today AIESEC Sri Lanka is a very active member nation living the dream of AIESEC. Those AIESECers in Sri Lanka who have served in the past 15 years have not only made an impact to the youth in Sri Lanka, but also to those internationally. They are also having a lot of fun doing what they do. It is a truly international organisation full of energy, enthusiasm and hope. They work with the same determination which my team and I worked with 15 years ago.

AIESEC has helped me believe in my potential. Since then I, along with my husband, have also founded a charity to help children affected by the Asian Tsunami of 2004. We engage in it in our free time. AIESEC has also given me wonderful friendships around the world. I believe I can achieve anything if I want to!

My message for you, AIESECers, is to believe in yourselves and your potential. We are all able to move mountain if we set our hearts for it. Don’t be afraid to make decisions and take on challenges. Use the opportunity provided by AIESEC to try something out, as you will not be punished for making mistakes. In fact, you would be rewarded, if not now, some time in the future! It is all about learning and experiencing. AIESECers, DARE TO DREAM!!

Dinoshi Keiper (nee Goonewardene)
MCP AIESEC Sri Lanka ‘95

My Adventure from Japura to World - FLY with AIESEC

6:29 AM
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"My AIESEC Experience" by Haridu Vihanga Weerasinghe

5:43 AM
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In my first year last semester I joined with AIESEC the awesome organization. First I worked under Poornima who was the Team Leader of Fusion 2.0 project which was about cultural sharing as a member.There I had to perform number of tasks which were out of my comfort zone. Working with Foreign under-graduates was the most interesting part of that project for me. While doing school sessions acting as AIESEC as well as university representatives gives a lot of experiences and of course the confidence. Participating for all projects was my target and finally I could achieved it. We did Fusion cultural show in Mahamaya Balika in Nugegoda one of the long lasting memory I have.

Then I became the Team Leader of INZPIRE 3.0 project. Which was the life changing project for me. Until I take that responsibility I did not know such a role I could play ever. From finding accommodation to last fare-well party I was there and collected everlasting experiences.

We did interviews with well-known Entrepreneurs and share their valuable experiences with school children. Actually I believe it did huge impact in school children’s mind to think about future in different angles.While I was doing this I got an opportunity to visit Knuckles and stay there one night with foreign undergraduates and few local friends which was an unforgettable experience for everyone. Where we marked our first step of adventurous trips. Coldness, sharing love, affection, determination, fun always there with us in that trip. Then we went Galle for an interview. Our journey turned into adventure by first step when we missed our night mail in our eye sight. Train carried all my local members there, I and my OCVP matching Amal was there and we had to go with our back-up plan. There I had to take dual responsibility. One to keep constant contact with my members in train and take EPs safely to Galle. I could do it.

We prepared our EPs for Global village event and to our delight it became most attractive performance in that day. We went Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya, Negambo, Kandy, Anuradhapura and number of outings during that project. Every time we stayed at one of our member’s house and felt the awesome welcome every time.

Actually AIESEC became my life, it created everlasting friendships and memories. Actually AIESEC changed me for better. I love AIESEC.

"My AIESEC Experience" by Rasangi Kannangara

5:41 PM
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University life is not only lectures, presentations, reports, exams and other academic related stuff. It’s a mixture of academic and other extracurricular activities. My university life would have been boring if not for AIESEC. Even though I have only 2 years experience upto now as an AIESECer it has already given me memories for a lifetime.

I joined AIESEC mistaking the organization as a charitable institute because I love doing charity. But with the time pass I got to know that my initial idea was not true but yet had to retain since I didn’t want to join another organization in the middle. While I was repenting on selecting this JXLDS 4.0 came. It was a Local committee conference and participated it as a delegate in 2014. Thanks for the conference I understood that there are many skills I have to develop to be a quality undergraduate and many responsibilities to deliver to the world I live as a citizen. Motivation was up and then got selected for my first ever project API 3.0 as an organizing committee vise president in matching. Yet had no idea what my role was. But because of my Co OCVP and other experienced team members explored another side which I have never seen before. That was my first GCDP project and was a milestone in my life. Developed myself a lot and identified many hidden potentials. We were the first to cover all 9 provinces in GCDP projects and I was ecstatic by our achievement. More over it gave me a family.

NATCON 2015 was the first national conference I attended and it showed me the path to build myself and to guide my members as a team leader. Then I was appointed as the team leader in an initiative project ‘ Green Footprints’. But to be honest I wasn’t a successful team leader. But again all the failures, problems came taught me a lot.

The biggest national conference NLDS 2015 was another milestone in my AIESEC story and I got selected as one co ocvps for delegates. I could step out of my comfort zone and I could develop many skills thanks to NLDS.

AIESEC will help you for sure to create your own demand by make you a quality undergraduate since it is the best platform to develop skills and identify hidden potentials. Also the best place for networking. And the best option to enjoy the degree.

It’s always good to be an AIESECer.