The Rotaract Club of Colombo Port City brought its environmental initiative to Jaffna on the 7 November, together with the Rotaract Club of Jaffna Midtown and the Rotaract Club of Chunnakam for a tree planting project at Kokuvil Hindu College. Conducted under Project Aloka, the initiative brought together young volunteers with a shared commitment to protecting the environment and encouraging greater awareness of climate change and deforestation.
The project aimed to do more than add trees to the school premises. It sought to encourage students and the surrounding community to recognise the importance of tree planting, protect existing green spaces and take greater responsibility for the environment. Through the participation of three Rotaract clubs, the initiative also brought together young Rotaractors from different parts of the country, uniting them around a cause that affects us all.
Sri Lanka continues to face growing environmental challenges, from changing weather patterns and rising temperatures to the loss of forest cover and the effects of deforestation. While these issues require long term attention and action, community initiatives such as Project Aloka demonstrate how young people can contribute to the effort through practical action. Schools, in particular, provide an important setting for building environmental awareness among younger generations.
Commenting on the initiative, Dhanush, President of the Rotaract Club of Colombo Port City, said, “Project Aloka is built around a simple idea: meaningful change begins with simple action. Planting a tree may seem like a small contribution, but it represents a commitment to the environment and to the generations that will follow us. Through this collaboration with our fellow Rotaractors in Jaffna, we hope to inspire more young people and communities to take an active interest in environmental conservation. Protecting our environment is a responsibility we all share.”
The collaboration also highlights the role of youth organisations in bringing communities together beyond geographical boundaries. With the Rotaract Club of Colombo Port City working alongside its counterparts in Jaffna, Project Aloka demonstrates how shared initiatives can create opportunities for young people to contribute to issues of national importance.
For the Rotaract Club of Colombo Port City, Project Aloka is part of a wider commitment to community service and sustainable development. By taking the initiative to Jaffna, the club hopes to encourage more people to make tree planting and environmental conservation part of their everyday lives. As the trees planted at Kokuvil Hindu College take root, the message behind Project Aloka remains clear: a greener Sri Lanka will depend not only on the decisions made today, but also on the actions taken by its people.
