| Mirror
Magazine |
||||
|
It's
about motivation and getting to know others
"This
year there has been a slight drop in numbers because of the London
O/Ls and the A/Ls," says Bimsara Premaratne, the project chairperson
of the organizing committee. The committee, which is made up of
past participants who have gone through this programme, has worked
tirelessly for over three months to put the programme together.
All the schools
are sent application forms and asked to nominate three prefects
each. "Sometimes we get requests for more prefects to be sent
and we accommodate them," says Bimsara. At the end of the programme
each participant is given a certificate of participation. The three-day
programme comprises four lectures on Leadership, Time Management,
Career Guidance and Public Speaking, all of which will be assets
for prefects. The participants were divided into groups and given
case studies. They are required to discuss a certain problem and
make a presentation of what they believe is the best solution. Afterwards
everyone, including the committee, discusses the pros and cons of
the issue. There was also an open forum, which tackled democracy.
Yet, it is not all work and no play for these prefects as the programme
also has games and a campfire where the groups have to perform skits.
"The committee also shares in the fun," says Bimsara.
"This
programme was quite nice and different from other leadership programmes,"
says Denushika Karunatillake, Deputy School Captain of Visakha Vidyalaya.
The games bring everyone together, she feels, and help to break
the ice. "Even
if we begin as strangers, we all leave after having got to know
each other very well," she remarks. While she found the lectures
very informative, she also said the atmosphere was friendly. Abarna Kirupananda
is a junior prefect at Hindu Ladies College. "This programme
was very good and it helped me a lot," she says. The lectures
had motivated her to do her work to the best of her ability, she
says, adding that she gained knowledge on many aspects of being
a prefect. In their school
the participants were chosen on a random basis and they had seven
prefects at this programme. All were junior prefects; next year
they would be appointed senior prefects in their school. A Sub Prefect
of Wesley College, Raashid Riza found the whole programme "thought
provoking". He was glad that they touched on areas where there
was less exposure. For example the rough punishments some prefects
give to others. "This happens in boys' schools quite often,"
he said. He went on to say how it was stressed that in a matter
like this the prefects should have a united front. Sabeeha Akbarally,
a Senior Prefect of Asian International School found it a good experience,
especially the interaction with others. She also commended the organizers
on how they helped the prefects tackle the problems they face. At the end of the three days each participant walked out smarter and wiser and also having made a lot of friends. Most look forward to the next year where they want to be a part of the organizing committee and give a new group the benefit of this kind of exposure. Sounds
of original rock come Saturday The Rock Saturday
events feature our own original rock music performed by local bands.
This month's event will be held on June 21 at the 80 Club, Independence
Avenue from 6.30 p.m. onwards. Nine leading rock bands such as Stigmata,
Kreb Cycle, Independent Square, Ezra, Cold Fusion, The Fallen, Stone
Broke and Paranoid Earthlings are billed to perform. The event is organised by the Rock Company which has created a platform for local bands of every genre of the rock and metal world to bring forth original compositions. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
