Leo club of Horana Metro

Leo ADIC drug prevention workshop and sticker campaign

The Project
The Leo Club of Horana Metro in association with the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre Sri Lanka organized a workshop on drug prevention targeting the youth of our community. August being the month with the International Youth Day on the 12th the project was a service project aiming the youth of our country.

The Partners
ADIC is an organization working in the field of drug demand reduction over last 15 years. During this period they have contributed substantially by introducing innovative and scientific based drug demand reduction strategies in Sri Lanka and to other countries especially in SAARC Region. The successful efforts to create a lasting change in communities by changing behaviours has been recognized by the World health Organization in 1993 by awarding ADIC with the prestigious WHO award, “Tobacco or Health Medal”.

The Event
The workshop commenced at 10am of the Saturday morning of 28th August at the Horana Town Hall with the presence of 15 guests from neighbouring schools, the target group of youth, 13 Leos of Horana Metro and a Leo visiting from the Leo Club of Piliyandala as well as 7 Lions of the Lions Club of Horana Metro.
Three very well experienced and trained instructors were there as resource personnel from the ADIC and the workshop started with a session on tobacco, cigarettes and brand promoting schemes of the cigarette companies conducted by Mr Sameera. This most enlightening session was succeeded by a group activity with more emphasis on alcohol and the paradigms that we ourselves have created around alcohol which was very interesting.
As the time flew and when everybody realized that there are initiatives that can be taken into action even by the Leos everybody gathered their courage and wits to carry out a sticker campaign in the neighbouring bus stand of Horana.

The Sticker Campaign
The task assigned was simple. To paste stickers on busses that had a message for all those who consume alcohol to think about. But to step out into the field and to execute it required great enthusiasm and courage. And a little bit of wits to tackle the raised eye-brows of the bus drivers and conductors from who a majority are alcohol consumers. The task was simple yet it carried the message in an attempt to change the attitudes of the youth of our community by the youth taking part in Leoism. It was a good deed to carry out, a challenging one, a good experience and on top of it all, it was fun!

Dengue Awareness Program
This was organised by Leo Club of Horana Metro and Lions Club of Horana Metro.
The procession started at Lion Ajith Ariyarathne’s premises in the town and proceeded around the town demonstrating people about Dengue, the danger of it and the importance of prevention with the aid of placards, slogans. Verbal announcements were made in a musical way so that the attention of the people could be easily taken.
To carry out the project successfully following project committee was established.
Project Chairman - Leo Lochana
Project Committee - Leo Laksri
Leo Chalitha
Leo Lochana was very much successful in her task and she worked hand in hand with the Lions club Secretary Lion Harsha Kumbukage and also the 15 Lions Club members who were present. (Please refer the registration forms on the Lions Clubs of Horana Metro’s Secretary’s report for the month of August)
Short street play displayed by Leos how dangerous dengue is and displayed the message to the audience interestingly enhancing an understanding in them about the activities of the dengue mosquito.
Leaflets and brochures were distributed among the people who were gathered in the town. Later the procession moved to the Sunday pola where PHI officers and some other health sector officers joined with Leos and Lions to make people understand the true value of preventing such disease.

International Twinning Program with Leos of Nepal
Month of August is a very special month for Leo Club of Horana Metro as they got the opportunity to work hand in hand with two foreign Leo clubs, Leo Club of Butwal and Leo Club of Siddharthnagar. Leos of Horana Metro consider this twinning as one of the victorious things the club has ever achieved.
As per a request made by Leos of Horana Metro , Leo Isuru Senadheera previous international relations director (2009/2010) introduced us to the District President of Leo District 325B(Nepal) Leo Jeewan Shrestha. It was with the help of Leo Jeewan that Leos of Horana Metro ultimately found the above mentioned two clubs.
The responsibility of carrying out the project was given to the following project committee.
Project Chairman - Leo Hiranya
Project members - Leo Poorni
Leo Sandun
It should be noted that the whole twinning was pre planned as per a request made by the project committee as all three of them were expecting a visit to Nepal and India for a period of 16 days, which will help them to meet their foreign Leo friends.
The relationship between two clubs got further increased after meeting the Leos of Butwal and Siddharthnagar on the 11th of August at the Nepal border. It was with pleasure that they decided to join with us to visit the sacred land of Lumbini where we got the opportunity to send some more time together.

The following Leos and Lions were present on the date
Leos from Horana Metro
Leo Hiranya Perera (Club President)
Leo Poorni Wijesiri (Director)
Leo Sandun Wijesiri (Director) 25
Leos from Butwal
Leo Sandeep Kasaudhan (President)
Leo Ramkumar Shrestha (Past President)
Leo Neelam Shrestha (Director)
Leo Anurana (Director)
Leo Mahesh Khanal (Tail Twister)
Leos from Siddharthnagar
Leo Nabin Gc (President)
Leo Saurav (Member)
Lions / Lion Ladies
Lion Dr.Vajira Perera (Leo Advisor) and L/L Pushpani
Lion Lalith Wijesiri (Charter President) and L/L Darshana
Lion Saman Sarathchadra
Lion Elmar Jayawardene and L/L Sumana
Lion H D Pathinayake and L/L Sujatha
Lion Indika Gunasekara
Lion Dammika Priyantha
And
10 Lions of Lions Club of Butwal
To make this event a success the three presidents extended a few words to mark the moment more memorable. Leo president Leo sandeep kasaudhan presented Leo club of butwal pin and Leo club of butwal club directory 2010/2011 as a token of love to members of Leo club of Horana Metro , in exchange Leos of horana metro provided us some Sri Lankan souveniers.
After bidding farewell to Leos of Butwal Leo Nabin GC invited us for a small tea party at their Lions Activity Centre. A very warm welcome was given by Lions of Siddharthnagar where Leo Advisor, two Leo presidents and the Lions president addressed the audience. 26
To mark the occasion a memorable one the Lions president presented some tokens to the Leo advisor and to the Leo president of Horana Metro. This particular programme has helped the Leos of Horana Metro to spread the name of their club beyond the boundaries of the country. It should also be noted that Leos of Horana Metro still keep in touch with all their foreign Leo friends.