2021/22 LBYG Presidential Address

Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the 2021/22 Edition of ‘Footprints’! Thank you for your interest in this publication; I hope your curiosity is well rewarded.

Overview

This year has seen significant change in the structure and processes utilised by the Lankarama Buddhist Youth Group (LBYG). These changes have been greatly supported and executed by the always eager Executive Committee, and the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara Association (SLBVA). Our members continue to motivate us to strive in being better leaders and mentors. Our primary aims will always consist of recognizing members’ efforts and enabling them to further develop their skills and strengths, while they give back to the community.

Each and every member of our Committee has contributed heavily to our development as a productive and prominent Youth Group. The Social Media Team’s consistently top tier posts and engagement with the community through our channels has resulted in a significant increase in our online following and overall presence. The Group Development & Initiatives Team continues to develop membership packs, our membership database, and new methods to incentivize membership and ongoing engagement with the LBYG. The Events Team has been so diligently directed by our Executives, and our Event Coordinators continue to amaze us with their ideas and implementation with each LBYG event.

The upcoming sections of this address will outline significant developments and events which have occurred throughout the current term, thus far. There is still plenty more to come, up until the end of the current term and onwards. I strongly believe what the group has achieved this year will act as a robust foundation for it to continue growing as a prominent youth group – one which gives back to its members and the wider community.

Member Engagement

Our Group Development & Initiatives Team are making great progress in developing membership packs. The aim of distributing these packs to members is to reinforce the structure of the group, maintain visibility on members’ roles, establish a group identity, and strengthen the sense of community amongst members.

The membership packs are currently expected to include the following:

•LBYG shirt

•Booklet (physical and/or PDF) detailing:

-LBYG vision, mission, and history

-Roles and responsibilities of committee members

-Ways to get involved and make a positive impact

•Accessories (pens, bookmarks, pins/badges)

There’s still quite a bit to be done, but we’re passionate about creating these and for our members to receive them!

Community Relations

Our group has initiated connections with groups including the Buddhist Council of NSW (BCNSW) and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), and will continue to collaborate with these groups with the aim to further develop each other and their communities.

The LBYG hosted the BCNSW at the Lankarama Temple on the 27th of February 2022, for their first board meeting of the year. The BCNSW kindly invited the LBYG to join in on the discussion and to offer insights where possible. The groups exchanged introductions, and discussed a variety of topics including community events, member engagement, collaboration between the BCNSW and LBYG, and more. Following the meeting, the LBYG gave the BCNSW a tour around the temple, and took a few photos together, to mark the start of a wonderful partnership!

The Executive Committee and members attended the ‘Break the Bias’ High Tea hosted by the Sri Lankan Association Women’s Network (SLAWN), an event which facilitated the discussion of issues women regularly face, how they detrimentally affect both women and men, and how everyone can work together to overcome them. I also had the honour of attending the 2022 Premier’s Harmony Dinner, thanks to a generous invite from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee!

Our Social Media initiatives include sharing awareness posts from other organisations, such as ‘Evening with a Star’, an event hosted by Future Kidz with the aim to raise funds for disadvantaged children’s education, in Sri Lanka. Health tips and quotes are posted on Instagram on a weekly basis in the form of ‘Mindful Mondays’ and ‘Wellness Wednesdays’.

Michelle Rowland MP’s Visit to Lankarama Temple

On Saturday, 12th of February, the LBYG (and by extension, the Lankarama temple) had the pleasure of hosting Michelle Rowland MP, Federal Member for Greenway.

The day started off with an exchange of introductions and a tour of the temple. The tour involved exploring the Chetiya, Dharmasalawa, and walking around the Bodhi Tree. This was then followed by Michelle, together with our good friend Geeth Geeganage, crafting a Vesak lantern for our upcoming Vesak celebrations. The LBYG then presented Michelle with a small gift as a token of our appreciation for her visit, and some Sri Lankan short eats.

On behalf of the LBYG, I wish to thank Michelle and Geeth for attending the LBYG workshop. The group looks forward to hosting them in the near future!

Move for Movember

In November 2021, LBYG members participated in ‘Move for Movember’, an event hosted by the Movember Foundation, with the intent to raise awareness of men’s health issues.

Together, the team moved over 345km and raised more than $3,300! Thank you to the members who participated in the event, to those who supported them in their efforts, and to all those who so kindly donated to the participants and the LBYG!

Summer 2022 Retreat

In February 2022, the LBYG Summer Retreat was held at Santi Forest Monastery in Bundanoon, NSW. This event was highly successful with the event reaching the designated max capacity of 30 attendees. More importantly, it was thoroughly enjoyed by those attending, with the LBYG team overjoyed to hear how positively affected they were by participating in this event. 

I wish to thank the Venerable Bhikkhunis for bestowing their wisdom on us in such graceful fashion. I also wish to thank our Retreats Team, led by our Retreat Coordinator, Nisali Wellege, for their outstanding organisation and communication with the monastery and attendees prior to the event, and those who so generously donated to the dana (offering) of meals on the day.

‘Sacred Space’ Sessions

In October 2021, the LBYG debuted its ‘Sacred Space’ initiative, a recurring event where attendees are encouraged to reflect on Buddhist concepts and share their experiences, thoughts, and sources of inspiration, including poetry, writing, and art.

Topics so far covered include: Making Room for Stillness, Dana (Generosity), Ambition and Love. Most sessions have been held online via Zoom, but as the pandemic and its effects continue to diminish, it’s expected more sessions will be held on premises at the Lankarama Temple. The LBYG also has plans to invite religious leaders to attend as guest speakers for some sessions, so they can impart their wisdom to participants.

The Executive Committee wish to thank Gianna Edirimanne, our ‘Sacred Space’ Coordinator, for the planning and effort she has placed into this, and we believe her enthusiasm will continue to foster attendees’ partaking in knowledge sharing.

School Project

Our School Project Team continues to develop ideas for raising funds for disadvantaged schools in Sri Lanka, and will host their first fundraising initiative on Vesak Day (15th May, 2022), by means of a Bake Stall. Future plans for fundraising include a walkathon, cricket day, and art auction. The team’s enthusiasm is gaining momentum, and I’m excited to see the group work so well together and how much money we can raise!

‘Footprints’

‘Footprints’ is an annual magazine published by the LBYG, distributed with the aim to edify readers on a variety of Buddhist concepts. Each magazine contains valuable contributions from members of both the LBYG and the wider community, broadening our collective knowledge base year upon year.

Previous editions of ‘Footprints’ are enriched with informative and thought-provoking articles which provide deeper insights into Buddhist principles. We have maintained this tradition while promoting the inclusion of more creative pieces, including poems and illustrations.

The publication of this magazine has been made possible thanks to the submissions of many kind and diligent contributors. I have very much enjoyed reading through their works; I hope members continue to express their knowledge and thoughts through this publication. Please note ‘Footprints’ articles are published on an ongoing basis through our website, and are collated in the form of a hardcopy magazine once per year, usually during the Vesak period. 

I wish to thank our Footprints Chief Editor, Nethmi Ratnayake, for her determination in publishing this edition. With much persistence and eagerness, she has crafted a magazine which will draw in readers and keep them engaged.

I highly recommend anyone reading this considers taking up the role of ‘Footprints’ Chief Editor in the future. As Chief Editor of last year’s (2020-21) ‘Footprints’ Magazine, I found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience through witnessing the excitement of contributors and leading the publication of their works.

Saying Thank You

I could go on about plans for the LBYG, but I’d spend way too much time writing numerous pages for this address if I don’t stop myself, here. I’m incredibly keen to continue leading the team as President until the end of September, when responsibilities will be handed over to the next Committee. I look forward to supporting future leaders and members to the best of my ability, and to lead in other places, with the aim to embrace the strengths of myself and my peers, while supporting our communities.

In the final words of this address, I wish to thank so many wonderful people. I wish to thank my family and friends for their continued care and words of wisdom. I wish to thank the 2021-22 Executive Committee and Committee Members for their ongoing support and invaluable contributions. I wish to thank our general members, and members of the public, who set aside time to volunteer or attend our events, and cement the LBYG as a welcoming, supportive environment, where anyone can join to make greater things happen!