Cluster 5 colors the day with 'Rotaract Cook Off'

As written by Rtr. Romasha Guruge

High spirits are something that lie just within reach of us, and can be achieved through the honest engagement with one another. Our seemingly distinct lives become worthwhile when we discover how truly necessary we are to each other. When pursuing the betterment of social interactions, we should first clarify the sharp distinctions between ‘trying to claim as much value as we can’ and ‘contributing value without worrying about what we receive in return’.

With this particular concept in mind, Rotaract Mora joined hands with 9 other Rotaract clubs which belong to cluster 5, to effectively communicate the message that Rotaract is not always about community service, but that it also serves as a platform upon which valuable social interactions can be built. Uniting the efforts of each of these clubs, the ‘Rotaract Cook off’ cropped up on the 15th of February at Beach House Bistro, Mount Lavinia, with the participation of more than 80 Rotaractors.

Once the participants arrived, they were sorted out into six groups in a way that ensured each group was well blended with members from different clubs. Five different games were organized for the groups to compete in: The longest line’, ‘Dress up’, ‘Human knot’, ‘Mad Libs’, and ‘The minimalistic cook off’.  All the teams were assessed thoroughly, based on their performance, and the points were given accordingly.

The enthusiasm towards these fun, yet competitive activities spurred the members to harmonize and strategize with each other within their respective teams, thereby ensuring that the ultimate objective of the project, which was to acquaint the members with each other, was fulfilled, from the very first activity on wards. As the day progressed with the next activities in line, the miscellaneous talents of the participants were brought into the spotlight, and this was facilitated by our efforts to provide them with an environment that made them feel at home.  Joy was overflowing, signifying the degree to which the participants cherished these opportunities provided to them through the project. This in turn enabled us to be fortunate enough to witness the long awaited outcomes within the day itself.

By the name of the project itself, the foremost focus was on the last activity, ‘The minimalistic Cook off’, for which everyone was waiting in the wings to join. Each team was instructed to come up with a dish, using only the provided ingredients. Wastage minimization carried extra points. They had to start off by putting up a fire on the beach, and this activity took the project completely to the next level, resulting in the creation of many interesting recipes and intense ecstasy.

Unbeknownst to us, time flew, and the Rotaract cook-off marked its end by distributing the gifts for the winning team. Even though the project was limited to a day, from dawn till dusk, were you to ask from the salty air in Mount Lavinia beach, it will still speak volumes about the huge buzz the project prompted, making everyone feel as if they were on cloud nine!