In a world often consumed by speed, ambition, and youth-centered progress, Project Senehase Nagam (translated as The visit of love) stands out as a gentle reminder of the humanity we sometimes leave behind. In May, the Rotaract Club of the University of Colombo, Faculty of Law, carried this message forward by visiting an elders’ home not just to spend time, but to connect, heal, and share love with a generation that once carried the world on their shoulders.
Why This Project Matters
The club’s decision to launch and sustain a project like Senehase Nagam is rooted in a deeply humane realization: the elders of our society, especially those in homes, are often forgotten. As the baby boomer generation ages, their needs are not just physical, but emotional. Many of them battle loneliness, isolation, and the painful silence of being left behind by a fast-moving society.
Through this project, our young legal minds chose to be present. They chose to listen to stories, sing along to old tunes, play games, and most importantly, remind the elders that they are seen, heard, and valued.
The Role of Youth in a Changing Society
Our youth are often told they are the future, but projects like Senehase Nagam show that they can also be the present. In a society rapidly graying due to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, we are heading into a demographic reality where the aging population will grow larger and more vulnerable. The baby boomer generation, once the drivers of economic and social change, now needs our support more than ever.
This is why youth involvement in elder care is not just a kind act, it’s a societal necessity. The Rotaract Club recognized this need and made it a part of their mission.
The Change We’ve Made
Since its inception, Senehase Nagam has brought warmth, comfort, and connection to dozens of elders across several homes. More than just a day of fun, each visit becomes a day of healing, both for the elders and the Rotaractors themselves. Conversations shared during these visits open the eyes of youth to the struggles and resilience of the older generation, building empathy and respect that textbooks can’t teach.
Families have reached out expressing gratitude for rekindled spirits. Elders themselves have shared how these moments have become the highlight of their month. And perhaps most importantly, the youth involved have become advocates for elder rights and dignity in their own communities.
Building a Future with Compassion
In May, Senehase Nagam wasn’t just a project, it was a message. A message that we, as a society, are capable of remembering, respecting, and loving our elders. The Rotaract Club of the University of Colombo, Faculty of Law, has taken a powerful step in using their youthful energy to restore dignity to those who once gave us ours.
As this series continues, it sets a precedent for other youth organizations to follow, not just in service, but in compassion. Because how we treat our elders is a reflection of who we truly are.
“A society grows great when its youth plant seeds of kindness they may never see bloom.”
Let us keep planting, one visit at a time.
Penned by: Rtr. Sandithi Dias
Rotaract Club of Faculty of Law University of Colombo 