Rotary District’s International Cultural Exchange (ICE) Programme Attracts Overwhelming Response
Bengaluru, NFAPost: The International Service Avenue of Rotary District 3190 organised “International Cultural Exchange (ICE) : Weaving Together” in Bengaluru on Friday with an overwhelming participation of global citizens.
The International Cultural Exchange programme provided kaleidoscopic patterns of global couture with the participation of 50 citizens from countries like Philippines to Argentina, from Nigeria to Sweden. The event gave them an opportunity to understand one another’s culture through interaction, under the guidance of 21 Rotaractors from Dist.3190.
As part of the event, the participants shared details about their food, clothes, festivals, proverbs, and other small things that define culture.
Speaking at the event, a participant said he did not get a chance to do this kind of cultural exchange initiatives during his childhood.
“But now I have a golden chance to cherish these friends from all over the world and their culture. If possible, I am planning to visit them one day. I believe you will also love it,” said a participant.
The event received its colour under the leadership of District governor Rtn Jeetendra Aneja and guidance of International Service Directors Rtn Rashmi Tanksali and Rtn Shankar Sastry.
The event was executed under the leadership of Cultural Exchange Chair Rtn Manoj Kabre and his team. Their collaboration with The Children’s Post, to facilitate participants to learn about culture truly offered a wonderful cultural exchange.
The Department of Posts, Karnataka Circle released a Special Cover to commemorate this event, on November 25 at a function organised at the GPO, Bengaluru. This programme was graced by Chief Post Manager General Rajendra Kumar and PDG Rtn H R Ananth from Rotary Dist.3190.
Expressing happiness over the confluence of culture as part of the event, Chief Post Manager General Rajendra Kumar said it is important to realise that culture is like water, seeping through the cracks of humanity’s prejudices.
“The ICE programme enabled Rotarians from all over the world to come together to participate, take the message to participants in their countries, to accomplish international peace, understanding and goodwill which is one of the objects of Rotary,” said Chief Post Manager General Rajendra Kumar.
A Filipino who participated at the event said she did not know that India is so much like Pakistan. “I did not know that Pakistan is so much like India. International Cultural Exchange-Weaving together, really opened up my thoughts. I would like to explore more countries and understand more,” said the Filipino.
A Pakistani citizen talked about food in Indonesia. Participants stayed up till midnight and were so keen on getting into this programme. One participant also said a proverb from his land which states that “The sun, the moon, and the truth, cannot be concealed for long.”
Speaking to TheNFAPost, Rotary District 3190 Cultural Exchange Chair Rtn Manoj Kabre said he is proud of the response from Bengalureans to the programme.
“It really gives us confidence that these kinds of cultural exchanges will provide more avenues to understand humanity in a better way. It will reduce the differences prevalent in our current world where we have inherited a fractured mindset on everything we think,” said Rotary District 3190 Cultural Exchange Chair Rtn Manoj Kabre.
