Vyshalini Rajendran, an exemplary student of Gateway College Dehiwala, has been honoured with the prestigious Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award in District 25 competing with her counterparts from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. This recognition highlights her outstanding leadership skills, academic excellence, and commitment to public service, setting a remarkable example for young women in Sri Lanka.

Zonta International, a global organization dedicated to empowering women through service and advocacy, grants the YWPA Award to young women aged 16 to 19 who demonstrate a strong commitment to leadership in public policy, government, and volunteer organizations.

Though about 40% of the world’s workforce is women, according to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, only 25.7% of all national parliamentarians were female as of 1st September 2021. Because Zonta International believes that young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service, it offers the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award, which recognizes young women, aged 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. Established in 1990 by Past International President Leneen Forde, Zonta has given 1,091 awards, US$1,488,750, to 919 young women from 61 countries.

Vyshalini, an 18-year-old preparing for her A-Levels, stands out in both: in her academic achievements and active participation in extracurricular activities. She has been an influential leader, serving as the school’s Head Prefect and excelling in roles such as the Chair of several MUN conferences, President of the Broadcasting Unit, Vice President of the General Knowledge Club, and Captain of the Debating Society and Vice-Captain of her Athletics House. Her dedication to these roles has made her a role model for younger students in the school.

Academically, Vyshalini ranks among the top 2% of her batch, having secured twelve level 9s in her Edexcel IGCSE examinations alongside a World Prize for Information and Communication Technology and 3 As in her Advanced Subsidiary Examinations. She has been recognized as a High Achiever multiple times at the Pearson Edexcel Awards ceremony and School Awards Days. Her passion lies in Computer Science and Psychology and this is evident through her research work and volunteer service, including co-authoring a research paper on the Evolution of 5G Technology, delivering a TEDx talk on Human-Interactions mirrored through computer interfaces and leading a team to the finals in the Microsoft Tech for Good Challenge.

Her involvement in the Model United Nations and debating has provided her with a global perspective on current issues, further showcasing her diplomatic and critical thinking skills. Vyshalini’s contributions extend beyond academics and leadership; she is also deeply committed to community service. Using her knowledge of computer science, photography and videography, she has conducted workshops and mentored numerous young individuals who share her passion in these fields.

Commenting on her achievement, Vyshalini says, “At Gateway, we are intricately styled with the richness of values. From companionship that we pour into building and preserving mentorship initiatives that assist peers with learning to the integrity that allows us to uniquely confront ourselves, our school culture truly nourishes us to become better and bolder human beings. At Gateway we are bound by an appetite to express. From code to calligraphy, piano to poetry, drama to diplomacy we are constantly challenging ourselves to think and reason. Through such experiences, be it across grades, departments or even branches, we are also driven to form tight-knit bonds among our peers and staff. Ergo, we are fostering profound connections that will remain strong even after we leave these gates. “