Members You Should Meet | Fifteen Minutes with Nipuna Ambanpola
Saturday, July 8, 2023
By Cathy O'Gara

As we introduce you to a whole new group of members over the next twelve months, we can't think of a better bright and shining example of young Rotarians who are working to create hope.  Take a minute to meet Nipuna, and you'll understand why we are blessed to have him in District 6910!
 
Fifteen Minutes with Nipuna Ambanpola

The District 6910 Newsletter team recently paid a visit to Rotaract at The University of Georgia to learn about one of their motivated members.

How did you get involved with Rotaract and Rotary? 
I joined Interact in 2009 when I was a 10th grade student in Sri Lanka. I really enjoyed giving back to the community and my older brother was also part of the Interact Club. I made friends around the world, and I attribute a lot of my personal and professional growth to Rotary.

I served as the President of my Interact Club and later as the District Interact Secretary for Rotary District 3220 —Sri Lanka and Maldives. In 2015, I came to the United States through the Georgia Rotary Student Program and stayed engaged through Rotaract. It’s an immense honor to serve as the Assistant Governor for Rotaract for District 6910.

Can you tell us about yourself professionally?  What are you currently doing and what are your goals and aspirations for the future?
My background is triangulated in data science, social impact, and public policy. Full-time, I’m the Research and Public Service Manager at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia.

I’m also Executive Director of IVolunteer International, a nonprofit I founded in 2017. I’m a board member of Books for Keeps, the Georgia Southern Young Alumni Board, and the Georgia Southern Parker College of Business Young Alumni Board. Additionally, I serve as the Civil Society Youth Representative to IVolunteer International at the United Nations Department for Global Communications Youth Steering Committee. In this capacity I represent the voices of young people in the international agenda. I want to expand my knowledge in data science to help companies and communities use facts and statistics for the public good.

How has Rotary helped you professionally and personally to meet your goals? 
I’ve had the growing experience to meet people around the world through Rotary. Cultures, races, histories, and people burst together within our organization and that has inspired me professionally and personally and allowed me to connect with like-minded people who want to make the world a better place. Most of my best friends, including my wife, have been introduced to me through Rotary.

What stands out as your favorite service project or Rotary moment?
My earliest favorite memory is from Abstract, a joint project between two high schools in Sri Lanka that provided a fun-day of games, food, and carnival for orphaned children. My next favorite memory is, of course, being a part of the GRSP program. It changed my life in so many ways. My third favorite is attending the Rotary International conference in Atlanta a couple of years ago. As I walked onto the big stage as a flag bearer I saw and understood the full breadth of Rotary and its impact around the world. I also need to mention volunteering at Rotary Youth Leadership Awards —RYLA, this year, as another amazing Rotary moment.


If you had to pick one most defining moment in your life that you are the proudest of, what would that be? 

Last year, I connected with Hamsa Thota, Mike Muldowney, and Sam Eskew to see how we could support Sri Lanka and help my country receive medical supplies as they grapple with an economic crisis. Through Rotary connections I got in touch with MAP International, a Christian organization providing medicines and health supplies to those in need around the world. We formed an international coalition through the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka, Red Cross, MAP International, and SevaLanka Foundation and made a delivery of half a million dollars’ worth of medicine to Sri Lanka. This was made possible through Rotary and one of my proudest moments to be able to serve my home country.

We can’t leave out the people who give us the flexibility to serve.  Are you married?  Is there anyone you would like to recognize that helped you along the way?

I am married to Karen Raymond, an extraordinary person with a big service heart. We met in Sri Lanka as committee members of the Abstract project and married in September 2022 after more than five years of dating. Karen is currently pursuing her master’s degree in public health at the University of Georgia.

There are so many irreplaceable people I would like to recognize, but connected with Rotary, I must acknowledge the Rotary Club of Savannah South and Savannah West that sponsored my GRSP; especially Kay Eskew, Austin Eskew, and the loving memory of Sam Eskew who were my host parents during GRSP. They are now my “American” family. There are so many Rotarians who have dramatically changed my life for the better, but I will run out of space if I mention all of them.

What do you do in your spare time?  Do you have any hobbies?
I love volunteering and reading. I also enjoy walking, hiking, and traveling with my wife.

Finally, tell us one fun fact about yourself that no one would guess.
I’m ambidextrous!  (He left out the fact that he has given a TED talk as can be seen in this photo!)

 

Would you like to know more about Nipuna?  Check out his website nipunaambanpola.com to learn more about his passions or to connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, or to learn more about his iVolunteer organization.  You can also look for him around the District as he serves as this year’s Area Governor for Rotaract for District 6910.