Growing up in Sri Lanka, most of us are taught to fear snakes from a very young age. The sight of a snake usually leads to panic or, unfortunately, the unnecessary killing of these vital creatures. We realised that this fear is created from a lack of understanding. To bridge this gap, we launched Project Slither under the Professional Development avenue. Our goal was to turn fear into fascination, prevent snake killings through conservation education, and equip our community with life-saving first-aid skills. This initiative was a collaborative effort that brought together the Rotaract Club of Kandy, the Interact Club of Good Shepherd Convent Kandy, and the Interact Club of Trinity College Kandy. We didn’t want to do this alone, so we partnered with the best in the field, the Youth Exploration Society of Sri Lanka. The initiative was shaped by clear objectives: Objective Focus The “Why” (The Need) The “How” (The Strategy) The Goal (Target Impact) Scientific Literacy Prevailing myths about snake venom lead to unnecessary panic. Deliver an intensive session on snake biology and venom levels via Youth Exploration Society experts. Participants capable of identifying species by scientific name and venom toxicity. Conservat ion Action Fear often results in the lethal killing of non. Educate the public on the ecological role of snakes and advocate for “pre. Protection” over extermination. Reduction in human-snake conflict through environmental empathy and awareness. Emergenc y Readiness Mismanaged snake bites are a significant health risk in Sri Lanka. Conduct practical, scenario-based first aid training, including immobilisation techniques. 70+ certified individuals ready to provide life-saving assistance and medical reporting.
