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The St. Maarten Lions and Leo club, in keeping up with the theme of the International Association of Lions Clubs in the month of August, have been actively getting the youth engaged in various programs and projects.
At present the education committee has already started all preparations to get the Peace Poster kits to the various elementary schools so that our youth between the ages of 11 – 13 years can participate in this drawing competition to depict, in their own way, ‘Peace in the World’. In November a winner will be chosen and will be presented at the, locally held, Lions’ Mid-Year Conference for participation against the other clubs in our district 60B; the winner of district 60B will then compete on the international level. We encourage all elementary schools to participate in the art contest.
The goal of the contest is to promote the artistic development of our youth and at the same time combat crime and violence by encouraging peace.
The education committee is also busy expanding on the great success booked in our last fiscal year with the Lions Quest, when international instructors gave the implementation and usage guidelines to 74 caregivers and also some school board managers. It is our intention to continue getting more caregivers and teachers involved in this program that has touched the lives of more than 20 million youngsters in 81 countries. The Lions Quest training is set to be held after the mid-term break in February 2014.
Our annual Student Excellence Award Ceremony is also on the agenda for this scholastic year This award is granted to grade six (group 8) students that excel in their social behavior and show their interest in humanitarian assistance at the end of the year.
In our continued effort to work and empower young people, the St. Maarten Lions Club will be starting an Omega Leo club where young adults between ages 18 – 30 can join and serve mankind through the various programs available on an international level. An Open House is in the planning where adolescents will be invited to join and serve their community in the various ways offered through the Omega Leo movement.
The existing Leo Club of St. Maarten is an Alpha club that has many youngsters with ages ranging from 12 – 18 years. This Leo club is fully functional and has a wonderful program already set out for its young members to serve and at the same time empower themselves with knowledge and love for mankind.
Their projects include, but are not limited to:
– The "Sister Basilia Talent show", in which senior citizens enjoy a fun evening while at the same time share their singing, dancing, modeling, and other talents; – " Tis the season for giving", an annual food collection for the under-privileged families of St. Maarten which allows the club to deliver an average of 60-70 food baskets on the island;
– The painting of senior citizen homes, a project that started 30 years ago;
– The "basketball tournament" which is held for 5th and 6th graders and has included the participation of over 13 schools in the past six years. – – Assisting Lions with the Lion Nelson v/d Linde Seniors Citizens Party
– The "Easter Food Drive", which has been carried out with success over the past two years and donations to families that are in need, such as school items.
Picture Caption:
The Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wesott-Williams poses the group of winners from the 2013 Lion Student Excellence Awards along with senior members of the St. Maarten Lions Club which was held last June.