At this year’s Lions International Convention in Milan, Italy, Lions from around the world voted to amend the Constitution & Bylaws to include Africa as our newest constitutional area (CA).
Welcome, Africa, into the Lions family!
The first African Lions club was chartered in Algeria in 1953. Today, almost 70 years later, more than 30,000 Lions throughout the continent are passionately engaged in service activities like hunger relief, preserving sight and environmental programs that help communities access natural resources such as fresh water.
Africa plays a critical role in our global mission of service, and this recognition as the new CA VIII highlights the significant contributions African Lions have made to our organization.
Making history
“This is truly an historic day for our great organization,” International President Jung-Yul Choi told the audience in the final plenary session of the Lions convention in Milan. “A day in which we celebrate the establishment of our new constitutional area, Africa. To commemorate this day, our Humanitarian Award winner, Nobel Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, has accepted our invitation to become an Honorary Lion—the first Honorary Lion in our newest constitutional area!”
Dr. Mukwege thanked Lions, and said that he was excited to work together with them to serve Africa. “Our continent needs your support,” he said. “Africa is counting on you.”
Excitement is in the air
The excitement about Africa becoming its own constitutional area is everywhere, said Past International Director Hastings Eli Chiti of Zambia. “This is a dream come true for Lions here. Africa is a vast continent with diverse cultures and economies, and this will make it easier for us to plan our course forward, since no one understands our own unique situations better than we.
“This new standing within Lions International gives us a great sense of responsibility,” he added. “Service has no boundaries, but as a constitutional area, we now enjoy the privilege of collaborating with Lions of the world and Lions Clubs International Foundation to initiate service activities that will significantly benefit our continent and advance the organization.”
As a CA, Africa will now have representation on Lions Clubs International’s Board of Directors beginning in 2020.
From Morocco to Ethiopia to South Africa, Lions are building stronger, kinder and more vibrant communities that will define the future of this great continent.
Congratulations, Africa—our newest constitutional area!
Madeleine Miller, ABC is the senior strategic communications specialist for Lions International.
