Nepal, the fastest growing multiple district in the world, has chartered more than 140 clubs as of October 13, 2020, the highest number across all MDs. Even the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has not slowed its growth. In fact, over the last decade, this country has consistently been increasing its membership.
Here are a few strategies that have worked well for Nepal:
- Leveraging social media and branding – “We know how to connect our service to the masses,” said PID Sanjay Khetan when asked about the role of social media in increasing Lions’ visibility. He added that the Lions of Nepal have organized public events to recognize and honor the remarkable achievements of their citizens. During one such event, the Lions honored 100 achievers from various fields (all non-Lions). This event, attended by about 10,000 people, proved to be very effective in enhancing the brand image of Lions clubs.
In life, there are high energy phases and low energy phases. Nepal’s high energy phase is from July to April.
Another strategy that has helped in spreading awareness about club projects is social media platforms. Members share invites to their upcoming service projects on their social media pages. This not only increases clubs’ visibility, it also provides an opportunity to those who are looking to serve their communities to be invited to a club’s service project. - Chartering specialty clubs – With more than 80 specialty clubs chartered in the first quarter of this fiscal year, the Lions of Nepal continue to engage community members who share a common interest or profession.
We spoke to Dr. Santosh Upadhyaya, Mr. Nepal 2019 and charter secretary of the Lions club of Kathmandu Doctors Nepal. Here’s what inspired him to become a Lion: “I had heard about Lions clubs and their work. As I’ve always enjoyed serving my community, I got an opportunity in 2017 to join a health camp organized by the Lions club of Kathmandu Samakhushi. I participated in the camp as a volunteer doctor, conducting health check-ups. A couple of months later, members of the Lions Club of Kathmandu Samakhushi reached out to us to start a specialty club of doctors. After a few meetings, we formed our club.”
Lion Dr. Upadhyaya is also founder and president of Beam of Hope, an NGO that works in the areas of health education, environment and sanitation, and is currently setting up libraries and planting trees in the rural districts of Nepal. With his fellow Lions club members, Dr. Upadhyaya started a library for students who didn’t have access to quality education. They also gave them lessons on climate change and global warming. His club partnered with a bankers’ specialty club to provide free health care and medicines to all bank employees. In fact, 63% of new clubs formed in Nepal in the first quarter of this year were specialty clubs. With every new club, new relationships are established, and each new relationship carries the potential to invite more hands to serve.
Lions club of Kathmandu Doctors Nepal in collaboration with a bankers specialty club conducting a mega health camp and blood donation program for the inmates of Nakkhu Jail.
- Partnering with the Ministry of Health - Earlier this year, Multiple District 325 Nepal was appointed as a member of the Social Action and Networking Sub-Committee formed under the leadership of Ministry of Health and Population.
The Lions of Nepal extended their support by organizing a COVID-19 management support week at the end of July. Several clubs joined forces to participate in this event and made generous contributions of PPE kits, masks and sanitizers to government hospitals, healthcare workers and security people. When Lions took to the streets to distribute these supplies, they received several inquiries, and many were even inspired to become Lion members. - Serving during the pandemic - During the nationwide lockdown, clubs partnered with the local government to continue serving their communities. And once the lockdown was lifted, they shifted their focus to senior citizen homes, childcare centers and low-income and unemployed individuals who were in dire need of aid. District 325 A1 collaborated with the local government to start an isolation center for 70 people.
District 325 B2 installed an automatic sanitizing tunnel at Bharatpur Corona Special (provisional) hospital. On average, five doctors, 35 staff members and 40 patients use this tunnel every day to disinfect themselves before entering the hospital premises. Much like the tunnel that provides a sense of safety when you pass through it, the Lions of Nepal are doing their part every day to ensure that their community members have everything they need to feel safe and secure during the pandemic. - Planning - All great things begin with a plan. And planning ahead of time is one of the reasons why Nepal has been chartering more than 100 new clubs each year since 2016. Once the district conventions have taken place (usually in March or April), the district governor elects begin preparing for their terms—developing plans, setting their district goals and mobilizing their teams so that come July, they are all set to begin the year strong and turn their efforts into results.
While the Lions of Nepal are riding the high energy phase, touching lives and growing their membership, Lions around the world have also been tending to the needs of their communities. If you would like to learn more about how clubs have been serving during the global pandemic, join our Lions Global Action Team Facebook group!
Sunayna Mahtani is a Global Action Team field specialist for ISAME & Africa for Lions Clubs International.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted communities around the world in different ways. To ensure we’re serving safely wherever we live, Lions should follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or local health authorities. Visit our Serving Safely page for resources that can help you safely serve your community.
