Leos and young Lions are so much more than the future of service. They are the volunteers and service leaders of today. To ensure that their voices are heard, 27 young people were invited to partner with Lions instructors in a leadership training event for global first vice district governors at the Lions International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, last June.
This experience has given me the opportunity to…make friends from all over the world, network, do what I love doing and demonstrate what it means to be a Leo.
The Our Future: Leos and Young Lions session examined generational relationships and addressed the benefits and importance of building great networks with young people to make our service stronger. Leos and young Lions from around the world had the opportunity to share their ideas and showcase their leadership—and how they’re doing big things in the service world—to an audience of more than 700 Lion leaders.
Four young people who participated in the session reflected on what they gained from the experience and how it will shape the future of Lions International.
- Leo Karolayne Ferreira of Brazil
- Lion Othmar Fetz of Austria
- Leo Marco Guzman Romero of Peru
- Lion Shahenda Refaat of Egypt
What are your thoughts on having a young person co-facilitate this training session for vice district governors (VDGs)?
Leo Karolayne Ferreira: I think it is a wonderful idea! I felt that my voice mattered to the organization and to this important group of Lion leaders. Most Leos and young Lions don’t have a chance to share their thoughts and ideas in a forum like this. It was a great opportunity to talk about how Leos work and communicate best. The VDGs asked some really good questions, such as how they can foster open communications with us, how to bring new Leos into my district and how we can all work together to fulfill our mission of service.
How important is it to Lions International to include young people in the conversation?
Leo Marco Guzman Romero: It’s very important for the organization as it gives young people the opportunity to present their point of view and their realities to Lion leaders. It will help district governors work more collaboratively with young people, and highlight the paradigms that need to be changed in order to create synergies with them. The good working relationships that we build together will serve Lions well as we prepare to meet the service challenges of the 21st century.
Were there any moments that really stood out for you during the session?
Leo Karolayne Ferreira: Yes, there were two. The first moment was when the VDGs were asking me questions about how to have better relationships with Leos. This made me realize that the leaders from Brazil and Portugal truly wanted to work with us to enhance our service to our communities. The second moment was during the role-playing exercises. The Lions were very committed to this activity—some even said that they needed to improve their communication with young people. Others asked for my opinion about certain situations that could arise. These two moments have stayed with me because they showed me that the VDGs understand that we can accomplish so much more if we all work together.
Have any significant relationships developed out of this session?
Lion Shahenda Refaat: Most of the VDGs in my group have added me as a Facebook friend, and they’re encouraging me and commenting on my service activities though social media.
How have these relationships made a difference?
Lion Othmar Fetz: It was a great opportunity to get to know the vice district governors and use the session as a kick-off meeting for collaboration in my own country. Since I am a Leo club advisor as well as zone chairperson, I will meet with the governors on a regular basis in cabinet meetings. Participating in the seminar gave us the chance to meet Lion leaders and share what’s important for all of us. This unique opportunity will benefit our members, our clubs and, most of all, those we serve.
How has the session changed you?
Lion Shahenda Refaat: Giving so many presentations has increased my self-confidence and motivated me to complete the projects that our club is doing.
What has changed in your club, district, or multiple district since the session?
Lion Othmar Fetz: Our district governor understands how important it is to work together with young people, especially Leos. Since we met in Las Vegas, we’ve spent time getting to know one another better, and have had a lot of discussions on a wide variety of topics. Overall, I think the VDGs respect us more now, and see the value and contributions that we bring to Lions.
What goals do you have moving forward in relation to what you learned or gained from this experience?
Leo Marco Guzman Romero: I would definitely like to participate in the school for VDGs again and speak to the leaders. This year, I had the opportunity to visit four countries in my area and observe how young people work and how the Lions support them. I would like to share this information with the next group of VDGs so that they, too, will value our service contributions. I would also like to share the needs that I have discovered within my area at global forums where Leo and young Lions’ policies are discussed. I believe this will greatly enhance our relationships with young people in Lions and positively impact retention rates for this group.
Leo Karolayne Ferreira: My goals are to be a Leo advisor, and I’m looking forward to being a great president for my club and my district. The experience has given me the opportunity to see how big this wonderful movement is, make friends from all over the world, network, do what I love doing and demonstrate what it means to be a Leo. I’ve now attended a Lions’ convention and participated in the VDG classroom. All of this will help me become a great leader!
It’s the kindness and compassion of Leos and young Lions that will carry our service forward. And the connection between Lions and Leos is so important on this service journey of ours. We can all achieve so much more when we share our knowledge, our ideas, our time and our passion for service. Think about opportunities for leadership and collaboration with Leo and young Lions in your community!
Take the Leo Club Charter or Young Member Challenge today! Chart your course. Collect your awards!
Lion Michelle Anderson is the Omega Leo specialist for Lions Clubs International and a member of the Windy City Lions Club.
