In an ongoing blog series, we’re highlighting Lions Clubs International Foundation’s support of worldwide efforts to help youth navigate challenges in school and develop life skills through the Foundation’s Lions Quest program, a global leader in social and emotional learning.
Our goal is to help every child in Ukraine through Lions Quest.
“Our goal is to help every child in Ukraine through Lions Quest.” That lofty aspiration is one that Lions’ Past District Governor Dr. Valentin Kravchenko is determined to help achieve with significant grant funding from Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and significant participation from local Lions. “We are supporting schools in their efforts to implement Lions Quest to help all Ukraine children develop conflict resolution skills, become comfortable with diversity, manage their emotions, be resilient in the face of adversity, and have good overall mental health.”
Rewind to 2006, when Lions were awarded US$25,000 in LCIF grant funding to pilot Lions Quest, LCIF’s signature youth development program, in Kyiv. More recently, funds collected by local Lions, augmented by LCIF grants totaling more than US$300,000, have helped implement an enhanced version of Lions Quest while expanding its Skills for Growing and Skills for Adolescence learning modules. An estimated 160,000 students and 9,600 teachers in 200 Ukraine schools are benefitting.
Navigating childhood isn’t easy. As youngsters develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually, they can become overwhelmed. Fortunately, students in Ukraine – particularly children displaced from home due to conflict – are gaining valuable skills to navigate school and build successful futures through Lions Quest.
Todays that affect tomorrow
Throughout the world, many of today’s youth experience difficulties no child should have to endure. Left unaddressed, challenges can affect the futures of both the children and societies. In Europe:
- Twenty-five percent of students have been bullied, in a physical fight, or physically attacked.
- More than 10 percent of young people drink weekly by age 15, making adolescent alcohol consumption a major public health concern.
- Consequences of being out of school are suffered by 2.4 million adolescents.
But there is hope for youth around the globe:
- Positive school climate practices like Lions Quest often reduce absenteeism and bullying.
- World-renowned Harvard University found students participating in Lions Quest reported improved perceptions of school climate, and physical and emotional safety.
- Every US$1 spent on SEL initiatives yields a US$11 return on investment.
LCIF and Lions: funding service, delivering solutions
Youth worldwide benefit from SEL programs like Lions Quest. To date, more than 19 million students and 760,000 educators in over 100 countries and geographic areas have taken advantage of Lions Quest age-targeted programming. LCIF proudly continues its more than 35-year commitment to our world’s youth through:
- Lions Quest Program grants: Develop/expand the program; up to US$150,000
- Lions Quest Community Partnership grants: Launch/reactivate the program; up to US$150,000
- Lions Quest Promotional grants: Introduce the program to a community; up to US$1,500
- District and Club Community Impact grants: Apply to local district and club projects; grant amount varies
Together, we can
LCIF is the grant-making body empowering Lions to create greater impact in their communities and around the world. One hundred percent of every donation supports Lions service through LCIF grants and programs.
Youth is just one cause area supported by LCIF and Campaign 100: LCIF Empowering Service. With financial support from Lions, Lions clubs, and friends of LCIF worldwide, Campaign 100 is empowering Lions to increase their service impact in vision, youth, disaster relief, and humanitarian efforts; fight the global epidemic of diabetes; and make important progress in expanded cause areas of childhood cancer, hunger, and the environment.
Ready to help our youth thrive? Support LCIF. Support Lions.
Caryn Lerner is senior communications specialist for Lions Clubs International Foundation.
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.
