Youth
LCIF improves access to quality education, vital health services, and positive youth development for young people around the world. Lions Quest, LCIF’s signature youth education program, is a social emotional learning curriculum which gives students the skills to navigate life and prevent bullying and substance abuse.
The Choose Kindness Project
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is proud to be a founding member of The Choose Kindness Alliance, a coalition of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations championing bullying prevention, intentional inclusion, and youth mental wellness.
The Choose Kindness Project is an initiative, guided by the 20+ members of the alliance and supported by ABC, ESPN, and the Walton Family Foundation, dedicated to inspiring a more inclusive world where all young people feel empowered to be themselves and safe to create the futures they imagine.
Follow @TheChooseKindnessProject on Instagram for expert guidance, vetted resources, research, and inspiring stories to support parents, coaches, and other caring adults.
Lions Quest, LCIF’s signature youth education program, is a social emotional learning program which gives students the skills to navigate life and prevent bullying and substance abuse. For over 30 years, Lions Quest has impacted more than 20 million children across the globe by providing students and educators with the skills necessary to celebrate diversity and establish positive relationships.
To learn more about Lions Quest, please visit lions-quest.org.
Global Statistics
1 in 3 students reports being cyberbullied; 20% report skipping school because of it or violence.
2 in 3 students in 160 countries worry about violence in and around schools.
Reading scores and bullying are directly correlated.
Schools with positive school climate practices like Lions Quest have lower rates of absenteeism and bullying.
Sources: UNICEF and Thapa, A., Cohen, J., Guffey, S., & Higgins-D’Alessandro, A. (2013). A review of school climate research. Review of educational research, 83(3), 357-385
Youth Focused
LCIF Awarded Grants
From July 2024 to August 2024, LCIF has awarded 26 youth-related grants totaling US$1,640,309. View the grants which improve access to quality education, vital health services, and positive youth development.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Statistics
Here’s how social-emotional learning impacts young people:
- Students who participate in SEL showed improved classroom behavior, reduced rates of stress and depression, and improved attitudes towards their school, their peers, and their own self-image. SEL programs like Lions Quest increased students’ academic performance by up to 11 percent.
- Effects of SEL programs like Lions Quest are long lasting. Kindergarteners who participate in SEL programs and have stronger SEL skills are more likely to graduate high school, go to college/university, and obtain stable employment as young adults.
- Including SEL and character development is critical for educating the whole child. This approach can help bridge the achievement gap between students from high- and low-income settings and improve economic mobility for disadvantaged students.
Statistics from Child Development, American Journal of Public Health, and Opportunity, Responsibility, and Security
How school climate affects young people:
- Schools with positive school climate practices like Lions Quest have lower rates of bullying and absenteeism. Students in schools with positive school climate practices were more motivated to learn and had higher achievement scores over both the short and long term.
- Bullying in schools harms all students – not just those immediately impacted. A study of student achievement scores across 30 countries found a direct correlation between bullying and student reading scores.
- Research from Harvard University found that students participating in Lions Quest reported significantly improved perception of the school climate as a whole, and improved perceptions of physical and emotional safely.
Lions Quest Program
Lions Quest programs are built on the foundation of an educational approach known as Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
What Young People Learn in Lions Quest
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently published the results of a survey of top employers outlining the skills desired in new college graduates. Likewise, the World Economic Forum identified the top skills needed for the jobs of the future. The most necessary and desired skills are not related to any STEM field or technical proficiency. Instead, they are competencies directly related to the social and emotional skills built by Lions Quest:
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Critical thinking and creativity
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Communications skills with people inside and outside an organization
- Leadership and the ability to effectively motivate others
- Strong work ethic and perseverance
Lions and UNODC
Since 2014, LCIF has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to implement Lions Quest in communities across the globe.
Leo Grant Applications
Anything we can do to encourage and enhance their service is a win for us all—Lions, communities, and the world.
Youth Cause Area Flyer
Our Impact
The Right Education at the Right Time
LCIF is a frequent partner of foundations that research and implement social emotional learning. Our partnership allows us to share best practices from Lions Quest's programming.
Drug Education Essential to Youth
LCIF partners with organizations that inform and educate an environment free of drugs that impact local communities. Our partnership allows the DEA360 program to expand education to those regions affected by the opioid epidemic.
You Can Help
If helping secure a safe and healthy future for our young people is important to you, we encourage you to make a donation today.
